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www.painters-online.co.uk October issue 2017 £4.40
T H E P R AC T I C A L MAG A Z I N E F O R A R T I S TS BY A R T I S TS – S I N C E 1 9 3 1
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How to start with Practise the alla prima Discover the secrets !
a mess & end in technique for fresher- to painting successful
success! looking paintings beach scenes
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WELCOME
incorporating ART & ARTISTS
First established 1931
ISSN 0004-3877
Vol 132 No. 11
ISSUE 1047
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Sally Bulgin PhD Hon VPRBSA
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exhibition at Patchings Art Centre (from July 13 to August 20), the excitement about the
Online Editor: depth of talent and quality of the work of our readers was palpable. For David Curtis the
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should be sent to: The Artist, Circulation The absolute highlight, agreed by all the judges, was winner of The Artist Purchase Prize Tom
Dept, Caxton House, 63/65 High Street,
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Payments by credit card are taken in sterling loved the restrained Velasquez-style palette of warm and cool greys used throughout Tom’s prize-
at £50. Foreign currency prices include bank winning painting.
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THIS MONTH’S COVER
Best wishes
16 72
CONTENTS 28 Beach views FC
Mike Barr demonstrates how to
paint a successful beachscape in oil,
with advice on colour, composition
and perspective
NEXT MONTH
IN
FEATURES
u MASTERCLASS
In the second of his
three-part series, Peter
Burgess explains the
reasons behind his
choices of materials
and equipment
48 PRACTICALS
t Follow Charlie
48 Mixed-media watercolours Pickard and create a
Paul Riley demonstrates how to add different media to
great effect in your watercolour paintings
self-portrait in charcoal
and chalk
52 How to paint edges
Michael Jules Lang shows you how to master edges, and
explains why this will help you to improve your paintings
u Graham Webber
56 A–Z of colour reveals the secrets to
X is for dangerous colours,
by Julie Collins
painting successful
skies in the first of a
58 Sketching on the new three-part series
move on landscape painting
Barry Herniman’s advice
on what to pack for a
sketching holiday when
you’re on foot l How to use the rules of perspective to create
dynamic coastal scenes and seascapes by
Robert Dutton
PLUS l White is never just white, says Marie Antoniou,
7 The Art World 10 Your views who demonstrates a painting of a white wolf in
acrylics
65 Art Books & DVDs 66 Exhibitions
l Paint impressionist interiors in oils with Haidee-Jo
68 Opportunities Summers
l Capture the light and atmosphere of autumn in
EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS watercolour with Paul Weaver
l Catherine Strong demonstrates how to use
textured grounds to great effect for painting
seascapes in acrylics
PLUS
l The A to Z of watercolour by Julie Collins: Y is for
Ken Howard OBE, RA Jason Bowyer NEAC, RP, PS David Curtis ROI, RSMA yellows
studied at Hornsey School of
Art and the Royal College of
studied at Camberwell School
of Art and the Royal Academy
has won many awards for his en
plein air and figurative
l The do’s and don’ts of running your own art gallery
Art. He is a member of the Schools. He is the founder of paintings in both oils and
NEAC, ROI, RWS, RWA and RBA. the NEAC Drawing School and watercolours. He has had
He exhibits extensively and has exhibits his work widely. several books published on his And much more! Don’t miss out:
won numerous awards. work as well as DVD films, and
exhibits his work extensively. our November issue is on sale from October 6
sh £40
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To celebrate 20 years of working from his studio at the the subject is an industrial interior, a landscape or a single
London Museum of Water and Steam, one of our editorial flower.’
consultants, Jason Bowyer, is holding a special exhibition of Flowers on the Anvil is at The Oil Store, London Museum of
flower paintings. Jason says: ‘Observation is of prime Water and Steam, Green Dragon Lane, Brentford, Middlesex,
importance to my work. My paintings develop out of my TW8 0EN from October 13 to 15, from 11am to 5pm, and
drawings.There is a constant considered figurative/abstract afterwards by appointment. www.jasonbowyer.com
interplay, a desire to find the essence of the motif whether www.waterandsteam.org.uk
www.painters-online.co.uk
271⁄2⫻193⁄4in (70⫻50cm). On show in our online gallery have tube consistency paint more precisely applied wet-on-dry. I had the painting
at www.painters-online.co.uk float-framed so the narrow border remains fully visible.’
