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Humour vital in learning process

Graham Flatt didn’t live up to his surname when giving a watercolour workshop in Sicamous.
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Graham Flatt didn’t live up to his surname when giving a watercolour workshop in Sicamous.

Graham Flatt didn’t live up to his surname when giving a watercolour workshop in Sicamous.

Last week, the Lloydminster artist was at the Red Barn Arts Centre conducting a four-day workshop with the Eagle Valley Brush and Palette Club.

This wasn’t Flatt’s first workshop with the club, who have come to appreciate his unique style of instruction.

“When we were here last time, one of the gals gave me the nickname, the Monty Python of watercolour,” said Flatt, explaining he has an unconventional approach to teaching and watercolour, one that mixes a serious attention to detail with a disarming sense of humour that puts students at ease and allows them to open up.

“Part of my mandate is to bring as much positive energy to a workshop as I can, make it a safe place to take risks, get rid of judgement, and just make it a place where you can be and thrive,” says Flatt. “And if you fail, so what, it’s not a big deal.”

Club member Betty Hill says there’s always something to take away from the workshops, and that she greatly enjoys watching Flatt and learning from him.

Fellow club member Susan Miller, who specializes in acrylic, oil and drawing, said Flatt had helped open her eyes to different ways of looking at colour theory.

“I think what he’s done is taken some of the intimidation out of it in terms of approaching it,” said Miller regarding her foray into watercolour.

Flatt emphasizes to his students that it is the process of creation that is most important, and not the final product, which he says is only a souvenir of the journey.

“Painting, first and foremost, should be fun,” says Flatt. “It shouldn’t be intimidating, it shouldn’t be scary and it shouldn’t put your teeth on edge. It should be fun. If you get something you’re proud of at the end, great. If you didn’t, oh well, it’s just a piece of paper. You can try again.”

The Eagle Valley Brush and Palette Club meets regularly on Fridays at the Red Barn from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, email, evbpclub@hotmail.com, or visit http://eaglevalleybrushandpalette.com.

 



Lachlan Labere

About the Author: Lachlan Labere

Editor of the Salmon Arm Observer, Shuswap Market, and Eagle Valley News. I'm always looking for new and exciting ways to keep our readers informed and engaged.
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