I taught a class where we painted a simple scene with a teacup, a torn tea bag, and a piece of homemade baguette. But what made the class special was how we did it. For two hours straight, I was right there painting alongside my students. And guess what? Every 15 minutes, my phone alarm would go off, and I would prompt my students to switch which object we were painting. At first, the students weren’t too thrilled about feeling rushed, but eventually, they got totally into it and we all had a blast!

This whole exercise helped us zoom in on what matters in painting, instead of getting lost in all the tiny details. Our goal wasn't to create some masterpiece. It was all about learning and having a good time. And we did have fun!

After the class, I snapped a photo of our setup and then finished the painting back in my studio. I even threw in a background inspired by those classic old leather suitcases. What a delightful experience! Painting in such a way was truly enjoyable!