Frame it, Display it, Don't hide it

We are nearing the end of my 8 week watercolour course, with one more week to go. The time seemed to have flown by because we were doing something we loved to do. Time always passes quickly that way. 

I encourage my students to display their work. "Looking time" should exceed "painting time" before, during and after the painting process. Observation is the key to making better art. 

I used to tear up the pieces I was unhappy with when I was a beginner learning to paint, or else I would hide them in a drawer somewhere, never to be looked at again. My teacher Mr Tong used to encourage us to put our finished painting in a frame and put it on display. Now I encourage my own students to do the same. 

A well framed painting is a like a well dressed person. By framing and displaying the finished work, the student will feel encouraged as the work will look good. At the same time, prolonged observation will reveal where a flaw might be and improvements can be made. 

For instance, the work on the left in the photo below shows an excellent attempt to do a still life of radishes and carrots. One improvement that can be made would be to include some cast shadows presently missing in the white radishes in the middle of the painting.  

Student's works

Class in deep concentration