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
DAWN TO DUSK • A solo exhibition by Lucy Marks
Pattern, palette and perspective • Caroline Saunders talks to Paula Sharples about her stylised designs, which have a contemplative, serene ambience
Seeing red • Sandra Corpora experiments with her collection of red oil paints in preparation for a still-life painting of red roses in a silver bowl, and includes her top tips for exploring colour
Birds of the shore • Be inspired by Richard Allen as he demonstrates a watercolour sketch of birds on the shoreline, and shares his secrets for drawing birds from life
The drama of the night • Robert Brindley demonstrates how to paint nocturnes in pastel with a demonstration of a night-time street scene in New York
Up close and personal • In the last article in her current series, Hazel Soan concentrates on observing detail through facial and full figure portraits and includes an exercise for you to try
Inspired by the coast • Re-charge your creativity by reconnecting with nature says Ann Blockley, who uses found materials to inspire her
Finalise your sketches • Concluding his series on improving your landscape painting, Tom Cringle shows you how your improved sketching skills can inform a studio painting
Colour mixing: tone and value • Paul Talbot-Greaves takes you through the basics of successful colour mixing and his colour choices for a late summer landscape in oils, with an exercise for you to try
Contemporary flower paintings in mixed media • Soraya French shows how liquid acrylics can be used with dry media to create wonderfully vibrant floral paintings
Vibrant and versatile • In another extract from her book Contemporary Flowers in Mixed Media*, Soyara French shows how heavy body and open acrylics can be used to fabulous effect when painting flowers
Paint a magical-realist portrait • A commission to paint two children in his trademark style was one that Will Teather couldn’t resist, as he demonstrates here
Capture the feeling • Carole Baker takes you through her creative process as she translates the feelings she experienced when gathering her source material into a finished studio painting
HOW TO SURVIVE AS A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST • Sarah Edmonds looks at the different ways you can make an income without compromising your passion for art
CASE STUDY
A lyrical eye • A new book by Andrew Lambirth has been created to celebrate Royal Academician Diana Armfield’s 100th birthday, bringing her fascinating artistic life story up to date. As this abridged extract shows, it also richly represents Diana’s feeling for landscape and place
A style of your own • Still searching for a painting style to call your own? Mike Barr thinks you might already have one, it’s just a case of recognising it
OPPORTUNITIES & COMPETITIONS • Check out the...