Student Spotlight: Sally Mackay, Painting Course

Lead by Catharine Davison and Andrew Mackenzie, the Painting Course is for those who want to advance their knowledge, skill and application in the discipline of painting. Practicing artists can challenge their current artistic position and newer students will develop the confidence to produce ambitious work. 

Having returned for a second year of the course, we spoke with Sally Mackay about her experience at LSA and how she feels about returning for a third year.

Why did you choose to study the Painting Course at Leith School of Art?  

For about fifteen years I went to weekly portrait painting evening classes. One day I recognised it was the highlight of my week; I just wanted to do more. I came along to an LSA Open Day and didn’t want to leave. The studio atmosphere felt familiar as I studied architecture at University, students were welcoming and doing great work and I wanted to be part of it. I had a long chat with Catharine and realised it would be challenging and exciting. I sent my application in the same day.
 

How would you describe your time at Leith School of Art? 

I have absolutely loved my time at Leith School of Art. It has more than lived up to expectations. I learn so much and work so hard each day I can hardly speak when I get home. The quality of teaching and the amount of personal attention we get is exceptional. The tutors also complement each other very well. There is a great studio dynamic; a sense of common purpose and students discuss each other’s work with thoughtfulness and insight. The mix of first and second years (and soon third years) working together is great.
 
Practical things I have learned include a better understanding of tone and colour, and how if you get the tone right you can use subjective colour, disassociating colour and form. I have always painted what is in front of me up till now so this has been a revelation.  I have also learned to draw in a different way to produce drawings which are useful to paint from and to enjoy drawing in galleries.
 
I like the rigour of developing a project over 6 or 8 weeks, how one painting leads to another, how to paint purposefully, and to only change one thing (medium, scale, colour palette) from one painting to the next. 
I have also learned the difference between subject matter and theme, useful for planning a series of paintings, and have loved concentrating on words like ‘visceral’ and ‘tenderness’ as I paint.
 
I approached the second year with more confidence than the first. I now know that if I keep working away and producing drawings and paintings something will happen and a project will come. I am delighted the course has been extended to three years. It feels liberating to be only halfway through rather than nearly at the end. I’m going to take some risks with the next project.
 

You'll be returning again for a third year on the course, but what about afterwards? Will you keep up your practice when you leave the Painting Course? 

Yes, I knew from the beginning I didn’t want this to be a ‘year out’ and then go back to my old life. I still work as an architect 2 ½ days a week and hope to continue this balance of painting and architecture. I think about painting and colour and form all the time.
 
I hope to rent a studio with friends from the course so we can continue to paint together and discuss our work as we have over the past 2 years. I would like to start submitting paintings for exhibitions and selling my work. I will definitely keep involved with LSA, but whether it is a year long course like Advancing Studio Practice or Mentoring, or whether it is short / summer courses I am not sure.
 

How do you think the Painting Course has/will prepare you for post-graduation life? 

Our tutors make us work hard and don’t give us the answers which has been good training for setting up projects for ourselves. I already have a few project ideas churning around in my head, and a stash of sketchbooks to refer to. I now have a better idea how to approach them, and how to go about developing a series of paintings which I think will be useful for post-graduation life.
 

Do you have any advice for new and/or current students? 

It’s ok having a job for a couple of days a week as well – in fact it’s probably good to have a break as the course is quite intense. I always enjoy coming in fresh every Monday morning.
 
Andrew and Catharine will really push you. Take on board everything they say, try things you wouldn’t have done and paint and draw as much as you can.