I'm sorry I wasn't able to join you on what looked like a really good day with an inspiring new model. I spent the weekend running a workshop and I had the opportunity to share my enthusiasm for the life drawing sessions at Redbrick Mill. A few were fearful but I re-assured them that all levels of skill and experience were welcomed but now look what you've done, gone and undermined all my good work. The work above is uniformly excellent and will terrify a beginner, I'm really impressed by the range and quality of everyone's contribution. As always there are those who pull from the crowd and my front runners are the usual suspects. Emma, a really fine drawing showing a real command of tone, I always thought you were an accomplished colourist but now I can see how that is supported by your knowledge of tone. Hadyn, another beautiful watercolour, sensitive but with a lovely graphic edge to it like Chris F's superb piece. Russell, a lovely controlled piece of work, no fireworks but a piece with real authority especially that head which would make a tremendous piece in it's own right. I would be tempted to crop it out. Sandra and Patrick, both really strong emblematic paintings, I love them both, they make me wish I had been there. Also love Teresa's piece, but the challenge now is to persuade those timid beginners that this was just a lucky day and they have nothing to fear! Well done folks, it's inspiring to see such good work from afar - see you Thursday!

Thanks Nikki/Heidi - The Mad Hatter portrait day will definitely be a session not to be missed! You were great on the Burlesque Day, a real star - thank you!

Thank you Russell - You're hired !

Thanks Russell for an excellent blog. I was disappointed with my work and like you I felt a fantastic opportunity had been missed. In my mind I had the illustrations of Brian Saunders, a brilliant illustrator from the sixties who would have nailed this subject, it needed to be graphic and light but also sensual and I missed all those qualities by a mile. It's one of those subjects that having done it you want a second shot because now you know how it should be done. Maybe we'll do it again and give Heidi the chance to scare us with her pink wig (not a euphemism Roger but an actual shocking pink wig!) I'll talk to Tony and see if we can find a date meanwhile invest in some fluorescent paint, you're going to need it! Sandra had the perfect response after about an hour and Chris F comes closest to the spirit of the subject in my mind but I also like the wit of Anne's piece.

Thank you Russell for your wit and wisdom, again my apologies for missing Thursday made all the more frustrating when I see the fine work being produced and missing Joseph always an inspiring model. My car has the finest minds of Hornsea baffled, the two of them are completely stumped and are certain it's not collateral damage from Potatogeddon as it's now known, the people in these parts point and refer to me as the 'The Spud Fella' so Tony's thoughtful replacement of my absent drawing seems prescient. As for Anne, being in the same room as Michael Gove and not throwing something at him seems extraordinary, maybe she lacked ammunition in which case I can supply her with a particular root vegetable guaranteed to do damage! Hopefully see you next week and thanks again Russell. Oh and as for missing parts, it makes me think that my idea of having the model wear socks and mittens might help those with fingers and toes phobia!

Hi Emma Some good responses from Sandra and David who I worked with at Bretton for a number of years and it's interesting and wonderful to be reminded what a good teacher he was. Can I add a few simple thoughts. Firstly it seems to me that the apprentice painter is seeking skills to express ideas in that order. The skills which are developed enable confidence especially when confronted by non-enlightened family and friends, but they also enable expression insofar as they give you choices and alternatives. But skills alone are not enough, skills should develop in tandem with ideas so the desire to express becomes the engine to progress. I think prescription is no bad thing initially, it's learning with armbands but eventually the learner has to go solo and understand the limits of their skills in order to desire and develop further. If you can only paint like Ben Nicholson than initially that's wonderful but eventually it becomes a trap, a cage and diminishes rather than encourages growth. My view is a wide range of experiences in different media tackling different subjects creates a more expressive and versatile artist able to be both subtle and persuasive in the images they create. David is quite correct in suggesting learning needs to be broken down into manageable chunks and also quite right in saying the true test of learning is being able to pass on what you have learnt to others, in other words to be confident in your knowledge. I imagine you are a very good teacher, sympathetic and intelligent in your responses, a good listener which we all know is important and someone who will instill confidence and a desire to pursue independent learning, I'm sure your students are learning a great deal. My view is if you can encourage their creativity and give them the confidence to grow, they will eventually assert their own identity and like children it won't always be what you expect and that's a good thing. Good luck.