The Artist

The UK’s best practical art magazine for aspiring amateur and professional artists - since 1931. Well-known artists reveal their working practices and techniques, covering all subjects and media, in every issue. Learn how established and up-and-coming artists create their work and use the tips they provide to help you improve your own drawing and painting. Keep up to date with the latest art materials, tried and tested by our trusted panel of expert artists, and keep in touch with the latest art competitions to enter and must-see exhibitions. Learn how other artists make money from their work, join one of our practical workshops/holidays, and don’t miss out on the latest art news and views.

The Artist

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THE ART WORLD • NEWS, INFORMATION AND ONLINE EVENTS IN THE ART WORLD

The Artist WINNERS

Essence of Nature

Patterns in nature • Susie Hodge talks to Lucy Clayton about her distinctive watercolour technique and how her experience with textiles has enabled her to think in layers and patterns

Loosen up • In the first of four articles on loosening up in watercolour, Tom Shepherd focuses on shapes and encourages us to edit out irrelevant details

Tom's tips for loosening up your watercolour paintings

Have no fear • Try something new and push your own boundaries. Follow Jo Quigley’s simple steps to tackle even the most complicated subjects without fear

Jo Quigley Painting in the City

Painting in the middle of town • Painting urban landscapes is much more than just painting buildings and people. Graham Wands demonstrates how to capture the atmosphere of a busy city in watercolour

GRAHAM'S TOP TIPS

Capriccio rediscovered • James Willis takes us on a voyage of discovery and fantasy as he puts together his own modern-day capriccio

There's nothing like it! • It may be fraught with hazards, but Amanda Hyatt shows us why there’s nothing quite like painting watercolours en plein air

AMANDA'S TOP TEN TIPS

Fast and fluid • Improve your skills and confidence by painting with other urban sketchers. Neil Whitehead offers advice to those new to working outside in line and wash

SETTING THE SCENE

NEIL'S TOP TIPS

The world of grey • In the second of five articles on capturing special effects in your paintings, Jenny Aitken explores the colours and strengths of grey in oils

Creating an aide-memoire sketchbook • Keeping a sketchbook can be enjoyable and memory enhancing as well as a tool to improve your drawing skills. Kevin Scully introduces us to his basic lightweight kit for drawing and painting en plein air

KEVIN'S TOP TIPS

Be yourself • Develop a drawing language by allowing your dawings to become an expression of yourself. In the final part of her drawing series, Clare Lord sets some exercises to help us to find ourselves

Building textures • Explore the possibilities of using a textured ground with Barry Herniman as he shows how to paint the textures of buildings in watercolour

Reignite the spark • Enliven your painting with Steve Griggs’ simple steps to kick-start your creative focus

STEVE'S TIP FOR CHANGING MOOD AND FOCUS

KEEPING FOCUSED Steve Griggs

The artist's eye • Mark Langley shares his method and techniques for creating realistic coloured-pencil drawings of architectural subjects from photographs

MARK'S TOP TIPS

THE POWER OF EMAIL NEWSLETTER MARKETING • Sarah Edmonds shows how e-newsletters can help build your community of supporters and become a powerful long-term tool

SARAH'S TOP TIPS WHEN STARTING A...