New Tate
St Ives opens
The new Tate St Ives opens on on
October 14. Sunk into the cliff
alongside the original building, the
new gallery will provide a column-
free space lit by six large skylights and
will be open all year round. While the
original gallery will be dedicated to a
display exploring modern art in St
Ives, the new space is for seasonal
exhibitions, the first of which is a
major survey of Rebecca Warren, who
is known for her exuberant, roughly
worked clay sculptures. This will be
followed in 2018 with an exhibition of
women artists inspired by Virginia
Woolf and a retrospective of Patrick
Heron’s paintings. For full information
about opening times, prices and
details of all exhibitions, see
www.tate.org.uk ART CLUB OF THE YEAR 2017
The winner of the Art Club of the Year p David Church (Cardigan Art Society)
Competition 2017 was chosen at this The Artist at the Folie Bar, oil, 32⫻413⁄4in
year’s Patchings Art, Craft & (81⫻106cm).
Photography Festival in July by Hazel
Soan, who headed-up the panel of was also a visitor’s choice award, which
judges. First prize went to Cardigan Art was won by North Lincs Art Society;
Society, who received Jackson’s Art their prize was £100 worth of Jackson’s
Supplies vouchers to the value of £500 vouchers.
plus £100 towards a demonstrator. The All five entries from each of the three
two runners-up, Pinner Sketch Club and winning clubs can be seen on the news
Hornsea Art Society, both received pages of our website:
Jackson’s vouchers worth £250. There www.painters-online.co.uk
X STAR LETTER Jenny if she has read all the articles in the
series?
Amused by musings As an example, Jenny mentioned my
article on Prussian blue; in fact in the
Musings – it’s an old-fashioned word that suits these lovely articles by summer 2012 issue, page 66, my article
Charles Williams. When I first read them and looked at his paintings, on Prussian blue has PB27 written clearly
I was amused and unappreciative. Strange little people, drab colour: next to Prussian blue. In the October 2011
very odd! But after seeing them month after month I began to look issue, also on page 66, my article about
forward to reading his frank, honest and straightforward words, that ultramarine blue mentions PB29. I would
also like to bring to Jenny's attention my
are slightly tongue-in-cheek sometimes, I think. His paintings grew on
article in the April 2012 issue, page 55;
me and I began to understand their humour and originality. the article is called ‘Choosing colour’, the
Charles Williams is so ‘solid’ – may he become a permanent article advises readers precisely about the
contributor to The Artist! colour names and index numbers and
Sylvia Ditch, by email every colour mentioned in the article has
its code next to it.
Charles Williams is a regular contributor The January 2012 issue has an article
and will remain so for as long as he entitled ‘Components of colour’ on pages
continues to enjoy sharing his thoughts 46 to 47. The paragraph on pigment
with us all. I hope this is for a long time reality on page 47 could be of value to
ahead! Turn to page 63 for this month’s her, so that she can make informed colour
musing from Charles – Ed. choices in the future. There are many
more examples within these articles.
This month’s star letter writer will receive a I believe there are three years worth of
Landscape Selection of 48 Van Gogh soft monthly articles and I am pleased to say
pastels worth £49.99, courtesy of Royal Talens. that some of my students have laminated
For more information about these, and other these pages into a useful handbook.
Royal Talens products, see The manufacture of art materials from
www.royaltalens.com pigments (not generally made for making
paints for artists) is a very long-winded
and complicated business. These articles
were written to guide readers, with
Happy memories Thank you, Charles Williams, for your simple advice and instruction to make
I found Charles Williams’ musing on excellent article and for reviving their artistic colour choices easier, not to
summer schools (The Artist, June 2017) so memories of happy times with two take them on a scientific journey.
readable and enjoyable – please can we inspirational painters.
