I just spent two days in a painting class under the tutelage of the gracious and talented Helen Farson. Her studio in Greensboro, NC is appropriately named Gloriosa Studio and Garden. Lit by skylights and large windows, it is filled with Helen’s paintings and art treasures that include an angel muse suspended in the light above her easel. Helen is a gifted and knowledgeable teacher who has studied with such artists as C. W. Mundy, Nancy Franke, Jill Steenhuis, Lori Putnam, Andy Braitman and Carolyn Anderson, to name a few. She paints weekly and travels with my dear friend and art teacher, Laine Francis.

 

Helen set up a still life of beautiful hydrangea in a blue and white vase graced by pears, apples and grapes. As she created a stunning painting before us, she shared her thoughts on design, composition, color shifts, and value. On the second day the five of us stood at individual easels and painted a comparable still life from our personal and unique perspectives. I have titled mine Gloriosa.

 

As a teacher, Helen intersperses design fundamentals and color theory with suggestions of artists to study and books to peruse. She also shares philosophical words to guide us as painters and artist friends. We sat on stools around her as she urged us to Pay attention, Be astonished and Paint about it (adapted from poet Mary Oliver’s “Instructions for Life”) and to Be different (C.W. Mundy). A practice from the Muslim culture that resonated with us is this idea: Rather than ask someone, How are you?, ask instead, How is your heart? At the end of the day we sat in Helen’s lovely garden and critiqued our paintings over glasses of Rose. I left Gloriosa Studio and Garden with a glad heart—new artist friends, a painting in "Glenda style" and a precious piece of Helen’s glorious spirit.  So I ask you, my friends, How is your heart?