How to host a 'joyful' still life painting party

Big Night In is a series where Canadian experts and creatives share advice on how to spend a magical night at home. It's the ultimate guide to staying in — whether solo or with friends — featuring thoughtfully curated ideas that are anything but routine.

Maybe you've always admired those moody still lifes hanging in museums or you just need a night away from screens. Either way, setting up your own artistic arrangement of objects and bringing it to life is the kind of quiet, immersive night in that feels both meditative and wildly chic. Plus, you end up with an original piece of art that you can hang on your wall (even if it's charmingly wonky).

Artist Laura Dawe, whose Joyful Still Lives workshops have garnered a cult following, recommends four to six guests for a still-life night. As for what you'll paint? "The go-to subject matter hath remained the same throughout the ages: fruit and flowers, baby!" she said.

Dawe recommends clearing off your biggest surface, covering it with an old sheet or plastic, and setting up your still life with enough space around it for everyone's supplies. Consider placing the objects on a patterned napkin or tea towel for added interest — "patterns are intimidating but also very fun to draw!" — and arranging items at varying heights, making sure they overlap for depth. "I do a crouched little shuffle around the table," she said, "making sure the still life looks pleasing from all seated angles." 

For supplies, Dawe encourages hitting up smaller local art shops for affordable options like acrylic paint sets and budget-friendly canvases. "I recommend, at a minimum, white, black, blue, red, yellow, purple, green," she said. "If you're really going for it, I really recommend getting two reds, two blues, two yellows — a warm and cool of each." An extra tube of white is also a good idea, she added, since it tends to run out the fastest. For palettes and water holders, biodegradable paper plates and cups work just fine. She also loves having pencils and pencil crayons handy for adding detail and texture on top of the pieces after the paint dries.

Once the paint is flowing, Dawe advises focusing on the subject more than the canvas. "Try to just see what you are trying to represent. Your own style will flow out naturally, and the work will be honest and pleasurable." She also recommends setting a time limit — two to three hours is typically long enough to finish a small canvas — and closing the night with a "show and share" session. "Each painter takes turns holding up their piece, saying their favourite part and biggest challenge. Everyone else showers them in sincere compliments and claps."

Dawe emphasized that a painting doesn't need to be "perfect" in order to be beautiful or interesting. "Painting is scary!" she said. "[But] some of the best paintings on the planet are totally inaccurate.… Just keep going until your inner critic shuts up and you hit that glorious, peaceful flow state."