I love still life and have used the subject of still life in one way or another in my work for a very long time. However, it is always as a reflection of a real life domestic space - rather than the staged set up of perfect flowers, an elegant bottle, a poised book. My practice of using meditation within teaching ties in perfectly with my interest in the Japanese aesthetic of Wabi Sabi. The perfect imperfection of daily life are noticed and celebrated; the washing up bowl, the discarded socks on the floor, the accidental shadow between the washing up liquid, hand soap and a jam jar on the kitchen window sill. The dead flowers in a vase. The beauty of the everyday. The impermanence of it all.

Still life does not have to be still. In this course you will be working fast and freely from a still life set up in your own studio with both drawing and painting materials, and anything in between. The objects will not be still, they will move, or rather, be moved. You may work on canvas, but will be encouraged to work on any surface, including scraps of cardboard, paper, loose canvas, fabrics, table cloths etc that can be moved around themselves, pinned to the wall in various configurations as you work. You will be encouraged to cut, collage and rethink the composition every now and then throughout the day.

Working in this free and flexible way enables the artist to work much more intuitively. The resulting paintings and drawings have a directness, playfulness and an animated energy. It keeps work fresh from the beginning to the resolution of the piece. The process enables layers and imagery to evolve and grow in a way that can only arrive through this kind of approach.

Course Dates: Wed 15 - Fri 17 October

Timings: 9.30am - 12.30pm UK time (BST) for workshop plus optional Q&A session in the afternoon 4-5pm

Cost: £120 includes a recording to follow and revisit at your own pace

Booking: email me for payment details and register via Zoom with the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ohPf9YNISk2yZgr0jZwoqQ

passcode: notsostill