Peaceful Painting a Herbal Still Life — Feels So Alive | Art Studio Talks #11

In this video I paint a herbal still life for Barcelona’s oldest herbal shop — the same one featured in the movie Perfume. Alongside the step-by-step process, we’ll talk about why still lifes feel different from landscapes, how underpainting sets the mood, and why visible brushstrokes and imperfections are not flaws but the very proof of effort.

This is also about slowing down. Art therapy is not a buzzword: studies show that even 45 minutes of painting lowers stress, builds resilience, and strengthens your brain’s networks. That’s why I see painting as more than decoration — it’s a way to be present.

If you’d like to ground your practice in technique and rhythm, check out my painting course — link in the description.

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00:00 — Intro: commission for the oldest herbal shop in Barcelona
01:32 — Still lifes vs. landscapes: scale and perception
03:00 — Blocking shadows & muted colors with underpainting
04:00 — Grounding through painting in a noisy, AI-driven world
05:37 — Art therapy: studies on stress, mood & resilience
06:57 — Practical tips for DIY art therapy
08:41 — Clinical uses: PTSD, recovery, cognitive health
09:29 — Medium mix: the Trinity of oil, varnish, turpentine
11:14 — Retouch varnish & reviving colors
12:50 — The value of slowness & mirror neurons
14:10 — Why imperfection gives things meaning
16:35 — Closing thoughts: handmade time vs. mass production