From A Place of Wonder/Experimental Still Life - Self-Paced

    











  • £777 or 2 monthly payments of £388.50

Experimental Still Life - Self-Paced

  • Course
  • 116 Lessons

If you’re a budding acrylic painter craving both structure and freedom, this course will help you build a sustainable creative practice through playful experimentation — exploring still life in ways you may never have imagined.

Your work will evolve as you do, across each module.

This is a lifetime access course, and while it’s self-paced, I’m here when you need me. You can reach out anytime within the platform to ask questions or get support as you move through the content.

The course brings together the best of Experimental Still Life from the past five years — and more bonus content is arriving before Christmas 2025.

Have a question now? Just pop it in the chat box and I’ll reply as soon as I can.

Understand how to paint with acrylics in a way that feels like you

In just a few months your painting practice will shift as you work through the Experimental Still Life programme - inviting more confidence, ease and creative identity into your practice.

One of my favourite student comments:

"I really love this course. I have taken many classes and this one is just the best so far!! Thank you so much!!"

Imagine being constantly inspired and excited by your own work!

What would it feel like to be itching to get into the studio every day —
to know what you'd do when you got there,
and to trust the process that brings what’s in your mind’s eye to life?

How? I hear you ask..

Join Experimental Still Life.

Inside, you’ll find 8 rich modules guiding you through:

  • Artist mindset & drawing

  • Composition & colour

  • Acrylic techniques & experimentation

  • Observational & imaginative painting

  • Abstract & large-scale works

  • And even earning a living through your art

Each step is designed to help you grow confidence, loosen up creatively, and build a sustainable painting practice that truly feels like your own.

When you join this self-paced version, you’ll also receive:

  • Private 1:1 access to me inside the platform — ask anything, anytime, as you move through the course

  • Printable guides for each module, to help you stay grounded and track your progress

  • Optional community spaces — one here on this platform, and on Facebook

  • A curated booklist and resource library

  • All future updates and bonus additions — including content from the 2025 live experience

  • Plus bonus access to my mini-course, Hot Cakes – How to Create and Sell a Collection of Small Artworks if you don't already have that.

Who is Experimental Still Life for?

ESL is for you if...

  • You’re a budding artist, ready to explore painting in a fun, experimental way

  • You’re curious about how I paint — and want a peek inside my process

  • You want fresh ideas to respond to, not fixed outcomes

  • You’re feeling bored or stuck in your current work

  • You’re feeling blocked — and you’re ready to shift that

  • You’ve used acrylics before and want to develop your skills further

  • You’re a professional artist craving a new way of working

  • You’d love to immerse yourself in still life, but don’t yet know how

  • You want lifetime access to painting inspiration and support

  • You want to go at your own pace, privately, but with personal access to me

  • You’d like feedback on your work — and don’t mind joining a small, supportive group


ESL is not for you if…

  • You’ve never painted before at all — though brave beginners are still very welcome! Just ask questions as you go

  • You’re looking for a paint-by-numbers process to recreate my work (this is about unlocking your creativity, not copying mine)

  • You never want to work from life — while we explore imagination, we begin with observation

  • You want to learn oil painting — this course is only for acrylics

  • You need written transcripts — these are not currently included

  • You prefer minimal video content — there are around 100 videos included

What makes ESL* different to other art courses?

Even though this course is self-paced, you’re not on your own.
You can message me directly — at any time — through the chat bubble inside the platform. I’m the only person who sees these messages, and I’ll respond personally. There’s no time limit on this support.

You’ll also see exactly how I paint — in real time — with my full thought process shared as I work. This is an intimate, honest experience that supports your own artistic growth, with plenty of aha moments along the way.

"Honestly this is the best course I’ve ever done, so thank you so much."
— Liz

What artists are saying

Reflections from painters who've immersed themselves in the course

Hélène

This is a brilliant course and such fun. There is so much thought provoking content including colour theory, composition and design principals, different approaches to drawing and mark making, experimental print-making and painting techniques to name just a few. It has kept me going all year and has encouraged me to experiment with painting in acrylics. I still have a way to go but this course was like stepping back into art school but learning in weeks what might be covered in several years and delivered in Gabriella’s unique warm and relaxed style. I cannot recommend Gabriella’s course highly enough.

