Running again as a scheduled course 9 September to 7 October 2024

Explore Still Life 1

Indulge yourself

Would you like to indulge in some creative ‘me time’ whilst exploring the topic of still life in acrylics with mixed media? Join me for a course filled with colour and dynamic art projects to inspire and enthuse.

Probably my most popular course ever, this four week long course is offered for the last time starting September 2024 as a scheduled course. Signup now with the option to split payments over two months, full price is £357 (~$460) or 2 x £187 (~$240).

Back in 2015 when I began teaching my online art courses, the first theme I chose was still life. After years of running art and creativity courses covering a variety of techniques and media, I developed a new course in response to the many requests to revisit this theme. The course was first launched in September of 2021. Explore Still Life 1 has been refreshed with a number of video re-edits and the addition of subtitles and is being offered one final time as a scheduled course.

Background

I’ve done a lot of exploring and experimenting over the last three years in order to develop new techniques with different types of acrylics and paint mediums in combination with mixed media.

The result is a jam packed four-module long course where you will learn dynamic processes in various water-based media to create expressive artworks. You’ll be doing all kinds of explorative projects with acrylics as main medium where play is encouraged and experimenting with combined media will lead to new discoveries. The techniques and processes will build upon each other to develop your individual creativity and increase your knowledge of materials and techniques..

There are four projects with a larger assignment out per module. To give you an idea, each module was planned to take a week! The majority will have a 20 minute prerecorded video demonstrating the different concepts along with detailed instructions to offer guidance. There’s over 7 hours of recorded and edited videos.

Access to the course materials will be until end October 2025.

Colour Confident

Explore Still Life 1 has been created with an emphasis on colour and painting techniques and expanding knowledge to develop confidence and your own unique creative voice.

The course is delivered in modules with four mini-projects leading up to bigger artwork assignments, and is guaranteed to inspire new creative directions and expand your art practice regardless of previous experience.

Who Is The Course Aimed At?

I aim to teach in a way that reaches all levels of experience. However with a painting course such as Explore Still Life I there are more challenging components. It is most suited for intermediates but beginners are very welcome.

 

Student Feedback & Outcomes

  • I LOVE this! As I love all the modules and lessons. Thank you Este Macleod for all you have taught me! I wish I could have all these videos forever as I do not know if I was able to absorb, understand and note it all! And believe me, some videos I watched more than twice…😍 You really made me experiment, try, risk and opened so many opportunities into my art thank you

    CL

  • The messiest I have been in years and oh so much fun!!! I feel as though I've finally come close to reaching a very low level of freedom and looseness with these 2 paintings. Again, thank you Este for a wonderful class!!!!!

    BH

  • Thank you, Este for yet another wonderful course - and extending the time. I haven’t left my studio for almost a week; there are cut-outs of jugs/cups/vases/ drawings/paints/canvases everywhere. It’s a lovely mess! You are a true inspiration, who has nurtured the creativity in all of us - how you manage to support so many individual students I do not know… Thank you 🙏🏼💕

    TW

  • Este.....a huge thank you, I've learned so much and I'm singing your praises! Hope to meet you again and thanks to all the brilliant and inspirational artists also on this course!

    MJ

  • Thank you, Este for the most valuable course I have ever taken online!

    JW

  • Did I say I am not such a fan of Stilllife? I am. There is so much tranquility and peace in it and this is what I need right now.

    VH

Mary James

Mary James

Liesbeth Winther

Liesbeth Winther

Bar Harris

Bar Harris

Monique Froehler

Monique Froehler

Roberta MacDonald

Roberta MacDonald

Milena Zdravkova

Milena Zdravkova

Lurene Everet Finn

Lurene Everet Finn

Sindy Midha

Sindy Midha

Becky Headley

Becky Headley

 

Materials

Please go through the list below to see the materials you’ll need. This course is materials specific - I only recommend those that I use in my daily art practice and that are tried and tested. If you follow these recommendations, I’m confident that the techniques will work and that the process will end up as demonstrated. Any questions? Please contact me (preferably) via email.

I’m a certified Golden Artist Educator and affiliated with a number of the suppliers and manufacturers. Some links are affiliate links meaning I get recognised for any sales made through them.

