SUNDAY WORKSHOP (Bank Holiday weekend) May 24th 2026 - Still-Life via the in-between spaces.

In this workshop we'll be looking at still-lifes but, instead of seeing the object first, we'll begin by looking for the shapes created between objects. The in-between shapes do more than just exist (in the same way that objects do), they describe the relationship between two or more objects and are the shapes on which the still-life can hang. A master of in-between spaces in his painting was Giorgio Morandi - look up his magnificent still-life watercolours!

Sunday workshop, May 24th 2026 (Bank Holiday weekend) – Still Life via the in-between spaces… Pimperne Village Hall, 10am – 4pm.

You’ll need watercolours & watercolour brushes, good watercolour paper and your sketchbooks and pencils.

You’ll need a still-life which can be ornaments, vessels, fruits etc. Bring also some white emulsion or gouache. I’ll have many spares in case you need.

We’re going to look at still-life but we’ll begin by finding the shapes between the objects in our still-lifes.

·         Your first task is to take one of your objects and reveal it as a silhouette by painting around it’s shape. You’re looking for the shapes which are not your subject! Work rapidly without too much thought.

·         I chose a running artists’ wooden figure and worked rapidly, creating a loose but easily recognisable silhouette.

·         Now place three objects together to create your still-life. Make some interesting in-between shapes when you put the objects together.

·         Again, represent them by painting around them. You’ll be painting the in-between shapes.

·         When you’ve done that, look for some shapes on the objects that tell us more about the objects, without painting the objects themselves.

·         I did this with three vessels, you can see my two stages here.

·         Next (you can use the same set up, or change it if you prefer) make a sketch in your sketch books of a still-life.

·         I sketched a set-up of unusual ink bottles and began by making a line drawing starting with the in-between shape. I then added tone to create the bottles themselves but, importantly, I could not have found the complex shapes of the bottles without using the in-between shape first. I then made a watercolour, beginning with that loose first layer we often talk about and, as each layer dries, adding new detail on top.

• Finally, do the planet exercise! Then place a pale object in front of you (plain mug, vessel, jug) and arrange it so that it exists part light against dark and part dark against light. Now create it in the method of the planet exercise.

• Here also is an example of a fruit still-life worked entirely in watercolour and begun via the in-between spaces, but also includes use of 'the planet' exercise (see the final two stages).

• Using some of today’s ideas, make another painting of your still-life. To this one you can mix your media by adding white paint to find any (lost) light places. Look up the watercolours of Giorgio Morandi.