Soraya French, by email
have more! Kate Willoughby, by email
It also rang a bell – I had travelled to
Sztendre, near Budapest, in recent years Preserve your brushes
Pigment information
to see the work of one of Hungary's 20th- I’d like to share an idea I have for applying
century master painters, Bela Czobel, in I’d like to reply to Jenny Hopkins's letter masking fluid without ruining your
in the July 2017 issue, in which she refers brushes. You will need a tube of silicone
the town’s museum.
to the lack of pigment index number in
In 1959, living in Paris, I was befriended (bath sealant). Squeeze a small amount
my articles.
by Czobel and his wife Maria. I often onto a piece of paper or plastic and leave
Over the course of three years I wrote a
visited them and sketched with them. it a week or so to harden. Then cut shapes
comprehensive number of articles on
Czobel painted me reading his newspaper or longer pieces of hard silicone out of it.
colour for readers of The Artist magazine.
and gave me the painting, which I still These articles were designed to teach I usually cut a long strip about the size of
treasure. When I returned to England we colour in a simple language and concise a match and Sellotape it to a toothpick.
corresponded for years, his letters full of format. They were also carefully thought This can then be dipped into masking
witty advice, and I continued to paint, through and designed to form a simple fluid without the need to use brushes. It
thanks to their inspirational guidance. If I overview of colour attributes, pigment can be used time and time again. It's a bit
lack ideas for my work, I only have to read characteristics, colour mixing and colour fiddly to cut the right size and to
through his letters and I start painting relationships that flowed from one Sellotape it, but I swear it works wonders.
again! month to the next. I would like to ask Les Ward, by email
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MASTERCLASS
P
ainting is an obsession – I love abstractionists such as Mondrian and p Sheringham, oil on panel, 221⁄2⫻221⁄2in
the feel and smell of the paint, Robyn Denny. I also respond well to (57⫻57cm).
the magic of colours and shapes more painterly artists such as William A square format can be a challenging shape
turning into an image which has Scott or Patrick Heron. In my foundation in which to arrive at a settled composition.
never existed before. Over the years course I saw myself as a pop artist, The strong areas of light and shade in the
my work has gradually evolved. My greatly influenced by Richard Hamilton. motif attracted me with their evocative
tastes have always been quite catholic. In my fine art degree course I became patterns. I invented the presence of different
Although my main interest is in various obsessed by the Euston Road School: coloured floats and buoys with the intention
types of realism, I enjoy geometric all paintings were made in front of the of creating a slightly surreal atmosphere
‘Although my main
interest is in various
types of realism,
I enjoy geometric
abstractionists such
as Mondrian and
Robyn Denny’
Subject matter
As a teenager I would happily dash out
several paintings a week, but nowadays
I like to take my time, and live with the
development of what are fairly small
paintings over a prolonged period. My
main subjects have become still lifes,
maritime compositions and
townscapes. I feel some sort of
emotional connection with these, and
find them visually exciting. This interest
can be difficult to define or explain in
words, which is perhaps one of the
reasons we paint.
The still lifes are painted from direct
observation of objects in the studio, p Rye Harbour, oil on panel, 153⁄4⫻20in (40⫻50cm).
but the settings have an element of There is a wonderful rendition of this subject painted by Eric Ravilious in 1938. It is interesting
invention, so that the end result might to see how the location has changed since this time. I wanted to recreate the way Ravilious
be a sort of abstracted fiction that rendered the effect of the horizon disappearing in a milky light. It was enjoyable to paint the
never existed in reality. The marine marker posts on the left getting smaller and smaller as they get further away
constructing a composition is to place Imagining a painting reproduced as a p Penarth, oil on panel, 141⁄2⫻18in
elements within a pyramid shape. Used black and white photograph can help (37⫻45.7cm).
in the Renaissance for many altarpieces, with this process. Does it make a I wanted the fluttering shape of the Welsh
this also makes a very stable set-up for satisfying arrangement of lights and flag to hint at the presence of a pleasant sea
a still life, and is an approach I have darks? Are there too many similar mid- breeze. Many cultures read from left to right
been exploring recently. tones (sometimes called half tones)? and this influences the way we look at
It is often the case that aiming for a A good rule to follow is to change the paintings. To stop the eye drifting away to the
single focal point can benefit the tone at least slightly when objects or right of the painting the elaborate cast-iron
impact of an image. In contrast to this colours are side-by-side. Painting railing acts as a repoussoir and also emphasises
the placement of objects of equal studies or exercises using just blacks, the distance to the distant hills of Devon
importance side by side can be very whites and greys is a good learning
effective. There are marvellous strategy.