Links

I use mostly Jackson’s Art Supplies and Ken Bromley. You can also buy on Amazon or other resellers depending on where you are in the world.

Here’s a link to Golden Artist Colours with information about global resellers of the acrylic paints sets. Ordering online might be the best option, since the sets are not always available in art stores and buying individual colours will be more expensive. These sets are available on Amazon but might be more costly, please research options. 

I can recommend Jackson’s in the UK. If you’re based in Europe or elsewhere specify courier shipping when purchasing.

About Me

I am a professional artist and designer with a background in textile and surface pattern design. Apart from teaching, I sell paintings through galleries in the UK and internationally and I license my designs to be used on a variety of products ranging from wallpaper and textiles, homeware, ceramics, puzzles, stationery, editorial and as book illustrations. In 2015 I trained as a Golden Artist Educator specialising in water based paints. I am continuously experimenting with materials and ideas, and love to share these in my online courses. Born in South Africa, I have been living in the UK since 1999.

My educational background is Higher National Diploma in Textile Design (1986-1990), post degree diploma in Fine Art Printmaking (1990), BA Honours in Ceramics and Glass, 1st Class (2007-2009) and an MA in Contemporary Jewellery Design (2010-2012).

Questions?

​If you have any questions about the materials list or other aspects of the course please contact me via email.

Materials

Paint

Essential to ensure the consistency of everyone’s outcomes!

  • 1 x Golden Fluid Mixing set of 10 x 30ml (1oz) (not the very small container set, not High Flow or the regular acrylic paint set)

  • I'm now recommending that you purchase a bottle of Fluid Burnt Sienna and optionally a bottle of Fluid Yellow Oxide.

  • 1 x Golden Heavy Body white titanium acrylic paint 59ml (2oz)

  • 1 x Golden Matte Medium 473ml (16oz) (not Matte Fluid or Open Medium)

  • 1 x Golden Open Paint 59ml (2oz) tube Manganese Blue (alternatively Sap Green) 

  • 1 x Golden Fine Pumice Gel 237ml (8oz) depending on the size of your canvasses

  • This material is very important will be used as ground for painting on instead of gesso as well as for painting techniques.

  • 1 x Golden Nickel Azo Yellow High Flow or Fluid 30ml (1oz)

  • 1 x Golden Titanium White High Flow paint 30ml (1oz)

  • 1 x Golden Titanium White Fluid paint 30ml (1oz)

Brushes

My courses focus on the use of colour and painting techniques. I use mostly short handle synthetic brushes suitable for acrylic painting, not too stiff (not hog hair) or too soft (sable or watercolour natural hair brushes are not ideal). These are my recommended brushes from Rosemary & Co.

For finer detail you will need two smaller brushes: a pointed round, angled, flat or dagger brush 3/8” size or a bit smaller will work, not too small.

I can also recommend Silver Brush Limited, their Silver Silk brushes are particularly suitable for acrylics. If you are based in Europe have  a look at Borciani Bonazzi brushes.

Other

  • I love dip pens and will be demonstrating their use.

  • A triangular long metal palette knife or similar

  • A disposable paper palette or freezer paper

  • Some carrots to be used for printing.

  • A white Phaleanopsis (Butterfly) orchid house plant for the final project. The orchid isn't essential, but these are regularly available from supermarkets and it's preferable to have a 'real life' model!

  • If you have a home printer it'll be useful to print out components that can be used for planning compositions.

Drawing Materials & Surfaces

  • A single Derwent Inktense ink black pencil, or alternatively Caran’Dache black museum aquarelle pencil 

  • Sketchbook A4 or bigger suitable for mixed media, spiral bound is ideal

  • Five large sheets of mixed media paper 220g or heavier, size A2 (around 17x23”)

  • Five stretched canvasses 16x16” (40x40cm) square OR 16x20” (40x50cm) oblong if easier to find. Canvas panels are optional, if you choose this option please make sure it is a fine textured canvas on a MDF or masonite surface rather than wrapped around cardboard. The canvas should not have a coarse or rough texture, it’s best to use a professional artist quality or mid-range option with a fine woven texture. I use linen and fine cotton canvas for most of the projects in this course. These boards are an alternative.

  • One additional stretched canvas 20x20” (50x50cm) (not canvas board).