Ireland Art Experience

I have to say that our trip to Ireland exceeded my expectations. The trip was well planned and well executed.Thank you, Margaret. I loved the painting and doing it on the Jameson estate. The hospitality of Andrea , Tara and Kristin Jameson wasexceptional . It was educational, scenic , historic and,most important to me, a lot of good fun with a lot of new friends.....what more could one want?
Slainte !

Shelley Blundon

Excited about Nature

Margaret is an inspriational, superb art teacher as well as a very gifted artist. She introduced me to watercolors eight years ago and got me excited about nature, light, shadow and color. She helped me discover the potential and joy of painting and has supported my efforts over the years. She teaches and paints from the heart and has demonstrated that painting is the search for truth and beauty in whatever subject one chooses to paint. I am so thankful for "finding" her when I was ready to paint.

Eileen Bragg

Wednesday Mornings

The Wednesday mornings in Margaret’s classes from September to March are a delightful brunch of colour recipes and watercolour techniques; all blended and served with her smiles, encouragement and patience. It’s the most anticipated morning of the week. It is amazing what she can draw from us.

Personally, I have derived from Margaret’s classes an ability to write poetry which I had never written before. After spending a sunny February afternoon walking in downtown St. John’s s taking photographs of windows and doors for an art session, I went to the computer to type a few thoughts that came into my mind. They turned into a poem. After that, it seems that very often in thinking about what I wanted to paint and / or looking at a photograph, words would come. Then certain events would bring me to the computer; even a few melodies around the words!!! Very happily for me, some of these poems have been published in a book, magazines, newspapers and read.

I now have 2 collections: Garden Inspirations and Whatever Crosses My Mind and fully believe they are in a big way the results of Wednesday mornings in Margaret’s kitchen.

Marilyn Howard

Margaret always Encourages

I always look forward to attending Margaret’s workshops. Margaret varies the venue for the workshops, exposing us to new environments. It may be at her studio in Tors Cove on the southern shore or the MUN Botanical Garden, each one in keeping with the theme of the workshop. Materials are always included in the cost for beginners so that even a very novice person doesn’t have to be concerned about not having the correct materials. In introductory workshops Margaret guides you from the start in the drawing, mixing of colors, composition of the piece and critiquing, often resulting in a picture worth framing. Margaret always encourages you to be individual with your art, cultivating your own style.

Lynn Butt

Highlight of my Week

Attending Margaret's Wednesday morning watercolor class is a highlight of my week. Class sizes are small and the atmosphere is relaxed: the instruction is clear and specific to whatever aspect of painting we are dealing with at the time. Margaret's demonstrations are impressive - in fact, inspiring - and we are given time to practice new things with lots of encouragement. I'm already looking forward to this fall's classes.

Kay (Katherine Melvin)

Brush to Paper

The first time that I ever put a brush to paper was at your class at the Botanical Gardens. I learned so much from you in a very relaxed environment. I had so much fun. I always remember that I was sitting in the first row and every time you walked by me you would look at what I was doing and then promptly tell the class what not to do! All in good fun!
On a serious note, I learned so much in a very fun and constructive way. I learned to look at everything around me differently and to broaden my appreciation for natures’ beauty. Your love of what you do exudes in your teaching and you are able to make people feel that their unique approach to a subject is beautiful. It is a great environment for learning and expressing your own creativity!

Regards.

Joan Marie Aylward

Something new each Time

I have taken a number of classes with Margaret, and I learn something new each time. The atmosphere in the classes is very relaxed, Margaret has a way of making you feel good about your work, but points out ways to improve in a very constructive manner. She is such a talented artist, she knows her subject matter, and helps us “see” things in a whole new way! The locations for the workshop are always interesting and provide an opportunity to learn more about this great province of ours.

Sharon Smith

Lighthouse Picnics

Where do I begin.. You started me off on my passion with painting and for that alone I will be forever grateful.

From the very first workshop at the Botanical Gardens where you introduced me to watercolor and how to sketch and paint my first tulip, showing the importance and the techniques you introduced for shadowing and light brought my flower to life & I was hooked.

Ferryland lighthouse provided a backdrop for a wonderful workshop focusing on berries and plants found on the grounds surrounding the lighthouse, we spent time outside gathering subject matter and in the studio where we learned to sketch and paint the berries and plants. Margaret suggested we could take our easels outside and experience painting outdoors, which I decided to give a whirl, and what an adventure that was as although it was a beautiful day there was some wind and of course with the heat of the sun it provided a totally different understanding of painting in the elements. We experienced the fabulous cuisine of the lighthouse picnics which added a special element to the workshop. It was a tremendous workshop of learning, and making wonderful memories with new and old friends and an amazing instructor.

Woody Island's weekend Workshop was definitely one for the books.. We spent two nights at Woody Island where as part of the weekend we were entertained by musicians, had wonderful food and accommodations, had the opportunity to walk around the island and made amazing memories .The workshop focused on a seashore landscape and we spent time outside along the shoreline sketching and learning the complexities of rocks, water, sky & even fog and then into the studio to transform our sketch into a painting. Margaret provided individual instruction as well as group instruction. We were so enthralled with the workshop and the techniques Margaret shared with us as we watched her start with blank watercolor paper and see a beautiful seashore landscape come to life before our eyes. It was infectious and it seemed we couldn't tear ourselves away from our own artwork as we had to be called for meals and then everyone went right back to the studio to take advantage of every minute we could working on our pieces and availing of Margaret's guidance and expertise. All in all it was great weekend.

Dorothy Cantwell

A Brush With History

It has been challenging, educational, inspiring and fun to be a student in Margaret’s weekly art classes and a participant in her workshops which are offered each year. Margaret is a superb instructor who teaches watercolour technique, colour theory, composition and perspective as well as other factors that play a part in the creation of a painting. She frequently demonstrates her favourite techniques, shares any helpful information, provides excellent critiques and encourages peer reviews.

