Sommaire pour March 2024 de Leisure Painter

In last month’s issue we looked at the techniques and colour mixes that we need to use when painting this winter scene. We looked at wet-in-wet, wet-ondry and dry-brush techniques and possible colours and their mixes. I demonstrated three exercises that I painted into my Pink Pig watercolour sketchbook. We can now refer to these techniques and mixes when we come to paint any winter landscape with trees as its focal point. You will need ■ Surface • Bockingford 140lb NOT watercolour paper, 11×15in. (28×38cm) ■ Miscellaneous • Water container • 2B pencil • Mixing tray ■ Winsor & Newton Professional Water Colour (tubes) • Raw sienna • Burnt umber • Light red • Alizarin crimson • Cobalt blue • Prussian blue Brushes • Rosemary & Co. sable blend, Series…

If you want to expand your repertoire or explore from the perspective of a beginner, knowing more about acrylics can help you decide if this inclusive paint is for you. I started painting with oils but became frustrated with their properties, leading me to look further afield for a medium that suited my style more, and eradicating lengthy drying time, the need for flammable solvents and general messiness. Acrylics proved to be a fantastic middle ground between more traditional media, such as oils and watercolour. There are so many more pros than cons associated with acrylics and, depending on the outlook of the artist, disadvantages can also be seen as advantages. First, you don’t have to follow the traditional fat-over-lean rule that applies to oil painting. Tear up the rule…

WWW.PAINTERS-ONLINE.CO.UK Tessa Gwynne enjoys challenging herself, whether it’s with the medium she uses, the subject matter or the technique. Here she describes how she set about painting one of her own landscape subjects in the style of Van Gogh. To see more of Tessa’s work, post a comment or upload your own image, visit www.painters-online.co.uk ‘Having moved from Cardiff to the Cotswolds in late 2009, I returned to painting after a long break, joining the Guiting Power Art Group which recently relocated to Lower Swell. I love to paint and sketch en plein air and am fortunate enough to have painted with the British Plein Air Painters group on a couple of occasions, both times in London. I travel by train to London and like to sketch at Paddington on…

Roots and Journeys Roots and Journeys at Watts Gallery, near Guildford presents the work of seven Surrey-based artists, featuring scenes of everyday life - from close to home to further afield, including some of their favourite places, such as Thailand, Cape Cod and Venice. Roots and Journeys is at Watts Gallery, from 18 January to 16 March. Visit www.wattsgallery.org.uk Exhibitions LONDON ■ Bankside Gallery 48 Hopton Street SE1. 020 7928 7521 www.banksidegallery.com ‘Mini Picture Show 2023’: affordable works on a small scale by artists from the Royal Watercolour Society and the Royal Society of Painter Printmakers, until 1 February. ■ Dulwich Picture Gallery Gallery Road SE21. 020 8693 5254 www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk ‘Soulscapes’: exploring new interpretations of landscape art, 14 February to 2 June. ■ Mall Galleries The Mall SW1. 020 7930…

Flaming June Frederic, Lord Leighton’s iconic painting, Flaming June (below), painted in 1895 will go on free display in the Royal Academy’s Collection Gallery, from Saturday, 17 February. This is a rare opportunity to see the painting, which is on loan from the Museo de Arte de Ponce in Puerto Rico, and will be shown alongside works from the RA Collection that examine the relationship between painting and sculpture. Originally displayed at the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition in 1895, before the artist’s death in January 1896, the work is regarded as Leighton’s masterpiece. The painting will remain on show until 12 January 2025. For more details visit www.royalacademy.org.uk Leisure Painter TAG winner We’re delighted to announce that Sally Pestridge has won the annual Leisure Painter Award in the recent Tadworth…

Back to basics Here in Hertfordshire, despite living on a hill, I rarely see deep snowfall. Usually, it is too warm or windy for snow to form, but occasionally, when it does, I’m out with my camera trying to capture the scene before it disappears. I’m fortunate to live in a semi-rural area, and so a short walk brings me to lovely views out over fields and woodland. In one Of these winter outings, a cold mist hung over the distant skyline, and the sun shone milkily through the trees, casting long lattices of shadow Over the snow (see reference photograph for this project, above). It was a fantastic example of aerial (or atmospheric) perspective. Each hedgerow and treeline became a separate plane or layer of landscape, becoming progressively misty…

