Bermudian artists can capture some of the magic of Oriental painting through a watercolour workshop being offered by Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art.

The workshop will be taught by Masterworks' artist-in-residence, Matthew Phinn.

Mr. Phinn, 32, is in Bermuda after seven years painting in Japan. He is originally from Doncaster, Yorkshire, England.

The workshops, on August 5, 12 and 19, are open to anyone over the age of 14.

"Anyone can learn to paint," Mr. Phinn said. "A lot of the interesting art styles come from people who aren't necessary talented, but have their own style."

In addition to Japanese artistry his workshops will offer some basic watercolour techniques such as avoiding a muddy painting, and shortcuts in mixing paint.

"The only hard thing about water colours is stopping it from getting dirty," he said.

Mr. Phinn said that in Japan the traditional arts and crafts are slightly more popular than contemporary art.

"While I was there I studied ink painting in Japan, and more traditional English techniques," he said.

Mr. Phinn said what he took away from Japan is the Japanese approach to skill.

"In Japanese culture you really try hard to do the best you can," he said.

Mr. Phinn first visited Bermuda three years ago and was amazed by the beauty of the Island.

"A friend here pointed out the Masterworks Foundation artist-in-residence programme. I applied there, and I arrived a couple of weeks ago."

Such a dramatic geographical move – from pagodas to palm trees – has meant a change in his colour palette.

"It is totally different here," he said. "I had to get a special blue. I had to go for a German colour because the right blue was hard to find."

He said he had looked at photos of Bermuda before coming to the Island to get the right colour blends, but the photos didn't do the Island justice.

"Now I have all the right colours," he said.

He described his work as being in two distinct categories, the first being a stylised technique for landscapes in watercolour and the second a conceptual approach to abstract oil painting.

According to Mr. Phinn, an interest in painting runs in his family.

"My auntie was a painter," he said. "I studied contemporary art in university. Painting is something I have always done. I decided to turn professional a few years ago."

He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Leeds University in Leeds, Yorkshire, which included a residency at the University of California.

He painted a lot in England, before doing a residency in Japan.

"I was teaching quite a lot," he said. "I spent two years as an English teacher. During those two years I learned to speak Japanese. I can speak it, but I can't write it or read it very well. After that I was able to get jobs as an artist. I also taught painting workshops."

While in Japan he made a name for himself as an artist.

"It is not goodbye to Japan," he said. "I plan to go back regularly to do shows."

He normally paints in the studio because he has a detailed technique. While in Bermuda, though, he expects to be painting a lot outdoors.

"I will probably be outside to get the colour quite right. I don't like the normal beach scenes. I like to be a bit playful with the technique. I like to paint a lot of water and get a bit abstract with the water."

He hopes to paint people in their environment.

After leaving Bermuda at the end of September he plans to live in London.

"I want to try to establish myself there," he said. "In Japan I became quite established over the years, so I will have to do that all over."

He decided to leave Japan because he missed his friends and family.

"Seven years is a long time to be away," he said. "In England I will be painting England. I normally paint very large paintings. One of my main areas is selling artwork to hospitals and hotels. The Japanese haven't got the room space for the larger paintings."

In Bermuda, you also have to consider the wall space aspect of things, so I will be doing medium-sized paintings.

"While living in in the town of St. George's as the Masterworks artist-in-residence, I have met some really nice painters.

"I met Bermudian artist Otto Trott at the airport, and I also met Vernon Clarke. That was nice."

Mr. Phinn will exhibit his work from September 18 to 30 in the Rick Faries Gallery at Masterworks in the Botanical Gardens.

Mr. Phinn's workshop showing his fusion of traditional western painting techniques and Japanese brushwork and aesthetic ideals of simplicity and beauty will be held on August 5, 12 and 19 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The cost is $90 for members and $100 for non-members.

Contact the Masterworks Museum of Bermuda on 236-2950 for further details. Or check out www.bermudamasterworks.com or www.matthewphinn.com.