When a celebrated Hollywood actor unexpectedly walked into her art studio seeking lessons, artist Lynne Gougeon found herself agreeably surprised.
Lynne GougeonDavid Bradley, a familiar face from iconic roles in the Harry Potter films and Game of Thrones, had recently relocated to Leamington Spa and was seeking a new creative outlet.
“I was simply very impressed with her as a person, and clearly, she was passionate about what she did,” Bradley recalled. “I asked, ‘Do you teach?’”
“She said yes. I replied, ‘May I have a go?’”
Having no prior experience with painting, not even during his school years, the 84-year-old actor was compelled to start with the absolute fundamentals.
“I don’t think he could manage the paintbrush on the first lesson,” Gougeon admitted, though she quickly added, “he took to it straight away.”
“I think if you’ve never painted before, you learn very quickly.”
Still actively engaged in his acting career, with an upcoming Channel 4 thriller and new film projects in development, Bradley acknowledged that his commitments to Hollywood occasionally took precedence.
“I did have to miss one art lesson to go to the Oscars,” Bradley shared with a smile, noting that the production he starred in, Guillermo del Toro’s *Pinocchio*, ultimately won an award.
“It was the best excuse I’ve ever heard for missing a lesson,” Gougeon remarked.
The lifelong Aston Villa enthusiast discovered his new mentor at the Jephson Gardens Gallery, which is operated by Leamington Studio Artists.
He commenced two-hour weekly sessions with Gougeon, quickly developing a fondness for abstract, “slightly off-the-wall pieces.”
Gougeon, who also leads the Kitchen Table Art Club, offering art classes for children at her home, described Bradley’s artistic output as “bonkers” and “brilliant.”
“He is very creative, very confident in trying different techniques,” she stated. “He’s keen to learn completely different things, inspired by different artists, different things he sees, different things he feels, and purely by the materials themselves as well.”
Encouraged to “use his imagination,” Bradley noted that one of his most cherished works incorporates plants gathered from the park, affixed to a board and painted in “wacky colours.”
Another favoured piece merges the majestic peaks of the Dolomites with a fond recollection of a dry stone wall in Derbyshire.
He firmly believes that art is accessible to everyone. “It’s not about how good you are or what you can achieve and get exhibitions and whatever it is — everybody can paint.”
Murray Close/Getty ImagesThe esteemed actor likens his instructor’s approach to that of exceptional film directors.
“They’re not there to teach me how to act. They’re the same as what Lynne does.
“They’re there to… see what you bring to the table and bring out the best in you and show you how to make the most of the possibilities that are there.”
Bradley first publicly displayed his artwork earlier this year as part of an exhibition featuring Gougeon’s students’ creations.
“We had hundreds and hundreds of people come over the month, and everybody smiled,” Gougeon recounted, adding that her famous student had even received a couple of purchase inquiries.
“Several people were very interested in buying, I think the stone wall one, and then there was a lovely abstract piece.”
“I don’t really want to do that, because you get quite attached to stuff,” Bradley confessed, though he admitted he was “so chuffed” to be part of the exhibition.
Getty ImagesWhile Gougeon expressed that she would “love to get David’s work back on the wall” at some point, for now, the actor is content with his children displaying his art in their homes. He also shares a gallery wall in his conservatory with his 10-year-old granddaughter.
“It’s just brought something that I’ve found I love doing and it stretches me,” he stated.
“Anyone who takes up painting or anything, sculpture or whatever, you can never claim to be bored.
“Sometimes I’ve got up at three o’clock in the morning, and I’ll go downstairs and just add some touches, and look at it next morning, now, ‘I shouldn’t have had that second, third glass of wine,’ rub it out, do something else.
“But it’s a constantly evolving thing. And I think the hardest thing for me to do is to know when to let go and say that’s finished.”
The pair have since forged a strong friendship, with Gougeon describing their sessions as “highly entertaining” as she is privy to backstage anecdotes.
“He’ll refer to Judy or Charles or Tom Hanks, but that’s his life… the stories are absolutely brilliant, and the voices are brilliant as well.”
His real-life persona stands in stark contrast to some of the more unsavoury characters he has portrayed on screen, she observes.
“He’s just so full of life and full of stories, and the most genuine, lovely person you could ever meet,” she affirmed.
Business Style Takeaway: The journey of David Bradley highlights the transformative power of embracing new creative pursuits, irrespective of age or professional background. For global brands and executives, this underscores the value of fostering environments that encourage personal growth and unexpected passions, which can lead to unique perspectives and enriched professional lives.
Original article : www.bbc.com