This issue is packed with demonstrations, showing a wide variety of techniques, media, colour-mixing ideas and brush-handling advice. From the depiction of colourful and lively birds using water-soluble pencils, taken from Sarah Stokes’ inspiring new book, Painting Birds: Expressive Watercolour Techniques, and a step-by-step acrylic-painting demonstration of this month’s delightful cover image of a meerkat by Chloe Hibberd, to how to capture decorative tiles using freehand drawing skills and line-and-wash techniques with Tony Underhill, we have something for everyone this month. For those who want a back-to-basics approach to working with soft pastels, Mike Rollins paints Beachy Head in easyto-follow steps using just a handful of colours on white paper (next month he shows techniques for applying soft pastels to a black surface), and in celebration of the first signs of spring, Nina Squire prepares to paint a bluebell woodland from a photograph in this month’s painting project. Other projects can be found in oils and watercolour, while Brian Smith discusses how to create quick records of your surroundings in his popular ‘The essential sketchbook’ series and new contributor, Hazel Money offers a host of inspiring top tips on painting more frequently and loosening up your style (more from Hazel next month as she introduces a new painting project).
We are coming close to the 9 April deadline for this year’s TALP Open competition, and the Young Artists’ Awards, which were launched this year. Thank you to everyone who has already submitted their work and become part of this exciting annual event. We are looking forward to seeing more of your entries in the weeks ahead. Please find details on how to enter on pages 10 and 11.