Blank Canvas

A few weeks ago, I started art class. Yes, art class.

Lily giving us the story behind each work

I was inspired by my friend Lily (and by the fact that I actually have time to take an art class so why not). Lily moved here with her husband and, like many "trailing spouses" (a term from my friend Susan), she signed up for several classes, including an art class. She thought she could learn a little something and have fun items to possibly display a little color in her home.

Lily liked it so much that she made it her focus. Four years later, she's earned her Bachelor of Arts from a university here in Seoul and is now selling her work.

Lily's work

More of Lily's work

Charcoal work

I simply hope to learn a little something and add some color to our house.  I talked to several teachers on signup day, and decided to go with the woman who told me that experience wasn't at all necessary and that she would "teach me the skills to use your materials so you can work at home when your baby sleeps."


I arrived at class. Sunim asked me to sit. There were no other students. She gave me a pencil and asked me to draw what was in front of me: A headless, mini Venus de Milo type thing and two pieces of dried something. I told her I didn't know where to start, she said that's ok, just start drawing.  Yikes!

We did some exercises drawing light to dark, dark to light, looking at my paper, not looking at my paper at all--over and over I drew it. Soon, I was quite comfortable. Then she gave me charcoal. And we drew again. The end result wasn't a masterpiece, but I actually felt I had learned quite a bit. I was encouraged when Sunim said, "You'll do well! You understand shadow and light."

Van Gogh

The next assignment was to pick a piece to recreate. I chose Vincent Van Gogh's The Cafe Terrace on the Place du Forum at Night.

Studio, students and Sunim

This week there were two other students. I don't know what was more intimidating, being alone in the studio or being with two other, more advanced students.

It was great fun, It really was.

I am overcoming feeling a little dumb and out of place, and just enjoying wearing my apron, learning to prepare and wash the canvas, mixing colors and learning how to recreate a piece. It doesn't look like too much yet, but we'll see.

Work in progress

More progress

:) sbc