Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Eleanor Johnson won Jackson’s Art Prize 2025 with her oil on canvas painting 'Slick With Olive Oil', which you can see in person at our upcoming exhibition of finalists at Bankside Gallery. We visited Eleanor in her studio to find out more about the inspiration behind her winning painting, her interest in historical art, and the routine that gets her ready to paint.
0:00 "They stripped their clothes and, sleek with olive oil, began a contest of the level discus"
0:19 Introduction
0:34 "Looking at an ancient story, but from a contemporary lens"
2:44 "It felt very surreal to find out that I won First Prize"
3:04 "I think from a very young age, creativity was really encouraged in my family"
3:48 "It ended up being a blessing that I didn't get into art school the first time around"
4:31 "Historical art has had a big influence on my painting practice"
6:21 "Colour is definitely central to my practice"
7:09 "I'm pretty obsessed with Rubens"
7:35 "The colour that kind of dominates in this painting around the figures is Sap Green"
10:05 "Flesh is the reason oil paint was invented" - Willem de Kooning
10:48 "I love Michael Harding oil paints"
11:32 "Generally, I do go for synthetic hair"
12:14 "I can spend a few weeks of quite intense painting"
13:58 "I think the paintings that I find are my most successful are the ones that are done confidently"
14:33 "I'm lucky that painting is a bit of an obsession of mine, so I've never struggled with getting into the studio every day"
14:41 "I'm interested in creating a kind of imaginary world"
15:59 "I've got notes around my studio saying squint"
18:20 "It's important to trust your instincts"
19:19 Credits
Filmed in Eleanor's Studio, Oxford and at the V&A Museum, London, with permission. We thank the Museum for their support.
View Eleanor Johnson's Website: eleanor-johnson.com
Follow Eleanor Johnson on Instagram: instagram.com/eleanorjohnsonstudio/?hl=en
Discover Jackson's Art Prize: jacksonsart.com/artprize/?utm_campaign=eleanor_johnson&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=organicsocial&utm_content=youtube_social_organic_video_to_blog
#oilpainting #artmaterials #artiststudio #art
Eleanor Johnson won Jackson’s Art Prize 2025 with her oil on canvas painting 'Slick With Olive Oil', which you can see in person at our upcoming exhibition of finalists at Bankside Gallery. We visited Eleanor in her studio to find out more about the inspiration behind her winning painting, her interest in historical art, and the routine that gets her ready to paint.
0:00 "They stripped their clothes and, sleek with olive oil, began a contest of the level discus"
0:19 Introduction
0:34 "Looking at an ancient story, but from a contemporary lens"
2:44 "It felt very surreal to find out that I won First Prize"
3:04 "I think from a very young age, creativity was really encouraged in my family"
3:48 "It ended up being a blessing that I didn't get into art school the first time around"
4:31 "Historical art has had a big influence on my painting practice"
6:21 "Colour is definitely central to my practice"
7:09 "I'm pretty obsessed with Rubens"
7:35 "The colour that kind of dominates in this painting around the figures is Sap Green"
10:05 "Flesh is the reason oil paint was invented" - Willem de Kooning
10:48 "I love Michael Harding oil paints"
11:32 "Generally, I do go for synthetic hair"
12:14 "I can spend a few weeks of quite intense painting"
13:58 "I think the paintings that I find are my most successful are the ones that are done confidently"
14:33 "I'm lucky that painting is a bit of an obsession of mine, so I've never struggled with getting into the studio every day"
14:41 "I'm interested in creating a kind of imaginary world"
15:59 "I've got notes around my studio saying squint"
18:20 "It's important to trust your instincts"
19:19 Credits
Filmed in Eleanor's Studio, Oxford and at the V&A Museum, London, with permission. We thank the Museum for their support.
View Eleanor Johnson's Website: eleanor-johnson.com
Follow Eleanor Johnson on Instagram: instagram.com/eleanorjohnsonstudio/?hl=en
Discover Jackson's Art Prize: jacksonsart.com/artprize/?utm_campaign=eleanor_johnson&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=organicsocial&utm_content=youtube_social_organic_video_to_blog
#oilpainting #artmaterials #artiststudio #art