paintings by the Spanish realists Following on from consideration of
Zurbarán and Cotán that follow this tone, is the question of colour
idea. structure. Colour is an immensely
It is interesting to think about the complex field, with many diverse
numbers of objects in a still life. Just options available. In relation to the
one is perfectly valid, both as a question of composition, it is helpful to
learning strategy with painting think of making something that has a
exercises and to produce a serious unified feel. Having colours and
finished piece of work. The introduction mixtures that recur throughout the
of a second object immediately raises painting can help. One of my tutors,
the question of how you relate the two Roderic Barrett, used to talk about Peter Burgess
entities to each other. There can be a different parts of a painting having studied at Wimbledon School of Art
magical balance that is curiously more ‘conversations’ with each other. and the Royal Academy Schools. He
easily attained with odd rather than Alternative colour treatments can has exhibited in many solo and group
even numbers, which makes using an markedly alter the impact an image exhibitions in the UK and has work in
even number an interesting and makes. TA collections in Britain, Europe and the
worthwhile challenge! USA. He is exhibiting at Patchings Art
Centre, Calverton, Nottinghamshire
Thoughts on tone from September 2 to October 8.
An important consideration in In the next article I will look at choices of www.patchingsartcentre.co.uk
composition is the tonal structure. equipment and materials.
T
he rose is such a classic form; still-life roses ‘as much a flower as
with its wonderful shape it is a anything could be and yet painted in
perfect vision of natural beauty. perfectly solid impasto’. Fantin-Latour
The symbolic connotations of the painted roses all his life and even had
rose bring so many feelings and moods: a rose named after him.
the purity of the white rose, the joy of
the yellow rose and the passion of the Practicalities
red rose. I associate the rose with I prefer roses with thin stems and no
protection and compassion, and I hope thorns – look out for lively foliage and
Peter Graham my love of roses comes through in my always cut the stem before arranging in
will be exhibiting new works at the painting. The chance to paint the light the vase. For painting, I like the rose to
The Royal Institute of Oil Painters’ as it reflects on the petal, the fragility of be a few days old, which allows the
annual exhibition at the Mall Galleries, the surface, the rich foliage, the varied head to open up. Rose hue is very
The Mall, London SW1 from November and exciting range of shapes and important to the mood of the work –
29 to December 10, 2017. Admission is textures are all great for the painter! I love white, pink, yellow and classic
£4, concessions £2.50. For more details Roses were a favourite subject of the deep red, and always look out for a
telephone 020 7930 6844; French Impressionists, notably Édouard variety with a large rose head with well-
www.mallgalleries.org.uk Manet, who transformed paint into defined elliptical leaves.
http://theroi.co.uk/peter-graham roses with his deft and lively A rose softens the composition. In my
brushwork. Van Gogh said of Manet’s still-life paintings I love to reflect the
rose in silverware and glass. The
angular edges of the flower head are a
challenge to capture in paint and it is
one of the few areas where I will use
definite outlines, often using a Prussian
green and alizarin crimson, or something
deep and dark and related to the
background colour in some way.
Observation is key to catching the
radiance and curves of a rose; the
contrast of the flower and the leaf can
be a highly dynamic part of any rose
painting.
Atmosphere
Atmosphere is what I look for. In many
ways, it is like walking into a room and
not knowing quite what to expect; the
tableau becomes the space where you,
the artist, creates the scene. For me,
the energy must come first, through
powerful movements of the brush and
bold decisions on areas of cool and
warmth, of dark and light. Then I think
about how to tackle perspective,
ellipses, overlapping and partially
obscured objects. This is all about
making the scene believable.
The emerging element is the mood,
then the painting takes on its own
character. In my view it is essential to
connect with your subject, which
p Roses on Blue, oil on canvas, 153⁄4⫻153⁄4in (40⫻40cm). involves showing yourself through the
A blue and yellow contrast creates a lively mix in this still-life study paint. This is an element of exposure
that can be uncomfortable. Within still Materials p Le Café, oil on canvas, 193⁄4⫻193⁄4in
(50⫻50cm).
life this can manifest itself through I work on oil-primed and stretched
This composition is centered around the large
familiar objects or a favourite subject – canvases. Generally I start with small
garden rose. My glossy black coffee pot acts
such as roses. varnish brushes – often costing just a
as a foil to the fragility of the rose
couple of pounds each, these brushes
Oil colours are great for maximum coverage when
Increasingly, I depart from a traditional putting down the ground colours and colour. I use various techniques to draw
colour response and tend toward the shapes. the eye into my composition. I like to
technicolour – each stroke a separate My brush selection includes hog have a strong vertical to act as an
colour and very little blending. I prefer filberts and flats for the main painting anchor and often use a strong colour to
colour to dominate the general and I use round sables for swift lines link different areas. I give as much
composition, often creating a shape or and contours in the final stages of the thought to defining the space between
colour that exists only on the canvas, work to sharpen up detail. In order to the objects as the objects themselves.
