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

WELCOME from the editor • Want to comment on something you've read, or seen?

CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE! • HERE IS OUR ARTIST RECOMMENDED PICKS FOR ART LOVERS…

YOUR VIEWS • LETTERS, EMAILS AND COMMENTS

STAR LETTER

Exhibitions

Hooked on OBSERVATION • Susie Hodge talks to Wendy Barratt, winner of Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2023, about her working practices, inspiration and what winning the award has meant to her

Pushing the boundaries of WATERCOLOUR • In the third of six articles exploring the medium of watercolour, Charles Williams looks at the various ways inspiration touches artists, focusing on the work of Mark Entwisle and Bliss Coulthard

Below the surface • Paul Talbot-Greaves shows why shapes and values provide the structure to successful paintings

LOST-AND-FOUND EDGES • Soraya French explores why a balance of hard and soft edges in your work is important to give it both clarity and emotion

Plein-air painters and Dr Frankenstein • What can plein-air painters take away from Dr Frankenstein? Julie Dunster discovers they have more in common than you would think!

VIEWPOINTS: high and low • Make your work more compelling by changing your viewpoint. Paul Weaver shows how looking up or down on your subject can make all the difference

DEMONSTRATION Steep Climb, Staithes

Drawing ARCHITECTURE • In the second of his two-part feature on drawing architecture, Alan Bickley offers advice on how to integrate buildings into their surroundings

Painting for the brain • Greta Vilidaite explains why value will always trump colour

TIPS FOR DETERMINING VALUES

DEMONSTRATION Sunflower and Citrus

Practice makes PERFECT • Ingrid Brown shows you how to select and paint a still-life flower subject in oils concentrating on mood and impression rather than rigorous detail

Searching for a LIKENESS • Rodney Kingston reveals his fascination for painting self-portraits and offers advice to first-time self-portraitists

Understanding ABSTRACTION • Martin Dutton looks at abstraction from observed natural and man-made phenomena

Artificial intelligence • Sarah Edmonds explores the value of AI in the art world

Social media etiquette for artists • Don't be tempted to air your thoughts on social media, advises Mike Barr. Use it, instead, as a great way to build connections

ART BOOKS

Strength in NUMBERS • John O'Neill takes us on a group plein-air painting day and shares tips and advice for would-be outdoor painters

UK ART SHOPS • Support your specialist art retailer by purchasing your materials from the shops listed here