The Artist Magazine

Spring has finally arrived and this month’s issue starts to prepare you for the long painting days ahead. From Helen Tarr’s new series on painting seasonal flowers in oils, and Angie Spencer’s plein-air jaunts on her e-bike, to Alan Bickley’s thoughts on plein-air sketching and his go-to materials, there’s plenty to encourage you to get out and about with your sketchbook. For those who prefer to stay close to home, Andrew Field continues his three-part series on painting in oils by showing you how to prepare your supports for best results, Grahame Booth simplifies trees in the landscape in watercolour, and John Hoar uses the unconventional matchstick for sketching his coastal scene in ink and watercolour. Peter Keegan begins the first of a six-part series on painting portraits in oils starting with the importance of tonal values, and Paul Talbot-Greaves shows you how to achieve realistic-looking shadows in acrylics. And if you want a bit of relaxation, have fun creating your own concertina sketchbooks with Kevin Scully and set your imagination free with Lisa House as she demonstrates a narrative mixed-media painting, Romance in Mousehole. Enjoy the issue!