Artist from England to teach portrait painting in Saluda

This October will mark the second time Scottish artist Gillian Lee Smith will fly from northeast England to the Blue Ridge Mountains to teach.

While Smith’s oil painting course is sold out, there are several spots still open in her five-day course in creating “highly expressive portraits” in mixed media and acrylic paints.

The acclaimed artist, a 2005 graduate of the Edinburgh College of Art, is one of four international artists the art supply and apparel shop has hosted in the 20 years the business has offered workshops.

“I’m honored that she’ll make the trip to the U.S. to teach,” said Random Arts owner Jane Powell. “This is a big country, and she’s coming to a town of 700 people.”

The mixed media course, which runs Oct. 9-13, will introduce those with some previous portrait painting experience to adding emotion to the likenesses they create.

“I am over the moon that we have a life model to work from each week and I can't wait to see how the students put their own interpretation on working from life,” said Smith, who first taught at Random Arts in 2015.

“I had a very warm welcome to your beautiful part of the world so I am very excited to be returning once again and at my favourite time of the year too,” she said.

Before Smith had ever taught a workshop, Hendersonville resident Phyllis Peterson had connected with Smith online; Peterson then traveled to Scotland for Smith’s first teaching experience, a seven-day painting course.

“She was so nervous but such an excellent teacher,” said Peterson. “Gillian is one of the best artists I have ever studied under. After the experience in Scotland I asked Jane if we could invite her to teach at Random Arts.”

Peterson, who started making art in various media in 2010, said when she first started painting she had no idea what she wanted to do — she certainly didn't think she would ever draw or paint a face.

“One of the main things that Gillian has brought to my art is emotion,” said Peterson. “It's not that hard to paint a pretty face…but a face with emotion is much more difficult and much more interesting.

“When I am having problems with a painting I often go back to some of the things I have learned from Gillian,” she added. “She is also a master at mixing/blending her own colors and I have continued to use her color theory techniques. Gillian gives her heart and soul … I'm thrilled to be in one of her workshops again.”

Since that first class Peterson attended, Smith now teaches art classes around the world. In May, she led a similar “emotional portraits” class in Amsterdam that drew inspiration from the portraits of Rembrandt.

“The Random Arts workshops are slightly different in that we are focusing on the model and our own interpretations of what we see before us,” Smith said.

The first few days of the course in Saluda will start with creating charcoal portraits “to explore shadows and light, mark making and expression,” before moving into using color media. Each student will create several drawings and portrait paintings and receive a number of pro tips from Smith.

“This is what excites me most about teaching a class in person — I encourage each student to 'see' in a way that might go beyond replication and further into exploring our own unique interpretation,” Smith said. “It makes for an exciting diversity in the work whatever the materials being used. Whilst the art techniques and materials are fun to explore, for me it is the expressive use of the ‘language of painting’ that is the key here — whether that is in oils or acrylics.”

Powell appreciates Smith’s generosity as a teacher, in that she doesn’t hesitate to share what she knows as an artist — in what might be perceived as “trade secrets.”

“When I opened my shop, first and foremost for me was to make sure that my customers were happy with their shopping experience…and their creative experience,” Powell said. “So many people are hesitant and somewhat afraid to tap into their creativity and my goal is to encourage without criticism or judgment.”

Regular hands-on workshops are held every week at Random Arts, taught by local, U.S. and internationals artists like Smith — from as far away as Australia.

Smith is grateful for the opportunity to return to the mountains of North Carolina to teach. “I am very much looking forward to meeting with some students who studied with me two years ago as well as meeting new friends,” she said. “I love how art has the ability to bring people together — even those from across the vast ocean!”

To learn more or to register for courses, visit randomartsnow.com or email Jane Powell at randomarts22@gmail.com.