This is part of the Painting Strategies series
Kate Measham’s workshops are designed to shake things up a bit. We ALL get set in our ways. In fact, sometimes people think still lives are a bit boring. It is entirely, ENTIRELY our job, and your job, to make sure your work is NOT boring.
This workshop is not about painting in any particular media. It is about what you want to paint and how to make it interesting for you and, possibly, for anyone else looking at it. If you have done any drawing or painting you will understand the purpose of the course. It is relevant for everyone interested in creating interesting work, whether they are new to art or an old hand.
Doing a still life is not an easy way out, not “I’m just doing a still life”. This is not how we view it. We think of it as a vehicle to explore composition and why we paint and draw. It is just the beginning. Come and join in.
- Tutor, Kate Measham
- 2nd March, 2026
- 10.00- 4.00
- £90/day
- At Mottisfont Village Hall
- Suitable for intermediate students, and those that have done a beginners course.
- Please bring your own lunch
What To Expect, The Long and the Short of it, Still Life 2026
The day will start with drawing exercises followed by a brief discussion about still life and composition.
You will be thinking about different compositions, approaches, and how to surprise ourselves. This seems to be one of the important elements of interesting composition.
There will be exercises to explore different compositional ideas. You will be doing a lot of quick sketches until you find a couple you are interested in pursuing. These sketches you will explore further. Kate will help, discuss your plans with you and make suggestions where appropriate. Each student will choose their own path. It is important for you to take ownership of what you are doing.
You will be drawing and planning in the morning, and working with colour (or not colour) into the afternoon. The end results may not be finished entirely. However, you will have taken a playful step into a new way to approach all your work. This is not limited to still life.
Materials
Please bring materials you are happy using. There must an element of colour (paint, ink, whatever) and drawing materials. You need a pad or sketchbook for taking notes, sketching and thinking. A few bits of large (A2) paper to draw on and a surface that can take colour (canvas, primed paper etc).
Please make sure you have relevant brushes, solvent, erasers, jam jars, apron, rubbish bag, newspaper.
I will provide still life materials.
Other workshops in the Painting Strategies series: