drawing still life
Duration: 3 hours
Group Size: 4 to 15 participants
Location: at my studio for small groups in Antwerp, private homes, office meeting rooms, rented events space of your choosing. All locations to be accessible by public transport
Moderator: Henry Whysall , artist with 25 years experience in painting, drawing, art history, design and architecture
Languages: native English, fluent French, very good understanding of Dutch, working Italian and Spanish
Workshop overview
Learning Outcomes
Workshop Structure
Materials
Pricing
General
Workshop Overview
Still life is the depiction of inanimate objects—such as flowers, food, or everyday items— arranged to explore shape, light, and composition. It is one of the four traditional pillars of painting, alongside landscape, the figure, and portraiture.
This session introduces still life through drawing and painting, designed for beginners who want to connect as a group while learning the art of observation and the joy of mark making.
The workshop offers a balance of gentle structure and personal guidance in a relaxed setting. It’s both a moment of creative discovery and a shared experience of making images together.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the session, participants will:
Understand basic principles of still life composition
Gain confidence in observational drawing
Learn essential techniques in acrylic, gouache or water colour
Complete a small painted study
Learnt the first principals of mark making and composing an image
Workshop Structure
Welcome & Introduction (10 - 15 min)
Brief presentation on the tradition and essential position of the still life in art
Display of examples throughout the ages
Overview of materials and brief outline
Drawing Session (45 mins – 1 hour)
Warm-up exercises, choosing your marks and how to use the page
Guided still life drawing on paper
One-on-one support and feedback as drawing progresses
Painting Session (1.5 hours)
Moving from drawing study to painting on small canvases
What is my strategy? - simplify, focus on a detail, re-arrange…
Independent work with guidance
Closing & Sharing (15 mins)
Informal group sharing of work
Likes, discussion and lessons learnt
Round up questions
Materials
All materials can be provided, or a materials list can be sent in advance if participants prefer to bring their own. Typical materials include:
Drawing paper & pencils
Small canvases or canvas boards
Acrylic or water colour paints
Brushes, palettes, cloths, beakers
Still life objects arranged on-site from objects in the venue
Pricing
Base fee for smaller group, 4 - 8 participants - €300
Base fee for larger group, 9 - 15 participants - €400
Materials, €15 per person
All workshops and team building sessions are tailored made. Prices may vary.
General
I’ll arrive 45 minutes before the session to prepare and set up the space. I recommend that participants arrive around 15 minutes early to settle in and make the most of the experience.
We’ll begin with a brief group tidy-up at the end of the session—this is part of normal studio practice. I’ll take care of the remaining clean-up afterwards.