Photos: Barry Allsop and Bill Bayne
It’s lovely to be able to connect areas of my world, and when Sally and I came up with the idea of my painting her portrait as a demonstration feature for the magazine, it was good to welcome her to my workshop in Cockenzie House, East Lothian. Sally sat for me at the end of a day’s teaching, which was powerful for a number of reasons. Firstly, my students were still there and more came along to watch, so I felt the support of friends around me. They have a keen interest in the process of making a watercolour portrait from life, so happily watched for the two-hour demonstration(I often asked their advice!). Secondly, I had given many demonstrations during the weekend workshop and so had good momentum – I was ready to be fully attentive and commit to the mark!
There was of course some nervousness, but I find once I walk through that and name it, it soon dissipates and leaves in its wake inspiration and enthusiasm for the job in hand.