Still Life Secrets Mini-Guide

Hi, I’m Rosa Roberts, and I’m so glad you’re here.

I created this mini-guide because people always ask how I create vibrant energy in my still lifes.

The secret is in the way I work: quick, loose, in layers and on card... This guide is just a small glimpse, but I hope it sparks something new for you.

When Still Life Feels… Lifeless

 

You sit down to paint a fruit bowl or a bunch of flowers, and suddenly everything feels stiff and boring.
You try to get the composition right, the perspective right, the colours right, and it just feels forced and a bit dull.

The freedom’s gone. The joy’s gone. And what you’re left with is
something lifeless and overworked.

Sound familiar?

A Different Process

 

Instead of trying to perfect one piece from the start, I work on
multiple cards at once, experimenting with different angles and base colors and working in distinct layers building my aesthetic into the piece across stages.

This is an active, joyful process, full of surprises. When you work both in distinct stages and loosely at the same time, your compositions & colours can come alive. 

In Still Life Secrets, I’ll walk you through the process.
We’ll work systematically and paint fast in a way that distils vibrancy.

It’s not about perfection, it’s about energy.

A Different Process

 

Instead of trying to perfect one piece from the start, I work on multiple cards at once, experimenting different angles and colors with freedom. This is an active, joyful process, full of surprises. When you loosen up like this, your compositions & colours come alive.

In Still Life Secrets, I’ll walk you the process.
We’ll work fast. Try things. Build momentum. Let the work guide us.

It’s not about perfection, it’s about energy.

Why Cardboard?

 

Because it’s ridged.
Because it’s accessible and light.
Because it holds texture in a way that canvas doesn’t.

I build my surfaces slowly, layers of collage, glue, gesso, and then I paint onto that.
The structure and ridges of the surface shape the final work before the brush even touches it.

It’s imperfect, it's textured and that’s the beauty of it.

Inside My New Course

 

We filmed this in my studio, where ideas happen. Where things go wrong, and then right again.
You’ll see how I mix materials, test colour, and let each piece inform the next.

It’s a window into the way I really work, and an invitation to try it your way, too.

Inside My New Course

 

We filmed this in my studio, where ideas happen and work is made. Where things go wrong, and then right again.
You’ll see how I mix materials, test colour, and let each piece inform
the next.

It’s a window into the way I really work, and an invitation to try it your way, too.

This is for you if…

 

  • You’ve felt stuck in your painting practice.
  • You crave a looser, more intuitive way of working.
  • You want to reconnect with joy, colour, and creative energy.
  • You’re curious about how a small study on cardboard can become the start of a larger series or a larger piece.

Materials 

  • Thick smooth card or cardboard
    • can even be from the grocery store or cardboard boxes you have at home - simply use what you have
  • Gesso and collage papers
  • Acrylic and oil paint
  • Oil pastels
  • Brushes, palette knife, glue

What You’ll Leave With


A new way of seeing still life.
Your own vibrant series on card.
A toolkit of ideas to carry into canvas work.
And a renewed sense of play and possibility.

What People Say About My Courses

Devon L.

"We learnt so much from Rosa who was such a fantastic teacher and gave every inch of herself"

Rob S.

"Rosa is a brilliant teacher - generous, patient, honest in the kindest way. And just loads of fun and good energy, just like her artwork."

Let’s Begin

 

You don’t need the perfect setup.
You don’t need a perfect plan.
You just need cardboard, colour, and a little curiosity.

My Still Life Secrets course launches June 18th!

As part of the launch, you'll also receive a free short video where I share more about my process and studio. 

Keep an eye on your email and stay up to date by following Arteway on Instagram.

I can’t wait to see what you create.

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Still Life Secrets Course Available In:

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