Demonstration, Demos and Dailies, Exhibition Paintings, Painting News
Still Life Study with Red Bottle
Jul
Every painting begins with a moment of quiet observation.
Sometimes it’s the way sunlight dances across a vase of flowers. Sometimes it’s the unexpected harmony between colour and shadow. In my weekly art classes in Harold’s Cross, Dublin, these fleeting moments become the starting point for creativity, exploration, and discovery.
This small original oil painting was created as a live demonstration during one of my classes. At the beginning of every session, I paint a fresh piece from start to finish, allowing students to watch the entire creative process unfold before their eyes. It’s one of the highlights of the class and a part that students tell me they look forward to every week. Seeing a painting emerge brushstroke by brushstroke helps remove the mystery surrounding oil painting and gives everyone the confidence to begin their own work.
Rather than simply explaining technique, I prefer to demonstrate it in real time. Students witness every decision—the first tentative marks, the layering of colour, the corrections, the happy accidents, and the final touches that bring the painting to life. It is an honest, unedited glimpse into the working practice of a professional artist.
For this demonstration, I chose to paint in the spirit of the great Impressionist master, Claude Monet. Instead of blending colours smoothly, I built the painting with lively, broken brushstrokes, allowing separate touches of colour to vibrate against one another. Crosshatched marks and carefully placed strokes create movement and shimmering light, inviting the viewer’s eye to complete the image rather than spelling out every detail.
The result is a painting filled with freshness, energy, and atmosphere. Rather than capturing every leaf or petal with precision, it celebrates the fleeting impression of the subject—the sparkle of light, the warmth of colour, and the joy of paint itself. It reminds us that painting is not merely about recording what we see but expressing what we feel.
Although created as a teaching demonstration, this is not a practice piece. It is a complete original oil painting, painted alla prima in a single sitting, carrying all the spontaneity and vitality that make this method so rewarding. Each demonstration is unique; once the class ends, the painting becomes a one-of-a-kind artwork that can never be repeated in exactly the same way.
If this painting speaks to you, it is available to purchase. It would make a beautiful addition to any home, bringing with it not only the charm of Impressionist-inspired painting but also the story of its creation—a work born in a room filled with artists learning, experimenting, and sharing their love of painting.
If you’ve ever dreamed of learning to paint yourself, my art classes in Harold’s Cross, Dublin offer a welcoming and encouraging environment for artists of every level, from complete beginners to experienced painters looking to develop their skills. Each class combines live painting demonstrations, practical tuition, individual guidance, and plenty of friendly conversation. You’ll learn the fundamentals of drawing, composition, colour mixing, brushwork, and oil painting techniques while discovering your own artistic voice.
My goal is not simply to teach people how to copy a subject, but to help them truly see the world with an artist’s eye. Painting becomes a way of slowing down, noticing beauty in everyday objects, and expressing something deeply personal. Many students arrive convinced they “can’t paint” and leave amazed by what they have achieved.
Whether you’re searching for art classes in Dublin, oil painting classes in Harold’s Cross, painting lessons for beginners, or simply looking for an inspiring creative outlet, you’ll find a warm welcome in the studio.
And if this little demonstration painting has captured your imagination, perhaps it has already found its home with you.
Oils on specialist paper. A4
