Workshop in progress
Action shot of me painting
Not quite sure what I'm doing there
Tripoli pic wot I sold
Seating Aggro
Why is it that seating arrangements can be the cause of so much aggro? I've seen it so many times over the years, and have learned never to get involved. When new students arrive at the first session of a painting course, I let people choose their places as freely as possible. Of course, some people will always exploit a situation and try to claim more space, often leaving others with a space defecit. But it's usually not until people return to the second and third sessions that problems arise. The same thing can happen on a coach tour - passengers who return to a different seat are just courting trouble big-time. I've seen bad feeling and resentment grow from a tiny seed into virtual warfare on many occasion - it's never got to fisticuffs, but I reckon its only a matter of time.
Today's workshop was notable for its seating aggro. First there was the lady who is in an electronic wheelchair who always sits at the same seat but couldn't today because for some reason I seemed to attract a larger number of sitters-in (including Peter Clayton, one of the archeological experts who said he'd come along to see how much paint it takes to paint a pyramid! She found herself another place to sit and insisted that she could see okay, but grumbled quite vocally about those people who sat in and took places from those that wanted to paint. Another lady, who only came along after the 2nd session and made herself known to me by criticizing (not sure if thats spelt right) my trees ("never seen trees that colour before") and has made constant descenting remarks on almost every session since, upset another couple who have always sat in the same place from day one, by trying to muscle in on their table! The confrontation got quite heated, and the woman went off to find another seat, poking another woman with her handbag in the process, accidentally I might say, but enough to spark off yet another little confrontation, all within the space of a few minutes.
Honestly, it astounds me sometimes how ferocious people can be over such trivial things. As I say, I make it my policy to not get involved at all, because it entails taking some sort of sides.
On a positive note, I sold one of the paintings today - HURRAAAAH - it's the one I did of Tripoli, with people in.
1 Comment(s).
Posted by Juli:
Oh yes, i think wars were started over seating. You are wise not to take sides. I always imagine i have a can of petrol in one hand and a can of water in the other....then i have a choice to fuel the fire or put it out. We put seating stickers for the elderly and disabled in church...it is amazing how many able bodied people take them off then deny it....Great news about the painting!!