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Still Life Snapshots – Setups from the Archive
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 th
Jill Boualaxai
Oct 12 min read
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A Cabinet of Curiosities: Drawing Objects in the Studio
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...
Jill Boualaxai
Sep 172 min read
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Gesture in Life Drawing: Finding Movement in Stillness
Drawing from life is never still. Its essential energy comes from movement—a body breathing, shifting weight, turning its head. Even in...
Jill Boualaxai
Sep 13 min read
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Drawing as a Way Back In
Between being an artist, a tutor, a curator, and running Look and Draw, there are whole stretches where I don’t get to make anything. And...
Jill Boualaxai
Aug 202 min read
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A Tribute to Belle: The Best Studio Dog
Here’s to Belle — my studio companion, collaborator, glove thief, and friend. I’ll carry her spirit with me in the way I work, the stories I tell, and the joy and curiosity I bring to each project. In time, she may well become part of my own creative mythology — a mischievous, loyal, sofa-loving muse whose paw prints will always run through my work.
Jill Boualaxai
Aug 134 min read
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