Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2023 i The Artist

Taken from a recent course, this is an example of these concepts in action. The three buildings are painted using exactly the same shapes, tonal values, colours and paint consistencies. The top right building was painted tightly, using a filling-in approach, avoiding wet-in-wet work (showing a lack of confidence in understanding paint consistency) and trying to capture all the details of the windows. The two other buildings were painted using a single brushstroke for the roof, a couple more for the darks with an even darker colour dropped in whilst still wet; a single bold stroke or two for the foreground purple then a few flicks and marks for some suggestion of detail. There's nothing wrong with the tighter approach, of course, but if we are chasing a looser feel,…

PRACTICAL OILS Iknow, we really should avoid looking into the direct sun. When we do, our natural, protective reaction is to squint. But it is an endlessly attractive subject, given the effect it has on the landscape: sparkly water; vibrant, transparent colour; endless depth; a hazy, magical atmosphere. It will always draw my eye, in life and on the canvas, as a subject tha t never stops giving. In the woods, the haze accentuates depth and drama. The backlit pines in Evening Wander (above left) are just warm, monotone shapes, as objects are when silhouetted against the sun. They seem further away than they are, grander; providing a wonderful foil for the detail and colour in the foreground. Composition can be challenging when there is so much potential detail. In…

Begin the painting on a grey or neutral covering such as natural linen or a mixture of yellow ochre and ivory black. Begin with loose blocks of colour working from dark to light, then gradually refine the shapes mixing matt medium into your colour and working towards the light. Make sure your mixes are toned to reflect the flat light of the day. Email a copy of your finished painting to dawn@tapc.co.uk, no larger than 2MB, with Working from Photographs in the subject line to see your work shared in an exclusive PaintersOnline gallery.…

Poetic Woods – Experimental Watercolour and Collage Ann Blockley In this new book, renowned watercolour artist Ann Blockley, known for her experimental paintings of natural landscapes, explores a variety of interpretations of woodland scenes, drawing inspiration from forest poetry, birdsong and folklore. She provides practical advice on working en plein air, mixing colours, using a variety of mark-making techniques and found objects as well as working with collage. With easy-to-follow demonstrations, and simple instructions, the book is illustrated throughout with inspiring examples of Ann's expressive, colourful work, including a study of her own woodland garden. Continuing to push the boundaries of watercolour and other mixed media, this book is ideal for the experienced landscape painter who wishes to develop their painting skills and take their work to the next level.…

the artist reader holiday JUNE 30 to JULY 6 2024 Dumfries House His Royal Majesty King Charles III rescued the Neoclassical 18th century Dumfries House and its collection of Chippendale furniture from being sold in 2007 and has since lovingly restored the house and grounds. It is only in the last year that the gardens, arboretum and woodlands have matured and blossomed, making it the right time for artists to be in residence. Painting with Hazel Soan at Dumfries House Hazel Soan is a versatile professional artist, who has written many instructional books and was one of the judges for the TV series Watercolour Challenge. On this semi-structured tutored painting programme Hazel will be working and teaching in watercolour each day. There will be lots of en plein air painting in…

FEDERATION OF BRITISH ARTISTS Mall Galleries The Mall London SW1Y 5BD 020 7630 6844 www.mallgalleries.org.uk October 9 to 16 ART for ALL Member artists of the Federation of British Artists have been pledging original works of art on an A5 postcard or small sculpture, which will be auctioned at the Art for All fundraising auction between October 9 and 16. All contributing artists from the FBA, including the Royal Society of British Artists, Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, New English Art Club, Royal Society of Portrait Painters, Pastel Society, Royal Society of Marine Artists, Society of Wildlife Artists and Hesketh Hubbard Art Society, will be acknowledged, but the artworks will be kept anonymous until after the auction, lending the event an element of…

I have written a lot about shadow in this piece and its importance. When I was learning botanical painting, I came across the practice of harmonious shadow – a shadow grey composed of the three primaries visible in a plant. Ever since then I have been interested, and find shadow mixing particularly rewarding in coloured pencil. I think this is because unless you use a blender, the mixed colours always retain some of their individuality. Many artists shun black as a dead colour, made originally from bones, and I have to agree that blends of brown, dark green and dark blue or purple have much more mystery and complexity. I devised a chart for my students to show the shadow colours that could be created from some familiar shades in…

Whatever your preferred medium, subject matter, skill level, or years of experience, you'll benefit hugely in myriad ways from joining like-minded people on a structured course, all-inclusive painting holiday, one-day workshop or an online demonstration. Even if your motivation is simply to try something new, you'll find plenty of ideas and opportunities within the following pages. Take time to explore new places, meet new people and develop your skills in the company of experienced tutors and artists who share the same interests, and enjoy immersing yourself in a world of creativity. Don't hesitate to contact the company or tutor of your choice to find out more and discuss your requirements and preferences. They're all happy to hear from you and to help you make the right choice of course or…

Sending-in days A Letter in Mind Details: The National Brain Appeal invites artists to get creative on an envelope. The theme of this year's exhibition is ‘Changing Perspectives’. Exhibition: Artworks will be exhibited at Gallery Different in Fitzrovia, central London, from October 24 to 28, and sold via the charity's online gallery, from October 25. They will be exhibited anonymously, alongside invited professional and celebrity entries, priced identically at £85. The identity of the artists is revealed at the end of the exhibition, once the artwork has sold. When: Open for entries until September 22. Contact: www.aletterinmind.org Discerning Eye Drawing Bursary Details: The Discerning Eye Drawing Bursary, currently valued at £1,500, was launched in 2005 to provide an opportunity for artists to extend their practice by offering financial support and…

