Roses and Apples Study Painting

I’ve just uploaded a new studio painting session on YouTube, and I’m really happy to share this one with you. It’s a modernist still life in acrylics, inspired in spirit by the brilliant Irish modernist Mary Swanzy.

You can watch the full video here:
👉 [Watch the Modernist Still Life Painting Demo on YouTube]

Modernism might be “old” in historical terms, but it still feels incredibly alive. There’s something exciting about simplifying shapes, playing with structure, and letting colour relationships do much of the expressive work. In this painting, I start from a very straightforward arrangement — roses and apples — and gently shift it into something more stylised, bold, and personal.

What This Painting Demonstrates

In the video, I walk through how to:

• Prepare a textured acrylic surface using gesso and a wide household brush

• Work with acrylic layers to keep the composition flexible and evolving

• Simplify forms to create a modernist, slightly Cubist-inspired structure

• Use colour contrast and temperature shifts for depth and movement

• Apply dry brushing to reveal texture and add surface interest

If you’ve been wanting to loosen your approach, or step beyond direct observational painting, this is a gentle way to experiment while still working from a familiar still life setup.

Why Acrylics for This Study?

I chose acrylics here to keep the process moving. Because they dry quickly, they’re great for:

• Responding to the painting moment-by-moment

• Allowing layers to be adjusted without waiting for long drying times

• Encouraging a more playful, intuitive approach

That said — you can absolutely explore the same ideas in oils. The principles transfer beautifully.

Materials Used

• Artist-grade acrylics (Liquitex, Golden, W&N, etc.)

• Acrylic Gesso (Liquitex Basics in the demo)

• Bright/flat brushes + a household brush for texture

• Acrylic-ready paper or canvas

• Hairdryer (very helpful but not essential)

Watch the Full Tutorial

If you’re curious to explore modernist still life, or simply want to paint along in the studio, here’s the video link again:

👉 [Watch on YouTube: Roses and Apples – Modernist Still Life in Acrylics] 

I always love hearing how these sessions land with you — feel free to leave a comment on the video and let me know how you get on.

Happy painting, and thanks for being here.
Kevin