Leisure Painter

Leisure Painter - the number one learn-to-paint magazine featuring practical painting and drawing features from top art tutors. Includes step-by-step tuition and easy-to-follow advice on how to draw and paint.

Editorial

Leisure Painter

Negative deviations • How to use negative painting to produce successful results, by David Bellamy

Animal explorations • Part 1 In her short series on painting pets and wildlife, Chloe Hibberd introduces us to the techniques she uses when working with different media. This month – pastel pencils on a black support

Develop a sketchbook habit • Part 2 Don't think you can draw? Follow Steve Strode's advice and see how your skills develop

Painting project • Part 2 How to create a variety of natural and manmade effects using traditional watercolour techniques, by Colin Steed

Faber-Castell Albrecht Dürer Watercolour Markers • Tim Fisher puts these vibrant watercolour marker pens through their paces

Painting project • Part 1 Plan and prepare to paint a colourful still life using acrylics, with Sharon Tiernan

Take a humble pencil • Part 5 Conor Smith answers frequently asked questions about this artwork and techniques

How to use drafting film • Professional coloured-pencil artist, Helen Carter is here every month to answer your questions and provide helpful guidance, tips and tricks for using this versatile medium

Introducing… pastels • Worried about the dust generated by soft pastels? Tim Fisher offers easy solutions and creative ideas for working with one of his favourite media

10-minute exercises • Set your timer to see if you can draw this sweet subject in just 10 minutes, with Emma Tildesley

Simply drawing • Part 2 Develop more detailed sketching techniques for capturing buildings, with Anthony Nield

Step into acrylics • Part 3 How to paint simple skies using three different techniques and a variety of sponges, by Alice May

EXHIBITIONS • EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS FROM THE ART WORLD

Art clubs • OVER TO YOU FOR THE LATEST NEWS ON CLUB EXHIBITIONS AND ACTIVITIES

Leisure Painter

WELCOME from the editor

YOUR VIEWS • LETTERS, EMAILS AND COMMENTS

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

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

A day in the life of JENNY AITKEN, RSMA • Sally Bulgin talks to Jenny Aitken about her life and career as a professional artist

LESS IS MORE • Caroline Saunders talks to Nicholas Poullis about capturing light and atmosphere in watercolour

SOURCE MATERIAL • In his final article in this series on getting the best from your source material, Grahame Booth moves outdoors to gather material and demonstrates how to paint en plein air

PORTRAIT planning • Mark Draisey offers advice on how to gather, photograph and prepare material for a portrait commission

Linocuts PART 2 • In the second of four articles on creating linocuts with impact, Keith Tunnicliffe uses the reduction method for his linocut of The Hepworth Wakefield

LIFE drawing • Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year finalist, Sally Ward, describes why life drawing remains an essential part of her practice as a portrait artist

London PLEIN AIR painters • Tushar Sabale introduces the plein-air group that he co-founded with artist, Carol Owen and shows why belonging to a group of painters benefits both your work and wellbeing

Simplify to succeed • Being confronted with multiple subjects and complex views can be overwhelming. Greta Vilidaite shows you how to break the subject down into manageable pieces

Drawing for painting • In the...