Her classes ranged from beginners to professionals and yet everyone walked away having learned new things. This particular seminar was one in which nobody but Helen painted. This master artist divested herself of 50 years of knowledge, selfessly and with exceeding charm, an earthy humor, and with solid truth. A Van Wyk Critique Everyone is basically strangers on the first day of an art seminar. It is somewhat uncomfortable before the first lunch break because nobody knows anything about each other, and you would never want to be called up in front of a class full of strangers.
Mortification sets in.
You always expected that Helen was going to let you have it, both barrels, no punches pulled. Never in a condescending way but also never gently. I would be shortchanging you if I glossed over your errors. Always horizontal, easy to read. She did find improvable things with the painting - and she was absolutely, completely correct in finding the weak points I had overlooked.