First teaching day in S Korea

almost ready to begin

My first day teaching here in S Korea, and a class of around 60 lovely art tutors all keen to learn some new techniques were eager to begin. It was all new to me, teaching a group who perhaps did not understand much English, but I needn't have worried as it all went very well.

The first morning

We completed two paintings during the day as well as practising new brush techniques, the painting techniques here in Korea are very different from ours, so although these tutors are very accomplished there was lots to show them. Wet in wet was totally new as well as using masking fluid. They loved the way the paper was protected and it was like magic when we rubbed off the masking fluid at the end.

Our 1st painting done!

It is such a pleasure to teach a sea of smiling faces, they make it all so much fun for me.

My translator, John, has a tricky job, because he doesn't paint, so painting terms and names are not easy for him to translate, this proved to be quite a challenge but he was brilliant.

At the end of the day I said to John, "you did a brilliant job" to which he replied, grinning ... "you dont know that" He was right of course, he could have been saying anything!

It really makes me think of how to say things using fewer words as well as keeping explanations simple. Another thing to take into consideration is the time 'lost' during the day for the translations. 
In the afternoon we tackled a slightly simpler painting but these techniques were again different from what the students had previously done, so I think they did extremely well. Everyone succeeded and it was smiles all round.

Our 2nd painting completed

At the end of each day we had a presentation and each student received a certificate, it was a lovely to see such success. This lovely student is typical of their delight.

This was not the end of the day though, we still had the photos after which the team went out for a group meal.
By now the jet lag was setting in and I needed to recharge the batteries for the next day.

It's due to be 20c and sunny tomorrow, a nice change and a glimpse of the summer to come.