Ruth

I wanted to say that I loved that there was a blend of realism and abstraction because that is exactly what I am trying to do is blend the two. I loved the collage and I liked seeing how you work with light. You covered a lot and I appreciated how much it took to put it together for us. You helped me to see still life in new ways. The exercises pushed me to try new techniques and successfully create original artworks all the while developing a new understanding of grouping objects, paint manipulation and finding my own way within still life.  Gabriella was always readily available to her students and I believe you too will find great value in this course. 

Margaret

Let's Explore was my favourite module. Such fun, really uninhibiting. The demonstrations throughout were excellent - it made it feel as if we weren't doing an online course to a certain extent. I really enjoyed that you were so natural, that mistakes occurred sometimes and it didn't matter. I loved that there was a lot of content so that you could pick and choose to your taste/direction or have stuff to come back to. I didn't feel overwhelmed, on the contrary. I thought your 'lectures' and example videos were of very high quality and very informative. I enjoyed so much, Gabs!

Sigrid

I have been really enjoying the course, it has given me a boost of motivation and some confidence. It is also a very lovely group of other artists you have created here.
By working through the steps and showing up as much as I can, I will have a better idea of how I want to proceed and where I want to go. 

Klair

I have to say a massive thank you to you. You put your heart and soul into this course. It has been mind expanding for me. I have cemented some learning and added further facets to my knowledge. I am (mostly!) proud of the work produced on the course, have met some wonderful fellow artists and even sold two pieces to another course member. I’m so grateful I signed up. 

Melanie

I learned so many important things in your class, but I think the most important one is that I feel confident that with some hard work and really trying to hone in on who the heck I even am and what I really want to do, I have a chance at actually being a decent painter. I don't really know how to express how much this has meant to me.

By the end of this experience ...

  • Your confidence as an artist will skyrocket — you’ll always have a way into your painting, even when you feel stuck

  • Your mindset will shift: you'll appreciate your uniqueness more, compare yourself less, and likely discover whole new directions in your work

  • You’ll understand how to revisit and strengthen a painting — refining colour, composition, and energy as your skills deepen

  • You’ll feel safe to experiment, knowing that change isn't chaos — it comes from clarity, and that builds self-belief

  • You’ll have a clearer, braver story to share about your work — and more trust in your voice

  • You'll be far more fulfilled and you may even have sold a few paintings along the way!

  • Your practical knowledge of acrylic will expand — you’ll feel at home experimenting

  • You’ll start to notice your own process and preferences — and this will unlock even more confidence

  • You might even find yourself teaching others, or feeling inspired to share more publicly


  • You’ll have completed several paintings you’re proud of — and some may even sell while you're still in the course
    (I can’t guarantee sales, but when you're proud and visible, it’s very possible. And it's an incredible feeling when your joy moves someone enough to invest in it.)

  • While I hope you won’t need external validation, earning income from your art can be both nourishing and affirming


  • You’ll be Brave in Paint — no matter what
    You’ll know: it’s just paint. It’s not to be feared — not exploring is the real risk.
    This courage will spill into your life beyond the canvas. Friends and family will notice the shift in you.

What's it like to take ESL in your own time?

I would highly recommend this course because I feel like you're in the hands of a true professional, a successful artist but one you can relate to, and most importantly for me a generous spirit and an honest person. I particularly like that Gabriella answers all your requests, offers feedback and is incredibly generous with her time and dedication to your progress. She actually seems to care for her students. I have struggled a bit to keep up as a Beta student and she has been incredibly supportive. The Self Paced Experimental Still Life Programme is an excellent course overflowing with content, well delivered and exciting - like a great big present that feels it's been made especially for you. Kind of delicious!
There is a wealth of information that could keep you inspired for years to come... so many different exercises to figure out how you enjoy approaching still life. They can also be applied to subjects other than still life. It’s a very playful approach. Gabriella includes both more representational and abstract exercises, so you can work in a style you prefer or try both. I'd been working pretty much purely abstractly and wanted to try something different. This course gave me the perfect way into it and I love that it teaches you a lot about abstraction from reality.

