Date: Thursday, October 22, 2026
Time: 11:30 am-12:30 pm Pacific time (2:30-3:30 pm Eastern time/ 7:30-8:30 pm UK time)
Level: All levels welcome
Medium: Oil or Acrylic
Presentation Type: Demo
Composition is about much more than arranging objects within a picture. It involves the relationships between shapes, forms, values, light and shadow, colours, edges and marks, as well as the subject matter itself.
In this demonstration, I’ll work from a simple still life to explore how different decisions can lead to different possibilities. Rather than following a predetermined plan, I’ll show how experimentation, observation and responding to the painting as it develops can open up new directions.
This demonstration offers a glimpse into my upcoming three-session workshop, Playful Composition: An Experimental Approach, where we’ll explore these ideas further and discover how a more playful, open-ended approach can enrich our painting.
Free!
Based in Birmingham, UK, Alex Kelly is a dedicated painter and educator who has been teaching—and continuously learning—both in-person and online for many years. His practice is deeply rooted in the alla prima technique, primarily painting directly from life in the studio and en plein air. However, Alex also enjoys working from photographic reference to develop more conceptual pieces, balancing a spontaneous, immediate response to his subject with a more considered, deliberate approach.
For Alex, painting is fundamentally about “learning to see.” It is a process that requires heightened sensitivity, discernment, and an appreciation for the beauty found in direct visual experiences. To Alex, beauty is anything that evokes emotion, sparks curiosity, or invites deeper exploration. By navigating both the literal and the conceptual, he constantly challenges himself to refine his perception and discover new visual languages in paint—a passion he brings directly to his students.
Join Us for Autumn ART IN ACTION
October 22-25, 2026
Autumn ART IN ACTION Festival – Free!
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