Part of the Still Life Strategy Series
Do not worry if it is a while since you picked up a pencil creatively, or a brush, or a stick of glue. Flex your wings and give this a go. Equally, if you have been painting for ages these sessions are also for you.
This workshop is to encourage you to take a walk on the wild side. Let’s see what happens.
- Tutor, Kate Measham
- 20th April, 2026
- 10.00- 4.00
- £90/day
- At Mottisfont Village Hall
- Suitable for intermediate students
- Please bring your own lunch
What to Expect on Why is Still Life so Square?
The day will start with drawing exercises followed by a brief discussion about still live, and the use of the word square.
How to not be square is the aim. You will be encouraged to be neither square (nor rectangular) of shape, nor square of ambition. This could be as straight forward as painting a still life on a circular support, or it could be extravagantly wild.
We all buy canvases, pads, boards in regular shapes and sizes, pre-determined by someone else. If you turn up at an art class someone else has chosen the bits and pieces in the still life. If you want to enter an open competition there are often rules about size, framing, a theme etc. that you might not necessarily have chosen. Sometimes these constraints are good. Sometimes you should try doing what you want.
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 and other materials.
Other Workshops in the Painting Strategy Series: