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?

YOUR VIEWS LETTERS, EMAILS AND COMMENTS

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

COLOUR & Light • Scottish Colourists from the Fleming Collection

The everyday painter • Caroline Saunders talks to observational painter Adam Ralston about how he captures the character of a still life

Tumbling river • Chris Forsey enjoys the reflective quality of water and sparkling highlights as he shows how he paints a lively river using up to four different media

Layering up • James Willis encourages us to explore the technique of layering watercolours to enhance the rich qualities of the medium

Inspiration, prepartion, execution • Named Wildlife Artist of the Year in 2022, Cy Baker describes how he captures the natural world in Biro with a touch of oils

CY'S TOP TIPS FOR CREATING GREAT ART

Capturing the moment • Making successful paintings from photographs is much more than simply copying. In the fi rst of three articles, Graham Webber explores the pros and cons of photos and shows how to use them to enhance your painting experience

A winter palette • Robert Dutton advocates using a limited palette to create harmonious winter landscapes in a range of media both inside and outside the studio

ROBERT'S LIMITED PALETTE

LIGHT AND DARK

Sitting comfortably • Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year finalist, Sally Ward, reveals how she tackles the challenge of a formal portrait commission

Don't be afraid of painting from photographs • Sophie Ploeg shares her ten top tips for painting from photographs

Tools of expression • Choosing the right watercolour brush can make all the difference to your work. Paul Talbot-Greaves helps us to make the right choices

READER EXERCISE

Shifting perspective • Will Teather delights in creating paintings from life with unexpected twists. Here he demonstrates how magic realism inspires his work

WILL'S TOP TIPS

Working in series • Andrew Field explains the benefits of working on a series of small abstract landscape paintings, and allowing an emotional response to dictate the direction of the painting process

Andrew's top ten tips

Marketing Yourself • To kick start the New Year, Sarah Edmonds explores the basics of marketing to help artists build strong foundations for successful creative businesses

CASE STUDY Emma Leyfield of Valerian Studio

VISITING GALLERIES • Mike Barr extols the virtues of visiting big art galleries and enjoying the richness of history and inspiration to be found there

ART BOOKS Reviewed

Exhibitions • GALLERY OPENING TIMES AND EXHIBITION DATES CAN VARY; IF IN DOUBT PHONE TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT

ART SOCIETIES

Opportunities & Competitions • Check out the latest competitions to enter and make a note of important deadlines

Negative space… but not as you know it! • David Wilkey explains how a...