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

WELCOMEfrom the editor

EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS

Next month in the artist

YOUR VIEWS • LETTERS, EMAILS AND COMMENTS

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

The essence of place • Brian Ryder chats with good friend Bob Brandt about his first career in architecture and the part it has played in his development as a landscape painter

Snapshot moments • Elizabeth Nast talks to Susie Hodge about her passion for seeking out the ordinary aspects of life and preserving them in her paintings

Working sketchbooks • In the first of his three-part series on oil painting techniques, Robert E Wells encourages us to keep our sketchbooks fluid and use them as a flexible, timeless resource for later paintings

The shadow conundrum • Grahame Booth solves the mystery of how to paint convincing shadows in watercolour giving them depth, colour and variety

Keys to success • Good observation and good technique are key to portrait drawing. Catherine MacDiarmid demonstrates how to take a two-pronged approach to painting a self-portrait in charcoal from life

The art of the limited palette • In the second of three articles, Hazel Soan turns our attention to the transparency and opacity of watercolours and shows how to use these qualities to best effect in our paintings

Discovering gouache • In the first of her three-part series on painting with gouache, Manda Comisari introduces us to the medium she is continually surprised by

Searching for inspiration • In the third of his four articles exploring landscapes in watercolour Ian Sidaway discusses the search for inspiration and fi nds it may well be just outside your own window

Painting by instinct • Follow Lisa House on her seven-month journey as her acrylic painting takes on a life of its own

Sketching in the city • Jeanette Barnes and Paul Brandford capture the city in all its moods, from architecture to people, as they unlock creative potential for the urban sketcher

One subject • Nicholas Poullis has painted this ancient water mill on many occasions, capturing the ever-changing seasons, lighting and atmosphere in his on-the-spot watercolours. We join him on his latest foray of discovery

An hourly rate • Mike Barr muses on time spent on a painting and how it equates to value

Reflected light • Don’t be afraid of the dark if you want to find the light, advises Paul Weaver. Paul shares his thoughts on the atmospheric potential of reflected light and techniques for recording it in acrylics

Attention to detail • Knowing how much or how little detail to add to your watercolours can be confusing. Julie Collins offers advice on how and when to use it

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

ART SOCIETIES

ART BOOKS

PaintersOnline editor’s choice • Meet this month’s editor’s choice winner...