Many of the group were relatively new to watercolour….if not completely new. It takes courage to let go, loosen up and simply do it. Here are some of the results. Remember along with these studies, most of them filled sketch books.
In no particular order…..
dresses from the local market. 
Jazz evening – and loosening up
Peppers from the Saturday market integrated with hummingbirds. 
Boats – Fuseta
Landscape
Peppers from Saturday market. 
Armona beach umbrellas
Fishy business….
flowers from the market. 
Woman with dog in Olhao 
red onions from market
jazz – sketching
From Armona looking towards Olhao
The Saturday market. 
Pink umbrellas next to Art School
more jazz
landscape
warming up on newspaper
Fisherman’s huts – Fuseta
From this sampling it is fascinating to see how different everyone’s work is.
More work can be seen on the Art in the Algarve FB page…and as I receive more images I will post them.
My goal is that each person take with them one or two new techniques as well as a heightened awareness.
I was delighted to receive this image made by one of the Australian participants since they returned home. Given that watercolour is a relatively new medium to Lynne, I am over the moon with the results and more importantly that she is motivated to paint.
The following is a list of tips and sayings I give to people as a reminder of what they have taken on board.
- It’s only paper and we are all going to die anyway!:)
- Warm up using newspaper
- Warm up using envelopes. – cut up old paintings and send as cards.
- OBSERVATION OBSERVATION OBSERVATION
- Use photographs only as a JUMPING OFF POINT.
- Look at everything from many different points of view.
- Sketch using Yellow Ochre
- Remember the Negative Space
- WET BRUSH NO PAINT – this helps to avoid mud
- Move colour around the picture
- Everything reflects upon everything else
- Fifteen minutes a day practise works
- It takes 28 days to establish a new habit
- Allow your brush to DANCE
- Always remember to PLAY
- Ignore the Chattering Monkeys when they say you can’t do something….
- Paint with children – we can learn so much from them.
- ENJOY
And hummingbird from two of the group……
My next blog will be about my second week in Portugal with artists Bonnie Halsey Dutton and Vicki Snaddon.
A Bientôt
My Life as an Artist (2) 
Beautiful collection and I love the tips.
Thank you Sharon…so pleased you enjoyed my tips 🙂
Most interesting! I find the choice of subject intriguing. 😉 thanks for sharing Janet. Hugs ❤️
Thank you so much Bushka for taking the time to read and look at the images. I encourage everyone to observe everything around them….I will be around for the next few months and so plan to catch up with blogging, painting and so much more. Janet 🙂
❤
What a delightful collage of paintings Janet! I love the vibrant colors and sense of movement and joy. The landscapes and flowers were some of my favorites. Reading your tips for painting brings me a smile and reminds me of the time in my 30s when I took a painting class from a woman with a similar light-hearted approach to painting and teaching. She provided a safe and fun place to play at painting. I would love to take a class with you! 🙂
I would love it if you took one of my classes in the future. You are right my approach is light hearted, but at the same time I like to think I do get some points across 🙂 Thank you again…janet.
Thanks Janet. I’m sure I would enjoy your class. 🙂
Ahhh, it’s sooo good, to read you, my dear sister in art and what wonderful results you bring us here. fantastic! I love the boats, the fish and umbrellas and all colors. And your list of tips is fantastic!
I myself also like to recommend to paint on a roll woodchip wallpaper. This takes away the fear of “spoiling” expensive material 😀
Sending love and hugs ❤ ❤ ❤
My Dear Sister in Art….you and I are so much on the same page…I love it. It was a really good group of people – so much fun and at the same time enthusiastic to learn. What more could I wish for. I will now be in my studio working for the next few months…and so will catch up with my blogging and so much more. Thinking of you painting and also of your parents. Much love to you my dear friend. Janet xxx
I love the tips 😘
Thank you – Janet 🙂
🍫🙂
These are wonderful, Janet! And I am going to print out your tips and, better yet, try to follow them!
Thank you so much Timi…so pleased you liked the list of tips…:) I know you would have enjoyed talking with the two from Iceland. They were such lovely people. janet 🙂
Janet, it’s marvelous to see what creativity came from the school. It must be so fulfilling to teach those classes. The painting on newspaper was very cool and creative. I wouldn’t have thought of doing that. A lovely post. Hummingbird hugs!
Good morning Teagan…thank you so much for the comment and yes it is always fulfilling to see people blossom and grow in one short week. painting on newspaper is something I have suggested for many years. Not only can you get some very interesting effects, but all fear is removed from the painting process and so consequently on newspaper people do their best work…. Hummingbird hugs to you and Crystal. Janet 🙂
Very interesting to read that it takes 28 days to establish a new habit. It’s been quite a while since I tried to establish a habit. And nowadays, I suppose I am more interested in getting rid of habits than I am in acquiring new ones. But reading this makes me wonder… I imagine that there is quite a bit of variation in the time length according to the character of the person in the new habit. Enjoyed these paintings very much… especially those of the jazz musicians.
The person that painted the jazz players..really did well. She filled a sketch book and then suddenly burst into looseness during the jazz session which lasted for the rest of the week. She tells me that she will be sketching every day…… Yes, apparently it does take 28 days to form a habit…but as you say it probably does have something to do with the personality/character involved. We can only try 🙂
Dear Janet, The more I see about that place and your groups the more I begin to wonder if some year I turned up there if I would like it and fit in. Oh, I’d fit in because I’m an affable person who fits in everywhere. But I have no talent in painting while the people in the groups and you have so much talent.. There is a studio here I could have access to and classes where I could begin with the basics, I suppose. I’ll think about it.
I like your tips very much and find application to writers among them. Thank you for the post, and best wishes.
I think you would fit in very well. It’s so relaxed….and everyone works at their own pace…and each gives something to the group. Every now and then I get a complete beginner…and when they express their concern, I tell them that they will probably give more to the group than anyone else – and it is often the case. One young woman who came several years ago as a complete beginner has since completed studies at a very good English art college. Glad you like the tips….the first one definitely gets their attention 🙂 Best wishes to you. Janet
Wonderful works of art! 🙂
Thank you – Janet 🙂
What a wonderful gallery, I did enjoy it. Loved your tips too! Welcome home.xxx
Thank you dear Dina….I stayed on another week which I will write about in next blog. All in all a superb trip with a really fun group of people. Thinking of you a log. Janet xxx
Really beautiful work!
Thank you so much – Janet 🙂
Your work is such an inspiration: thank you!
Just beautiful! I love water color paintings!
Thank you very much – Janet 🙂
Reblogged this on Oyia Brown.
Thank you so much for the re blog dear Oyla….sending you lots of hummingbird hugs 🙂 xx
I love the sentiment
Allow your brush to DANCE
Thank you 🙂
Everything is amazing!
This was a lovely group. I am only showing a fraction of their work here. Janet
Reblogged this on sketchuniverse and commented:
HELLO DEAR! THE ART BY JANET NO NEEDS INTRODUCTION. ENJOY
Thank you so much for the re-blog. I am very pleased to say that I will be back in Portugal one month from now with a new group…..and so hopefully will have lots more to share with you and your lovely followers. Janet 🙂 x
Oh Janet! My best wishes for your next trip. Goodnight from Barcelona. I’m so grateful of your kind and friendly comments🌸💐🌷
Have a wonderful time in beautiful Barcelona:) xx
Thank you Janet! What a pride, because you’re an expert teaveler. Have a perfect week beginning😘
Dear Janet, I’m going to discuss your tips with Meir.
I will look at this again to refresh myself before Portugal in three weeks time 🙂 Hope all’s well. Janet