Painting still lifes has been an invaluable teacher for me, offering the chance to capture the transient beauty of fleeting life. It allows me to work on the fundamentals of painting with a subject that remains constant, providing a stable model that won’t move or change. Still life painting also offers the perfect opportunity to focus on composition, experiment with brush techniques, and explore color harmony. I particularly enjoy the urgency that comes with working from life, especially with flowers, as their beauty fades quickly. This forces me to make decisive choices while the subject still looks fresh, enhancing my ability to respond instinctively and creatively in the moment.