STILL LIFE IN DYNAMIC CONTRAST- ONLINE CREATIVE PAINTING COURSE WITH CAT TAMS

Tone and temperature, colour and composition-

Create confident and lush paintings in this beautiful new online course with artist and London Drawing tutor Cat Tams

This online painting course will bring to life the seemingly inanimate world of ordinary objects. By exploring a still life arrangement as a landscape of contrasts, we will play with the dynamic possibilities that the balance of these relationships can create in your work. Working with contrasts in colour, tone, temperature and composition we will use structured and playful exercises to experiment with placing shades and hues together in different combinations to maximise effect in your work.

We will take inspiration from contemporary artists such as Chaim Soutine, Anne Redpath, Holly Coulis, Rebecca Scott & Maria Krøyer to illustrate the qualities of dynamic still life painting and to inspire our own work. Cat will lead you through a series of processes which will unlock your creativity – and help you to bring depth and confidence to your painting. We will use the traditional subject of still life to build contemporary compositions and develop beautiful expansive pieces you will want to hang on your wall!

If you have taken a course with Cat before this will complement everything so far – and works perfectly as a stand-alone course if you are a newcomer – Recordings will be provided after each class and available for 6 weeks – extensions are available if you need it.

We hope you will join us!

Mondays February/ March

16, 23 February / 2, 9 March 2026
7-9pm GMT
£80 Early bird tickets 
£95 Full price tickets
Recordings included 

Course Endorsements:

Hi Cat and Anne,
Really enjoyed the recent Still Life in Colour course with Cat. As a relative newbie to painting still life  it was an excellent introduction to the subject and there were plenty of challenging exercises which made me look closely at colour and form. The collage session was also great fun. Attached are my exercises. I hope Cat will do more on-line Still Life courses where I can build on what I’ve learnt.
Anton Clements – November 2025

Hello Again Anne and Cat,
What I especially liked about the workshop was the way Cat laid each session out, each one building on a better understanding of color relationships and mixing color. I especially appreciate being able to look at the recordings again and see how Cat set up her palette then mixed and applied her paint. Somehow it was much more informative that just watching someone do a demo.
When we were live I was focused on my own painting so it is great to see those recordings again. I think the exercise using collage to  create color was very effective because it didn’t make total sense until the last session when it all came together.
Heather Blume – November 2025

I found that it was a great help watching Cat on the screen mix the colours as it’s something I struggle with.  Then also being able to watch her use the colours and demonstrate how she did the painting and her process was so helpful. Making a collage and then painting from a collage was a way of breaking down the process and therefore painting in a different way and I really valued this.
Cat showed us lots of examples of different artists always pointing out their way of working and shining a light on their process of painting.  The time was very well structured and moved at a pace that was very manageable. Cat has a lovely personality and way of presenting which is so likeable and a joy to work with.
Thanks for putting on this class!
Vivien Rosenblatt November 2025

I wanted to give you some feedback because I loved this course! 

I loved painting from the works of different artists.  The collage and painting combination from last week was wonderful.  Cat really made me stop and think about colour.  

As someone who can be easily discouraged, I greatly appreciate Cat’s relaxed attitude.  Not everyone who can do something well can teach it well, she is one of those people.  I’m delighted to hear that she will be doing more, I can’t wait to sign up.

London Drawing has quickly become important to me, the portrait classes and life drawing are pure pleasure.

Thank you all so much for all of your effort and hard work.
Elizabeth Walsh November 2025