Jeannine Close

Jeannine on Instagram

I'm only halfway through the lessons and I'm already seeing an influence on my personal work and seeing possibilities for maybe years of painting! The first part of the SPESL reawakened my practice of sketching, which had been neglected for too many years, and I see how important it is to draw. I now sketch anywhere, anytime (or almost) which makes queuing at the post office an exciting moment!  The videos are all helpful to me and I love that you try your own exercises yourself and share your doubts and mistakes with us.
It's really encouraging and motivating. It's fascinating to see a painting come to life from one lesson to another. A big thank you for giving us so much on this course.

Hélène Maroutian

Hélène on Instagram

Hello - I'm Gabriella

Your teacher and fellow explorer on this creative journey.


I’ve been a professional artist ever since leaving art college, where I trained as an illustrator. For the first 25 years of my career, I illustrated greeting cards, wrapping paper, children’s books, magazine fiction and editorial pieces. I also ran my own children’s gift business — Moobaacluck — on a site called Notonthehighstreet.com for 10 years.

A few years ago, I made the decision to focus solely on my painting — and I haven’t looked back.

Since then, I’ve had work selected for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition — in 2020 and again in 2023 — and two of those paintings are now featured in the RA calendar for 2025.

You just never know what might happen when you follow what lights you up.

Have a question before signing up?
Use the chat box — I’ll get back to you personally.

Are you going to wait another year?

Examples of student work

See more student work by searching these tags on Instagram

#braveinpaint #experimentalstilllife 
 #eslart and #speslart on instagram. 

Frankie Carboni

Hélène Byrne

Angela Slack

Klair Bauly

Sigrun Hodne

Melanie Graham

Rita Kwong

Jude Askey Brown

Liz Vater

FAQS

Do I have to join the group?

Not at all. Feel free to quietly work on the course alone. You can message me privately if you need support at any time.

If however, you would like feedback on your work you would need to post it in a group either on Facebook or here on this platform .Join at any point. Details of the groups are in the Housekeeping lesson.

I'm not sure I will have much time for this, how much time do I need?

You have lifetime access, for as long as I offer this course. If I move platform I will let you know many months in advance.

You will need to invest time in the course to get results though you can take as long as you like. Delve deeply into any area that appeals to you - that is how you will strengthen your unique process. I would say there is 8 months to 2 years worth of material depending on how much you decide to explore. And you can pick what resonates initially and return to other things later. Go sequentially in the early modules. But even there you can pick what resonates. That's how you find out your own process and interpretation of the subject.

What guarantee do I have?

If you change your mind about taking part in the course you can contact me for a full refund up to 7 days after you have paid for it. 

After 7 days there are strictly no refunds.

Please message me if you have any doubts before purchasing so that I can help you with your decision. I only want people who will benefit from the course taking it!

Will you be running the 2 month ESL live ever again?

No I will not be running it as a 2 month experience. You do have all the best videos from that time within this course but as we all discovered two months is not enough time to cover everything.

I don't live in the UK does this matter?

Not in the slightest. 

You can watch all the material when you like and contact me when it suits you. I will reply as soon as possible. 

What does lifetime access mean?

As long as I am in business running courses. If I change platform for any reason I would let you know and bring this course and you with me. Subject to circumstances out of my control I anticipate running my business for the next 10 -20 years from now. You will always be advised several months in advance of any strategic moves. If I make updates I will also let you know by email. Be sure to subscribe to emails in your profile area.

