Deciding what to demonstrate is a tough choice. It needs to be something that would be interesting to all , useful to all mediums and of course non-medium specific.  I hear of some artists who turn up and start at their beginning, like drawing up  and of course that's all they get done in the time allotted.  Most people like to get an insight into how you do some technique.  Most artists are visual learners, we need to see how its done, telling how its done reinforces this.




​A demonstration should be considerate of all who are attending. It should be either a concept explained (with drawings and sketches) or a procedure shown step by step.  Most Art Societies like a demonstration that is visual. If the concept is explained with paintings and other graphics it is interesting, not dry and dusty.  Most times I will incorporate the concept into a procedure, that shows how to make 'X' happen. 

There is a difference between a demonstration and instruction.  For the most part here in Australia a demo is an instruction.  In other countries it is different.  A demo is the artist showing a way of working, with out talking in detail about proceedure and with no audience interaction while they are showing.

I really enjoy presenting a demonstration while being interactive with the audience. After all the audience are other painters, so I'm speaking to my tribe. That makes it both easy and scary. My style of demonstrating is to show a concept, while interacting with my tribe, my fellow painters.

Thursday (July 18) saw Alphonse and I at the Western Australian  Society of Artists, the oldest art society on WA. WASA was founded in 1886.  I had been invited to demonstrate to the members after the AGM. This demonstration needed to be interesting to all painters, regardless of media used. It also had to take in the range of skills and ages of the members. It is an honour to be asked to address the members , which I take seriously.

​My demo was about the concept of Creating Mood in a Painting, then introducing a proceedure to make this a step by step hands on action.  I asked the audience questions, had them make choices for the way the demo would go. This sort of interactive demo is not for everyone it's something that has taken a while for me to build my confidence up to. That's what I meant earlier about scary. It is still scary to go out front and talk about what I do, for about 3 minutes, then because I love painting, the nerves go as the love of subject takes over.

When you are asked to demonstrate, think about your audience and yourself as one of them. They are after all your tribe and will understand your language and arm waving gestures.

Well its over a week since I flew out of Brisbane to the other side of the country beautiful Western Australia.   The Port Headland pastellists invited me to come teach a workshop for a weekend and of course I said yes.  How good is that to be asked to come across to the other side of our country to teach.
Of course when I get to talk to the organisers it is revealed they had been following me on my web and facebook site after getting the rave from the girls in Perth.  Thank you Perth Girls.  It is a lovely feeling to know that people like what you do and will follow you up.
So Alphonse the Artist Bear and I went to Port Hedland for  the weekend  where we had a ball.  There was an earth quake too just too ad to the big event.

This is the Port Hedland Arts Council Studio where the workshop was held.  Alphonse is posing on the easel out front.  The roller doors you see here were rattling and shaking when the earthquake came.

It is a very well used venue, and loved by all. It is wonderful to see dedicated buildings by council for the arts community. 

The pastel group is active and enthusiastic with one lady driving 100km each way each day to attend. Each person got right in to the challenges set and with amazing results. Some surprised themselves too.

Thank you Port Hedland for the opportunity to be part of your pastel heritage.
​Happy painting.
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