Beginnings - re-wind!

Thinking Back:

(1)

I never intended to study for a B.A. in Fine Art.  When I entered the class, with trepidation through a large, heavily painted door (that took some courage), there stood a slim lady who welcomed me, and some other folks she seemed to know already.  This art class had been advertised in the local paper, to be held in the emptied room of the `Happy Clappy` church in Louth.   I knew nothing of the outcome that would eventually occur, 6 years later.  In fact, I suddenly realised I knew very little about the art-world.  

Denotation, connotation and semiotics were the order of the day.  Susan Banks a very knowledgeable lady, was the tutor.   It became clear to me that she knew and loved her subject.  Her welcome was warm and it was easy to become enthralled by the group exercises that we would start off with every week.   Nothing more than a few hurried sketches were ever done in the 2 hour lessons, most of our work was done at home.   We were allowed to choose our subject from a list Susan had prepared - perhaps quotes from literature; poetry, shakespeare, idioms etc.  

I left my first lesson on a high, not knowing whether I would be suitable for the rigidity of work that was needed for the modules of lessons, and asking myself all manner of questions with regard to how I got to attend this type of art-class.  Had I misread the advert?  (I re-checked it when I got home)................

Mont Saint-Victoire.

This is one of my pieces from the early classes: A homage to Paul Cezanne.  Pastel was my favourite medium at that time, and probably still is.