not in the studio. For this type of get a good performance from your In terms of self-expression and self-
subject I find rich greens very helpful, brushes you need to keep that springy fulfilment, it is one thing to catch a
such as Winsor green, Prussian green, feel, so it is very important when working likeness but another to capture the
viridian and cadmium green. with oils that brushes are meticulously essence of your subject. Expressive
My other colours include lemon cleaned after use with white spirit. mark making and pushing boundaries
yellow, cadmium yellow and titanium with composition or subject and, above
white, cadmium red, cadmium red Techniques all, freedom of expression are ways to
deep, alizarin crimson and brilliant Pattern is very important as it can link make that vital connection. Painting a
rose. Blues and mauves include French different parts of the painting. still life presents the perfect
ultramarine and Winsor violet. Earth Successful paintings do have their own opportunity to explore self-expression
colours include burnt sienna, raw visual balance, achieved through and I have consistently found the rose
t
sienna, raw and burnt umber. careful use of perspective, line and a very rewarding subject to work with.
OILS
p STAGE TWO
Here the roses are taking
shape. Using a dark
green background to
represent the leaf works
to present the rose head
as a negative shape
p STAGE ONE
Emphasis in the early stages was put on drawing the ellipses
and shapes, which defines the character of my painting
t
FINISHED PAINTING
Rose Bouquet, oil on canvas,
241⁄2⫻241⁄2in (62⫻62cm).
The lively dance of the
foliage contrasts with the
white roses against a
complementary red
background
PRACTICAL
DEMONSTRATION 2 Roses and Fruit
u
FINISHED
PAINTING
Roses and Fruit, oil on
canvas, 153⁄4⫻153⁄4in
(40⫻40cm).
The focus is on the twin
rose bouquets with their
delicate petals; they
draw the eye through
the powerful tri-colour
backdrop of yellow, red
and dark blue
W
hilst perusing an old auction Emphasis was given to the practical
catalogue, I noticed a and technical side of working with body
delightful watercolour with colour whereas here I will delve more
the caption ‘Graphite and deeply into the creative and
watercolour heightened with opaque interpretive side. Further examples will
white on grey wove paper’. My heart illustrate the great benefit of using
leapt with joy at the charming picture opaque media to enhance your work
and the uncomplicated description and produce timeless, subtle and
which evoked times gone by when harmonious watercolours.
‘understated’ seemed to carry weight in Like so many aspects of painting
Judi Whitton the world of watercolour painting. watercolours it is important to try to
is a well-established watercolour artist In my article ‘Enhance your vary the procedures in a painting. In
and an enthusiastic plein-air painter. Watercolours’ (The Artist October 2015), the same way as it can be desirable to
She has had many successful solo I introduced the use of gouache in have a balance of light and dark tones,
exhibitions and is a popular tutor. Her traditional watercolour painting. hard and soft edges, warm and cool
latest book Painting Venice was I explained how it can either be mixed colours it can also work to have a
published in 2015, price £24 plus p&p. with the watercolour paints, can be balance of transparent and non-
For more details and to order this and used as highlights or as glazing, and transparent media.
copies of her other books, go to gave a list of six advantages and nine Estuary, Heron Cove, Mizen Peninsula, West
www.watercolour.co.uk or disadvantages of incorporating it in Cork (above right) was painted using
email judi@watercolour.co.uk your palette. I stressed that unpainted traditional transparent watercolour
paper will always give a crisper white pigments on watercolour paper tinted
than any white media. with a warm grey wash. Towards the
end I added white gouache to highlight
the tops of one or two rocks bordering
the estuary. Many watercolour painters,
such as John Yardley, use a few light
Opaque pigments come into their
touches of body colour towards the
own when you are painting in
completion of a picture.