Email theartistletters@tapc.co.uk or write to The Editor, The Artist, Warners Group Publications, The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH Please note we may have to edit letters for reasons of space Conversation pieces I'm in my happy place when I'm out and about with my sketchbook and camera in hand, people watching. I'm a people painter, and in my work I want to capture body language, behaviour, or a moment that will feel familiar to the viewer. To describe my work I use terms like 'figurative artist' or 'contemporary artist' but they are very general terms and apply to all sorts of art. So, more recently I've used phrases like 'observational art' or 'candid moments'. But it has felt like so much blah, blah, blah! I've just never found…

MALL GALLERIES The Mall London SW1Y 5BD 020 7930 6844 www.mallgalleries.org.uk September 21 to 30 The Royal Society of Marine Artists will be presenting its 78th annual exhibition this September at the Mall Galleries in London, featuring work by some of the best marine artists in the country. Established in 1939 as the Society of Marine Artists, the society was granted its Royal title by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth in 1966. ‘The UK has long been Europe's leader, and a constant inspiration when it comes to the discipline of marine art,’ writes president of the society, John Scott Martin. ‘Being an island, the coast and sea is an integral part of our national identity. Artists have never been too far from it and many of us are drawn to the…

• Play with different pressures at different points, twisting, lifting, pushing, and pulling. • Experiment with how fine a point a brush can make and what sort of line. How does it retain its shape? What happens if I use it on its edge, or quickly skim it over the page? • Play, play, play, and then play some more! I know, all too well, that when we want to produce a painting, these exercises feel like they are taking up valuable time, but they are so, so useful. Without the pressure of attempting to create a finished painting, you will find you get much more creative with how you use the brush. When I convince students to do these exercises, really focusing on how the brush and pigment feels,…

The start of autumn is usually quite insignificant. A chill in the air at the beginning and end of the day and condensation on the car windows in the morning don't really change too much for the plein-air painter. Apart from being able to ditch the suncream, life continues much the same as usual with the addition of a few extra layers as the weeks pass. Autumn, of course, is all about falling leaves. Our American cousins definitely hit the nail on the head with the Fall but the strongest colour in autumn takes quite a while to develop and indeed it's not until around the end of October in the UK when we see the best of it. The sun gradually lowers as well, leading to a general warming…

PRACTICAL GOUACHE As a painting medium gouache is not at the forefront of everyone's mind and many people are unaware of exactly what it is. It is a rather forgotten medium, but one with endless possibilities. Different forms of opaque water-based paint have been in use for longer than people realise, and the process of adding various forms of gum to pigments so that they adhere to different surfaces is ancient. It has been in use for centuries and experienced something of a revival in the 20th century when artists such as John Singer Sargent used gouache in conjunction with watercolour in many of his paintings. It was also favoured by other artists including Marc Chagall, Pablo Picaso, and Paul Klee. The best gouache available today is usually termed Designers’…

theartist painting holiday FEBRUARY 2 to 12 2024 Painting with Peter Brown, aka ‘Pete the Street’ in Nepal Pete is one of the UK's leading figurative artists and is best known for depicting street scenes. Working alongside Pete is an enriching and fun experience. He is happy to share his knowledge with you and for you to learn by example. This is a free-style painting programme that is best suited for experienced artists or confident intermediate students. Pete will be working in oils but all media are welcome. Kathmandu Nepal is a unique and sacred country. It is home to the highest mountains in the world and its cultural and religious heritage is visible everywhere and remains a part of life today. Kathmandu is full of Hindu temples, shrines and…

2ND OF 2 PRACTICAL ACRYLICS In my last article I concentrated on the lights and darks of counterchange within a landscape scene. In this article I will still be capturing the lights and darks but focusing more on the in betweens – the mid tones. For my subject I have chosen a French courtyard where half the scene is in shadow, creating myriad different tones within it. Buildings are rather different from landscapes with their sharp lines and architectural features, such as doors and windows, each with their own specific tonal values. A QUICK TONAL GRID Using a 2B pencil I hatched out a very basic tonal grid which can help in assessing the different strengths of tone within certain areas. Tonal study In my tonal study of the scene (above)…

PRACTICAL ACRYLICS Autumn is a lovely season to paint as it brings about a warmer colour palette for the landscape painter and makes a refreshing change from all the greens of summer. Sunny days are full of long cast shadows with a golden light quality that is quite unique. Autumn mists and damp, overcast days lend opportunities for low-light paintings, where beautiful tones can be incorporated into rich colour schemes. Acrylic is a great painting medium to use for this, especially where there are multiple shapes involved, such as grouped trees or fragmented leaves in a woodland that give a painting a busy feel. Paintings can be built up in quick layers using broad brushstrokes and loose marks to suggest the main blocks of value masses then, working with semi-opaque…

There has never been a time when Lisa has not painted, she says. Even when she had her children, she would snatch time to paint late at night. ‘In 2000, with my three sons’ encouragement, I took part in Channel 4's Watercolour Challenge,’ she writes. ‘The heat was at Sandown Racecourse and a regional final at Hampton Court Palace. It was an incredible experience with the paintings later exhibited at the Mall Galleries, which was quite a moment! I've been lucky enough to have won two art holidays – one in 2006 to the Verrocchio Art Centre in Casole d'Elsa, Tuscany and, to my surprise, another one in 2017 – a life course at the Art Academy Studios in Aubais in France under the expert instruction of Tod Ramos. The…