The workshops that have been organized most recently under the title "A Brush With History" have focused on the historical venues of Signal Hill, Government House, Brigus and Battle Harbour, Labrador. Margaret’s knowledge of flora and fauna and local historical facts shine through her presentations. Participating in these workshops adds to one’s artistic repertoire, and reinforces our experiences of the wonderful Newfoundland and Labrador surroundings in which we live. On site, workshop participants walk the immediate area, sketch, and weather permitting, paint en plein air. We looked at the Signal Hill rocks in great detail and the trip to Battle Harbour was a wonderful time to walk the hills behind the historic buildings and to paint outside overlooking the ocean and distant coast lines. We were immersed in the story of the Battle Harbour settlement and its recent restoration.

The group of students who meet on a weekly basis have learned a tremendous amount from Margaret. Our class showing "Where My Brush Takes Me" held every two years at the Botanical Gardens on Mt. Scio Road, shows the cumulative efforts of all students. It is exciting for everyone to complete paintings we enjoy and that we feel confident enough to have hung. Great fun!!

If you really want to paint , you will.

Marjory Macdiarmid

Great Locations

I have attended a number of Margaret's workshops over the last few years. She is a unique instructor - a talented artist who makes learning fun and ensures that each participant has a positive and rewarding experience. I particularly enjoyed the sessions held at Government House and Brigus - great locations with a true sense of history. I look forward to many more workshops with Margaret.

Eleanor King
St. John's, NL

Exceptional Teacher

I have been a piano teacher for fifty years and as a result have an understanding of the qualities necessary to teach. Margaret possesses all of these qualities. She is enthusiastic, organized, insightful, genuine, creative and inspirational; she is an exceptional teacher.

In Margaret's workshops and classes she promotes a relaxed environment in which each student is encouraged to express his or her own ideas and creativity.

Margaret's workshop on Newfoundland weeds has given me a new perspective and appreciation for their unique beauty.

Jane Steele

Random Thoughts from a Grateful Pupil

Wednesday afternoons from 3:30 - 5:30pm are, in a word, sacrosanct, because these two hours are set aside for a weekly Art Class with Margaret Walsh Best. There are five or six ladies in my group who simply delight in coming together with a teacher (quite literally) who transports us into a beautiful world of colour,shape, form in the botanical side of our world. A blade of grass; a leaf; a tree trunk or branch; water; the sky - full of beautiful clouds - or none at all; ordinary every day rocks, or, from the humblest simple flower to one of nature's masterpieces , we are encouraged to study, replicate or interpret in our own way what we see under the guidance of our teacher. We are indeed a fortunate group. If there are spaces available - make haste.

Margaret - from the heart.

Betty Dunphy

Outstanding Teacher

The two hours I spend at Margaret's art class are often the high points of my week. She provides helpful demonstrations of composition, colour and painting techniques. But, more important, and this is the key attribute of an outstanding teacher, she transmits her real passion. Thanks to her, my skills have improved and my ability to see and appreciate the visual arts has improved even more. (Margaret's flowers sing!)

Verna

Each Site is Unique and Interesting

I've attended several of Margaret's workshops and they are always all I could hope for with regard to being informative and enlightening in a relaxed atmosphere. Each site for these workshops has been as unique and interesting as the sessions themselves. One that I particularly enjoyed was the outdoor garden workshop at Hawthorne Cottage in Brigus. Margaret uses her knowledge of the anatomy of flowers, fruits, and inanimate objects to help her students transform subjects into a unique masterpiece on paper or canvas. I was encouraged to develop my own style while using her amazing techniques.

Trudy Veitch
Holyrood, NL

She Shares her Passion

I enjoy taking workshops from Margaret as she shares her passion for the subject so that you can connect with it on an intimate level. My resulting paintings resonated with that intimacy!

Michelle Whitten LaCour

The Consummate Artist and Teacher

I have always had a desire to paint but work and family commitments seemed to get in the way. I have a friend who was a student of Margaret's and , she told me of a workshop Margaret was offering and that I should register, which I did, and from that point on I was hooked. Margaret's skill as a teacher and her ability as an artist are what make her so special. She taught me to view the ordinary things in an extraordinary way. The colors in the sky, the motion in the waves of the ocean and the complex colors and shading in flowers. Since that first workshop I have gone on to take lessons from Margaret and I have also taken many workshops with the end result being that I entered three of my paintings in an Art show and actually sold two of them. Under Margaret's guidance I feel that I have grown with every class that I have taken from her, she is the consummate Artist and Teacher.

Lynn Butt

Margaret has a Knack for Teaching

I have taken several workshops hosted by Margaret and have thoroughly enjoyed all of them. I especailly enjoy the workshops doing flowers because I think Margaret is the best. Also, I continue to take classes from Margaret because her classes always have something new to offer. Margaret has a knack for teaching new ways to learn while still keeping our own style.

Joan Roberts

Workshop with Flowers

I have taken several workshops hosted by Margaret and have thoroughly enjoyed all of them. I especailly enjoy the workshops doing flowers because I think Margaret is the best. Also, I continue to take classes from Margaret because her classes always have something new to offer. Margaret has a knack for teaching new ways to learn while still keeping our own style.

Joan Roberts

Makes You Feel Confident

Workshops/classes with Margaret are always something I look forward to and love! Her talent she shares so generously with her students and she demonstrates each technique she teaches in such a way that it makes you feel confident and working with watercolors less intimidating.

She provides a stress free environment with lots of encouragement, great organization and lots of laughter. MARGARET is the BEST!

Paula Collingwood