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.
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WELCOME from the editor
EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS
Next month in the artist
YOUR VIEWS • LETTERS, EMAILS AND COMMENTS
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THE ART WORLD • NEWS, INFORMATION AND ONLINE EVENTS IN THE ART WORLD
A forensic approach to composition • Caroline Saunders talks to Olwyn BoweY RA about her complex still-life set-ups and pared-down landscapes
The thrill of the chase • Hazel Soan shares her approach to painting figures and wildlife in a new three-part series, starting with how to depict movement. She includes an exercise to help increase your confidence when painting from life
Creating mood and atmosphere • Judith Yates reveals how to add drama to your acrylic seascapes, using dramatic marks, texture and colour for full effect
Dreamy nostalgia • Judith Yates captures the warmth of the early evening light on water as the tide drifts towards the shore, using acrylics as her medium of choice
Paper luxury! • Paul Riley tests the new watercolour papers from Hahnemühle’s The Collection range. The results were so impressive that he has no hesitation in recommending them to artists
WATERCOLOUR PAPER QUALITIES • The qualities I look for in a paper includes the following.
Drawing for portraits in oil • In the second part of his new series, Paul Talbot-Greaves stresses the importance of the initial drawing if you want to capture a likeness of your sitter and includes an exercise for you to try
Coloured pencils revisited • Ian Sidaway rediscovers the joys of coloured pencils, with advice on application and blending techniques
Floral impressions in watercolour • Be inspired by Paul Weaver as he demonstrates how he paints vibrant, light-reflecting floral arrangements
Connecting with nature • Reconnect with nature with Ann Blockley and be inspired to find different ways of looking at and recording your subject matter using found materials with traditional painting media
Develop your skills • In a new three-part series, Tom Cringle suggests some basic drawing and sketching exercises to help improve your landscape painting skills – think of it as warming up, like limbering up in the gym
Painting from photographs • Winston Oh shares his tips and techniques for keeping watercolour paintings fresh and lively when working from photographs
WINSTON’S TOP TIPS FOR WORKING FROM PHOTOGRAPHS
THE ART OF STOPPING AND STARTING • Not everyone can dedicate themselves to their art 24/7. Sarah Edmonds looks at how to fit your art around your life and stay motivated
The gallery relationship • Penny Harris shares her knowledge of establishing and managing successful artist-gallery relationships
Sky blues • Mike Barr takes a keen look at the variety of blues to be seen in the sky and how to interpret them in your painting
OPPORTUNITIES & COMPETITIONS • Check out the latest competitions to enter and make a note of important deadlines
EXHIBITIONS • GALLERY OPENING TIMES AND EXHIBITION DATES CAN VARY; IF IN DOUBT PHONE TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT
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