Painting of still life by Victoria Gillow

Studio Still Life - Inspired by Matisse

Acrylic / Mixed Media / Still Life - Materials included

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Course details

A fun exploration into Matisse’s studio and interiors, the rooms, the windows – the gardens and sea beyond. This course is all about colour, pattern and line, explored in a playful and vibrant way.

Open Window, Collioure, 1905, Henri Matisse

This course invites artists to explore the rich and versatile genre of still life through the lens of colour, composition, pattern, and line. Drawing inspiration from Henri Matisse, students will be guided into a vibrant world of expressive interiors and spaces, where colour and form are used to create depth and atmosphere. Throughout the course, participants will be supported and guided by professional artist and tutor Victoria Gillow, whose thoughtful teaching and artistic insight will encourage both confidence and individual exploration.

Using Matisse’s studios and interiors as a starting point, we will playfully re-create three interior spaces with views to the sea, similar to that of — the studios/rooms Matisse painted in Collioure (1905), Morocco (1912), and Nice (1918). Works such as Open Window, Collioure will act as touchstones, transforming the studio itself into an immersive environment, designed to feel like stepping into Matisse’s world.

Across the first days, participants will take part in guided, fun exercises using drawing materials and acrylic paint, each focusing on different aspects of Matisse’s practice. These sessions are designed to build confidence while encouraging individual interpretation and personal decision-making.

As the course progresses into days two and three, artists will move towards developing two or three larger-scale works inspired by the studio surroundings in St Ives and its sea views.

The outcome will be a vibrant and personal response to colour, pattern, and form, rooted in the still life tradition but interpreted through a contemporary, expressive lens inspired by Matisse.

NB: Expect bold Fauvist colour, expressive interiors, and playful still life setups — from Moroccan-inspired arrangements with fruit bowls, patterned fabrics, and cheese plants, to studio corners with windows opening onto the sea.

sketchbook with a painted still life by Victoria Gillow

Day to day plan

Friday

The day begins with an introduction to Matisse’s still lifes and interiors, using constructed room sets, plants and props as starting points. Through guided sketchbook work and larger drawings, students will explore intuitive mark-making, line, pattern and simplified form, before introducing colour grounds inspired by the bold simplicity of Matisse’s ‘The Red Studio’.

Sat

The day starts with a recap of colour and linear composition, referencing still life and space beyond through artists such as Matisse, Ben Nicholson Patrick Heron and Mary Feddon. A late-morning visit to Tate follows. Back in the studio, students will explore limited-palette colour mixing, composition choices and scale, supported by demonstrations, reviews and ongoing discussions throughout the day.

Sun

The day focuses on developing large-scale works on canvas or primed board. Using Matisse’s Open Window at Collioure and Moroccan interiors as reference points, students will work on their compositions and colour. A simplified figure may be introduced as an optional extension, encouraging individual interpretation and personal direction. All students will be encouraged to take their work their own way.

What will I learn?

  • Gain confidence using vibrant, expressive colour with an understanding of balance and harmony
  • Understand simple colour theory and mixing using a limited palette
  • Use pattern, mark-making and space to describe form and create energetic yet harmonious compositions
  • Apply line and colour planes to clearly describe space within a painting
  • Develop a stronger understanding of still life composition through immersive, playful studio practice
  • Use sketchbooks and journals as active working tools to explore ideas, free up inhibitions and deepen understanding of Still Life genre, Matisse and other masters of this genre

Who would this course suit?

Artists of all experience levels are welcome; the structured guidance offers both fresh insight and a practical toolkit for seeing, simplifying, and responding to the world in a more expressive way.

Studio Still Life – Inspired by Matisse

Acrylic / Mixed Media / Still Life – Materials included

Book Selected Date

Taught by

Victoria
Gillow

View Victoria’s Work

Teaching and facilitating engagement in creativity and art has been a lifetime passion and has always worked alongside my own work as a practitioner.  I have a natural energy, coupled with a deep subject knowledge which enables me to help people find their way and share ideas and skills to help promote an individual’s own creative journey.

What to Bring

Our studios are fully equipped and we provide you with all the materials you need for your course. However, if you have a favourite set of brushes or any specialist materials that you would prefer to use, please bring them with you.

Our studios are fully equipped and we provide you with all the materials you need for your course. However, if you have a favourite set of brushes or any specialist materials that you would prefer to use, please bring them with you.

Timings and Breaks

The first day starts at 10am and finishes at 4.30pm, please aim to arrive ten to fifteen minutes before the start time.

All course days after that start at 9.30am and finish at 4pm and there will be an hour for lunch. There are plenty of nearby places to eat and we will serve tea and coffee at break times during the day.

The first day starts at 10am and finishes at 4.30pm, please aim to arrive ten to fifteen minutes before the start time.

All course days after that start at 9.30am and end at 4pm. There are plenty of nearby places to eat and we will serve tea and coffee at break times during the day.

FAQs

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