There is a deep joy to find a passion and to work hard, every day, to become better at it. When this focus is on a practice that is mindful, our whole being finds a sense of peace and contentment. In yoga, we keep stretching and little by little our bodies respond. In art, we look and draw and look and paint, again and again, and our personal creativity develops. Working and persevering allow us to be in our own space, in our own mind. We live in troubled times. I have found myself retreating away from the horrors of media, who seem obsessed with talking with rising panic about even the smallest issue; the printed word full of judgment and intolerance and the brain numbing so-called reality programmes that seem so far away from decent “normality”. Art is a wonderful practice in mindfulness. In creating, we are held in the present and all other thoughts, like daily chores, anxieties and the ever-increasing buzz of the world, recede. Wherever one is on the creative journey, art enables u

Many artists teach art as well as create. Sometimes it is for additional income, but I think, like me, most teach to share their love of their subject. When I teach and share my passion, ideas and concepts, I also extend my own learning. Living in France, I can go to the market and spend time chatting about a particular tomato, how it grows, how it tastes, recipes it suits. This weekly chatter gives a true understanding about the purchase and its possibilities. Yes, shopping can take a while! The joy is through the discussion, whilst savouring the smell and texture of the tomato and the glorious range of colours. The same is true for art. Sharing information and discussing knowledge, with passion and an inquiring mind, is the best way to extend learning. This discussion, like the tomato, should delight in engaging all the senses as this is how we understand art as a language. Too often art classes rely solely on copying, or an ABC of how to create one particular picture. I have heard o