Jill Boualaxai

Still life setups have always been central to teaching at Look and Draw — more than a backdrop, they’re like miniature installations that transform the studio. Over the years, I’ve created arrangements ranging from bold, patterned fabrics and vibrant objects inspired by Bonnard, to quieter, muted palettes in the spirit of Morandi. Each setup becomes a way of exploring balance, harmony, and colour in painting. This post looks back at favourites from the archive, celebrating the role colour plays

We all have objects we return to — not because they’re beautiful or important, but because they ask something of us when we draw them. In...

Drawing from life is never still. Its essential energy comes from movement—a body breathing, shifting weight, turning its head. Even in...