The Blue Teapot School Manifesto

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The Blue Teapot School originated in 1981 as a group of artists who painted outdoors in San Francisco gardens. The group continues, as it has from its inception, to meet sporadically, in harmony with its members’ wishes. We are totally serious about our commitment to the light touch, especially enjoying the dictionary definition of “manifesto,” which includes the fact that manifestos are created by a person or group regarded as having some public importance.

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Blue Teapot School Manifesto

1. The kitchen table or the office desk may serve as a studio.

Light may fall beautifully across a filing cabinet or on a pile of dirty dishes.

Planning to paint spring flowers, they included the blue teapot in their compositions.

The Blue Teapot School has seeing as its first principle.

It is a school without fixed location, existing where its members are.

At dull meetings, one member finds pleasure in the pattern of a carpet under foot.

Rushed through commute, a member keeps a sketchbook ready to use when time allows.

About to leave for a baseball game, a young member sits on her back steps, finishing a drawing of red lilies.

2. The Blue Teapot School is a school of artists, but it does not cultivate egotism and it does not encourage sycophants.

The Blue Teapot School teaches lessons, which anyone may join.

The Blue Teapot School is devoted to self-expression, and acknowledges the self-expression of others.

The Blue Teapot School fosters sharing, compassion, and equality.

The Blue Teapot School is infused with laughter, as well as tea.

3. Some in the Blue Teapot School are orderly, others are not.

Some paint often, others seldom.

Some paint large, others small.

Some in the Blue Teapot School paint with modern paints, others use traditional media.

Some paint inside, others outside.

4. Members of the Blue Teapot School know that hardships of life are better endured when one has art as part of experience.

Members of the Blue Teapot School support arts in general, while painting is their focus.

Members of the Blue Teapot School are self-motivated.

Members of the Blue Teapot School share food and lodging, as well as companionship.

The Blue Teapot School speaks without fear, talks without argument, and discusses without the need to conclude.

5. The Blue Teapot School is founded on openness, love of art, and the practice of understanding other people’s perspectives.

The Blue Teapot School practices constructive criticism. Both amateur and professional members profit from this.

At The Blue Teapot School, assisting another is understood to be different from interfering, speaking one’s mind and heart are understood to be different from dominating, and painting pictures is understood to be pleasure.