My sister is a watercolor artist. This fall she was commissioned by the Museum of Fine Arts to
teach visitors how to copy the paintings of John Singer Sargent. She had tips about getting pure white, and how to mix greens, when to use a dry brush and techniques for creating contrast. One way to improve your paintings is to study the masters, and this was a chance to do it as a group.
I remember being in the back of the room for a workshop led by my aunt and uncle. I had only been married a few months and had scant opinions about communication. I can still see Uncle Frank guiding a couple through an issue involving video games. The husband was spending more time on them than his wife approved of. Uncle Frank helped them avoid the muddy waters of blame, and clarified clean edges. He put his arm around her and whispered positive statements in her ear for her to copy. Then he stepped behind the husband to coach him through defensiveness. I was mesmerized.
The scene often comes back to me when John and I get snarky. I imagine I have a master on my shoulder, feeding me good lines. This February at the Day for Marriage there will be workshops to help people paint their marriages differently.
Because the world can always use more beauty.