During a visit to botanical gardens, I had the opportunity of taking lots of photos of extremely interesting exotic orchids. Back in the studio, I tried to reproduce the structure of this flower faithfully, changing the background to a simple dark backdrop to enhance the subtle colours of the orchid. This demonstration is suitable for both oils and acrylics. You will need ■ Surface • Stretched canvas 16×20 in. (41×51 cm) ■ Brushes • Flats Nos. 10, 6 & 2 • Liner No. 1 ■ Oils • Titanium white • Cobalt blue • Brilliant magenta • Phthalo green • Phthalo blue • Cadmium yellow • Alizarin crimson • Willow charcoal Demonstration Orchid Delight Step 1 Willow charcoal was used to draw the outline of the orchid’s anatomy. I dusted off…

Many artists are put off painting with oils because of the need for mediums and thinners, even the odourless variety. Others wish they could paint in a looser style, moving away from adding too much detail. Using painting knives, rather than brushes solves both of these issues. You need no solvents when working with knives. There is no need to thin the oil colours as they are applied using the same buttery consistency that comes out of the tube. What you do need is plenty of paper towel or kitchen roll to clean your palette knives as you work. I first tried painting only with knives after being inspired by one of my favourite artists, Kyffin Williams. I bought a wonderful book about him and was captivated by his bold…

The Royal Academy of Arts in London is bringing together over 100 works from 1768, which show the role art has played in shaping narratives of empire, enslavement, resistance, abolition and colonialism. Large-scale, life-size painted figures of Lubaina Himid’s installation Naming the Money will be shown alongside woks by Joshua Reynolds, JMW Turner and John Singleton Copley. Entangled Pasts, 1768-Now: Art, Colonialism and Change will be on show in the Main Galleries at the Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, London, from 3 February until 28 April.…

Inspiration You are invited to complete some, or all, of the following 30 tasks. Most of the challenges shouldn’t take more than an hour, but they’ll all accelerate your learning and improve your painting confidence and decision making. Taking chances and trying new things will see your work advance. If there are any challenges you particularly enjoy, come back to them the next time artist’s block sets in. Develop the daily habit of showing up for your art, whether that be for a couple of minutes or a couple of hours. More than anything else, don’t stress, have fun and enjoy yourself. 1 Start a file Or create a folder on your computer to document your progress. Fill it with ideas, sketches, studies, and research on other painters. Before you begin,…

Inspiration Art journaling is a vibrant and versatile form of creative expression that encourages you to blend visual art with personal narratives. One exciting way to dive into this world is by using and responding to prompts. Prompts act as catalysts for creativity, sparking ideas, and pushing the boundaries of your artistic abilities. The power of prompts Prompts are open-ended statements, questions, or themes that serve as inspirational starting points for your art journaling endeavours. They can be as simple as a single word, a thought-provoking question, or a more complex idea. Here’s why prompts are such valuable tools in art journaling. Inspiration prompts offer a jumping off point for your imagination and can provide a spark of inspiration when you’re feeling blocked or unsure of where to begin. Focus…

What better time to start planning your next painting holiday than in the dark days of winter. Think about the freedom to relax, sketch and paint in new surroundings that inspire you, whether you are planning a staycation or wanting to travel to new and exotic locations. With professional tutors at hand, you will be supported and guided every day, from impromptu demonstrations of new techniques to practical advice when something goes wrong. On a painting holiday you are left with the time and space to explore new ideas and the freedom to develop as an artist. Every level is catered for, from holidays especially designed for beginners, where you are taken through each step of the way to completing perhaps your first painting, to simply travelling and working alongside…

Although much of my work in sketchbooks is about recording what I see around me, the artwork serves other purposes too, including mock-ups, or quickly executed studies, often prepared to help clarify something for myself or to explain something to others, or simply just to save time, enabling me or them to make an informed decision as to where to go next. They are rarely a record of something I see and they usually involve design. My aim is to expend as little time and effort as possible on them, while trying to ensure that what is sketched contains the key elements of a possible final product. Working in a sketchbook helps to tune my mind to a quick approach, since no mark feels sacred and I can easily make…