SUMMER RESIDENCY
Still life speed painting from life
with Alex Kelly, Professional Artist & Mentor
Develop stronger observational skills and learn to paint still life subjects quickly, confidently, and without overworking.
You Will Learn:
How to simplify complex visual information
How to improve speed and decisiveness in painting
How to organise values and colour relationships effectively
How to avoid overworking paintings
How to capture the essential character of a subject quickly
Audience: Fine Art Painters
Medium: Oil, Acrylic, Gouache
Stages: Aspiring, Emerging
Session Dates & Times:
July 7, 14, 28, Aug 4, 18, 25, Sep 1, 8
10am-11am MDT / 12pm-1pm EDT / 5pm-6pm BST
$198.00
14 in stock
WORKSHOP Description
This 8-week online residency is designed to strengthen observational painting skills through weekly speed painting challenges from direct observation. Working within a limited timeframe helps students focus on the essential visual information rather than becoming lost in unnecessary detail.
Each session will include demonstrations, practical exercises on simplifying shape, value, colour, and edges into a clear and convincing painting statement. The goal is to develop greater confidence, decisiveness, and efficiency while improving accuracy and visual understanding.
Suitable for oil, acrylic, or gouache painters of all levels with some basic painting experience.
🎥 WORKSHOP RECORDINGS available for 1-YEAR after the workshop ends!
🎥 NOTE: Workshop Recordings may be offered for sale at a future date at Mastrius, with the consent of the instructor.
High School, University, and College students get 20% OFF. See FAQs at the bottom of page.
Supply List
Simple still life setup with household objects
Easel or upright painting setup
Directional lighting
Painting surface (canvas panel, paper, or board)
Paints (oil, acrylic, or gouache)
Brushes, palette, and painting tools
Instructor Bio
My painting practice is rooted in a lifelong fascination with how we translate the visual world onto a two-dimensional surface. While my early education was a mix of fantasy illustration and a deep dive into Renaissance masters like Caravaggio and Leonardo da Vinci, my current work is defined by the immediacy of the alla prima approach and a dedication to direct observation from life.
My Artistic Journey
Although I initially explored the sciences and eventually earned a degree in Fine Art with a focus on sculpture, these experiences—along with fifteen years in graphic design—honed my understanding of three-dimensional form and composition. Since 2010, I have returned to my primary passion: oil painting. I’ve traded the conceptual weight of my earlier career for a practice that prioritizes the direct visual experience.
Philosophy & Process
My work is largely apolitical and observational. I am less interested in explicit narrative and more focused on responding to what I see in the moment, interpreting light and form through the medium of paint.
Approach: I work primarily alla prima, capturing the essence of a subject in a single session whenever possible.
Influences
I find my greatest inspiration in the American and Russian Impressionist traditions. My aesthetic is a dialogue with the past and present, drawing heavily from the works of:
Historical masters I respect include J.S. Sargent, Anders Zorn, Nikolai Fechin, and Ilya Repin.
Contemporary masters I look to include Richard Schmid amongst others.
Recognition
Over the last several years, my dedication to this craft has led to features in several leading industry publications, including Fine Art Connoisseur, American Art Collector, and International Artist Magazine. These platforms have allowed me to share my observational philosophy with a global audience of fellow painters and collectors.
