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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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

The play of light and shadow • Susie Hodge talks to John D Martin, winner of The Artist Award in the Royal Society of British Artists’ annual exhibition

Paint portraits with palette knives • The Artist Open award winner Mark Fennell demonstrates how he paints portraits in oils using palette knives and shares his tips for successful paint application

Preserving the light • Martin Taylor demonstrates how to preserve the light and white areas as he paints a snowy winter landscape

Alternative inspiration • Like many artists, forced by Covid-19 restrictions to change his usual practice, Richard Suckling embarked on a joyous journey of discovery and now pastel flower paintings feature prominently in his repertoire

Pen and wash • Amanda Hyatt shows how pen-and-wash techniques can be used to make reference sketches in your sketchbook and combined with watercolour to make completed paintings, both en plein air and in the studio

Get back to basics • Julie Collins begins a new series in which she considers some common painting problems. This month she looks at how to get started again when you’ve run out of ideas, with some suggestions of ways to ^nd inspiration

the artist OPEN Competitions, Exhibitions & Opportunities 2022

Top Tips for entering ART Competitions • Marine Costello is partner and head of communications at Parker Harris, one of the UK’s leading art consultancies. Alongside the Parker Harris team, she oversees art prizes in the UK and internationally, including the ING Discerning Eye Exhibition, the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize, and the Derwent Art Prize. Marine sees artists use open opportunities to further their careers every day, and knows the do’s and don’ts of entering art competitions. Here she answers artists’ most frequently asked questions to help you navigate the world of open exhibitions.

Dog portraits in acrylics • Jenny Aitken shows you how to paint a portrait of a dog that captures the animal’s character

Swans in flight • Follow Keith Tunnicliffe as he shows you how he created a linocut of swans in flight in a loose and colourful style

Get to grips with tonal values • Alan Bickley demonstrates how to create visually strong paintings by focusing on the tonal values

A brush with destiny • Join Paul Riley as he explores brushes for watercolour – many of them home made – and the exciting and innovative marks that you can make with them

A guide to drawing with pen and ink • Drawing with ink has a graphic potency beyond that of other art materials, says Ian Sidaway, who advises on how to choose and use dip pens and techniques to try with them

Make a collage of the landscape • Sky Landscape Artist of the Year contestant Rosemary Firth shows how to use collage to create landscape scenes from photographs

A changing view • Be inspired to paint en plein air...