Fresh Eyes

Anna Rose Bain discusses the passions of being an artist and helping students transform their own work

SCOTTSDALE ARTISTS' SCHOOL: How did the opportunity arise to teach at the Scottsdale Artists' School? ANNA ROSE BAIN: A friend of mine recommended me to the executive director, who called me shortly afterward to invite me to teach at the school. I was honored by the invitation, as I've taken workshops at the school, which have been instrumental in my development as an artist.

SAS: What do you look forward to most when teaching your workshop?

AB: I love watching a transformation take place in my students from the first day to the last day of the workshop. It starts out with this nervous energy, which turns to terror, which eventually becomes a breakthrough, which then leads to confidence in the students' developing skills. Students walk out of my workshops feeling exhausted but invigorated at the same time, and motivated to get back to their studios and put in the work. I've seen the transformation dozens of times, but I'm still amazed every time. It is such an honor to bear witness to another person's growth and even more of an honor to be the catalyst for that growth.

SAS: Has painting portraits of women and children always been your passion?