Creative Waves in Tortola: Teaching Drawing in the Caribbean

During a recent holiday to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands, I had the great joy of spending time with my daughter and her family — but I also had the unexpected pleasure of teaching art in one of the most beautiful settings imaginable.

While on the island, I was invited to teach a beginner’s drawing class at Creative Waves, a vibrant and welcoming art hub based in Tortola. From the moment I arrived, I knew this was a special place — full of creativity, curiosity and a genuine love of learning.(You can visit Creative Waves here: https://www.creativewavesbvi.com/)

Teaching Beginners: Starting with Strong Foundations

The students I met at Creative Waves were beginner artists. When teaching beginners, I always believe that confidence comes from understanding simple forms — learning how to see, rather than just how to copy.

With that in mind, I decided to teach Lesson 1 (The Cylinder) and Lesson 4 (Still Life) from my Beginner Drawing Series.

Lesson One focuses on the cylinder — one of the most important foundational forms in drawing. It may sound simple, but understanding cylinders unlocks so much: bottles, cups, boats, buildings, and even parts of the human figure all rely on this form. By slowing down and really observing proportion, ellipse, and tone, the students began to see objects differently almost immediately.

From Simple Forms to a Complete Still Life

Once the students had a grasp of basic form, we moved on to Lesson Four: Still Life. This lesson brings everything together — structure, observation, proportion and shading — and allows students to apply their skills in a more expressive and satisfying way.

By building their still life drawings from simple forms the results were genuinely impressive. The transformation in confidence was a joy to witness. There’s nothing quite like seeing that moment when someone realises, “I can actually do this.”

A Joy to Teach — and a Delight to See the Results

Every student approached the work with enthusiasm and openness, and they should be incredibly proud of what they achieved. For beginners, the quality of their final drawings was outstanding — but more importantly, they left with tools they can continue to use and build upon.

There was a real sense of excitement in the room as the drawings developed, and by the end of the session, everyone was delighted with their results. As a teacher, that feeling never gets old.

Continuing the Journey Online

One of the most rewarding outcomes of the class is that the students are now planning to continue working with me through my online art school until I return to Tortola next year. This is exactly what my courses are designed for — allowing students to learn at their own pace, wherever they are in the world, while still feeling supported and connected.

If you’re a beginner and would like to build strong drawing foundations, these same lessons are available online as part of my Beginner Drawing Series. The courses guide you step by step, starting with simple forms and progressing towards more complete and confident drawings.

You can explore all available courses here:👉 https://www.joanlawsonart.com/courses

Art Has No Borders

Teaching at Creative Waves was a reminder that art truly has no borders. Whether in my studio, online, or in a Caribbean art hub, the joy of learning to draw — and discovering what you’re capable of — is universal.

I’m incredibly grateful to Creative Waves for the warm welcome, and to the wonderful students who made the experience so memorable. I’m already looking forward to returning next year and seeing how their work has evolved.

Until then, I’ll be cheering them on from afar ✨

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