Course Plan

Module 1 - Welcome & Let's draw

Housekeeping
Module Plan
Materials list
Preview
Types of acrylic paint
Resources - tips- reading
Artist Mindset and Meditation
What inspires you right now?
Setting up a still life to work from
Preview
Gather Objects
Drawing Exercises - part one
More drawing exercises - part two
The value of reflecting on your work
Bonus video 1
Bonus Video 2
Bonus Video 3
Bonus video 4

Module 2 - Composition and Colour

Module Plan
Principles and design elements cheat sheet
Composition - films to watch and a warm up exercise
Exercise 1 - Composing with values
Exercise 2 - assessing values using colourful paintings
Colour notes
Exercise 3, 4, 5 and 6 - colour mixing and value studies
Exercise 7 - painting with complementary colours
Exercise 8 - spatial awareness with colour
Bonus video - painting without black
Painting with principles and elements in mind
Exercise 9 - make a painting
Preparing for module 3
Bonus videos
Bonus Video 1
Bonus Video 2
Bonus Video 3
Bonus Video 4

Module 3 - Let's explore

Module Plan
Exercise 1 and 2 - backgrounds, lines and shapes
Exercise 3, 4 and 5 - using a Gelli plate and monoprinting
Exercise 6 - collage
Exercise 7, 8 and 9 - three ways of painting on paper
Exercise 10 - painting without brushes
Exercise 11 - painting on cardboard
Exercise 12 - giant sketch painting
Exercise 13, 14 and 15 - painting over different values of background
Bonus demo - painting over an interesting background
Preparing for module 4
Bonus Video 1
Bonus Video 2
Bonus Video 3
Bonus Video 4

Module 4 - Everyone can paint a lemon

Module Plan
Introduction
Inspiring paintings
Exercise 1 - how will you paint a lemon?
Exercise 2 - painting the light
Exercise 3 - still life as self portrait
Exercise 4 - the hidden beauty of the mundane
Exercise 5 - the feeling of flowers
Exercise 6 - still life with views
Exercise 7 - disrupted realism
Exercise 8 - stylisation
Process note - something to think about if you are already scaling up
Bonus Video 1
Bonus Video 2
Bonus Video 3
Bonus Video 4

Module 5 - Painting from the inside out

Module Plan
What does imagined still life look like?
Exercise 1 - paint what emerges
Exercise 2 - visions of vessels
Edited live session where I worked on exercise 2
Exercise 3 - floral adventure
Exercise 4 - memory game
Optional project - creating a mini series
An edited Q+ A from 2021
Exercise 5 - Bringing it all together
Bonus Video 1
Bonus Video 2
Bonus Video 3
Bonus Video 4

Module 6 - Let's abstract

Overview
A film to watch and Exercise 1 - where do you see abstraction in your work now?
Exercise 2 - continue to work out what abstraction for you is by painting from life
Exercise 3 - printing with the Gelli plate in an abstract way
Exercise 4 - the spaces in between
Exercise 5 - sophisticated abstraction
Exercise 6 - let yourself be loose
Exercise 7- line more than anything
Exercise 8 - organic abstraction
Exercise 9 - if colour were the main subject
Abstract Painting with Sally-Anne Ashley
Bonus Video 1
Bonus Video 2
Bonus Video 3
Bonus Video 4

Module 7 - Let's Go Big!

Module Plan
Inspiration
Exercise 1 - analyse, analyse
Priming your large surfaces
Planning your colour palette and paintings
Exercises 2 and 3 - warm up to scaling up
Exercise 4 - covering large surfaces in different ways
Exercise 5 - intuitive painting on an old canvas
Exercise 6 - painting on raw canvas
Exercise 7 - blind painting as the starting point
Exercise 8 - make the biggest painting you can in a week
Starting on a few paintings or even a series...
The messy middle
Nearing the end?
Bonus Videos

Module 8 - Practical Tips

Before you varnish - photograph your work
Do you want to make prints of your work?
Varnishing
Framing
Studio and business practice
Making money from your work
Final Thoughts

  • £777 or 2 monthly payments of £388.50

Still wondering if this is for you?

If something in you is stirred by what you’ve seen and read here — trust that.

You don’t need to feel like you know exactly what you are doing.


Just be willing to make the leap, and be open to where it might lead.