Matisse In The Studio

As a Royal Academy of Arts exhibition focuses on the artist’s process, Sally Hales explores his relationship with the objects he painted

To the casual viewer of art, the end image is everything. They might think about what the artist is trying to communicate and make them feel, but the practicalities of how a painting comes into existence remains hidden. To practising artists, however, looking at a great artwork sparks a wealth of questions. How did the painter make that mark? What medium did they use to mix their paint? And, how was their studio set up?

Artists love to peek behind-the-scenes at the spaces of those who excel in their field because studios are the place where inspiration mixes with the reality of painting and ideas take physical form. How a painter organises their space reveals a great deal about their creative process. From exploring the objects used as visual cues to how brushes are stored, when it comes to the masters, we hope gaining this insight will shed light on their greatness. And, of course, help make us better artists.