Venice. This photo shows a
terracotta-coloured render being How much body colour?
applied to walls, leading to a
The minimal application of body colour
colourful dense non-reflective
in Estuary, Heron Cove, Mizen Peninsula,
texture. Gouache or chalk heavy
West Cork can be compared with that in
watercolour pigments, such as
San Geremia and Palazzo Loredan, Venice
Naples yellow, are a valuable
(centre right) where it was used more
addition to your palette for
liberally. Here opaque paint (white
conveying this flat look
gouache, Naples yellow reddish) was
applied on the sunlit marble-clad
buildings at the front. By comparing the
two you can see that the Heron Cove
painting still has the translucency so
Here a typical weathered wall in characteristic of watercolour, whereas
Venice has peeling render that this is lost to some extent in the other
exposes the traditional red brick. work, where I was mainly concerned
It is helpful to have non- with showing how the Palazzo Labia
transparent media in your palette appears to be intertwined in the
to broaden the ways in which you complex of lovely buildings with the
can show the beautiful shapes church of San Geremia at the back. I
and varied surfaces resulting from emphasised the buildings at the front
this decay using ink and body colour. Glazes had
been placed over the sky and buildings
at the back to encourage them to
q Helicopter with
Military Personnel in
Afghanistan,
watercolour with
body colour on
Bockingford Not
140lb (300gsm),
10⫻11in
(25.5⫻28cm)
p Sailing Boat in Bantry Bay, West Cork, watercolour with pencil and body
colour on Bockingford Not 140lb (300gsm) previously toned with a blue
grey wash, 11⫻15in (28⫻28cm)
PRACTICAL
t SKY STUDY 1
‘Note the
small sailing
boat depicted
in gouache’
Final thoughts
The purists have used words such as
‘adultery’, ‘illegitimate’ ‘dead’ and
‘contaminate’ to describe their views
about the use of opaque paint in
watercolour painting. I believe, like
many artists, there are no rules in
painting but I do respect those painters
who refuse to use white media in their
work. If you enjoy using tinted
watercolour paper then gouache can be
a very useful addition to your palette.
Alternatively you can add touches of
pastel or white chalk at the end to
retrieve the lights.
The technique of using body colour
has been in use for centuries. If you
feel your watercolours need a little
uplift then perhaps it is time to begin
to consider adding non-transparent
paint to your palette. There still must
be a place for harmonious, gentle and
sensitive watercolours ‘heightened with p Ca’ D’Oro, Venice, watercolour with pencil and body colour on pre-tinted Schut Noblesse
opaque white’ in the 21st century. TA 140lb (300gsm), 7⫻8in (18⫻20.5cm)
artist
TA10p24_27_Haidee Jo_Layout 1 23/08/2017 10:31 Page 25
Alla-prima oils
Haidee-Jo Summers says the alla-prima approach is a great way
to freshen-up your oil paintings. Here she suggests you put yourself to
the test by limiting the number of brushstrokes you use
A
lla prima means ‘at the first suffice for most simple subjects, but if oil primer tinted with oil colour. Allow
stroke’. It is used to describe a you want to make things a little easier several weeks for the boards to dry if
painting approach whereby start with 30 and work your way down. using this approach and ventilate the
paintings are started and Each time you lift the brush off the room well.
completed in one session, before the board, that counts as one brushstroke.
paint dries. It is a good place to begin Count the brushstrokes as you go and Pushing yourself
getting used to the process of paint keep a tally so that you do not lose Putting limits on yourself in this alla-
application and a useful technique for track. prima exercise sounds like it could be
all sorts of circumstances such as This exercise is intended to teach you counter-productive, but sometimes the
painting en plein air, when speed is of how to identify which parts of an image additional challenge is just what you
the essence. Working alla prima in oils are most important by restricting the need to motivate yourself. Although it
suits my simultaneous needs for number of brushstrokes you are is difficult and occasionally frustrating
enthusiasm, freshness, simplicity, and allowed to make. to adhere to your self-imposed limits,
speed. You will find it’s extremely important you must be strict and force yourself to
Oils can be a great medium for those to be organised before you start. Be stop with the last stroke of your brush
learning to paint and for speedy work. ready for action with generous limit, or at the end of your time if you
The rich buttery colours remain quantities of paint already squeezed have imposed a time limit on your
workable and wet, which allows you to out onto your palette and your brushes painting. If you allow yourself to do ‘just
achieve many different effects, from to hand so that you do not have to a little bit more’ you will carry on to
thin transparent glazes to thick impasto waste precious painting time cleaning paint the way you always paint and
passages and all the possibilities in up your brushes. Note that the painting bring the painting to your usual level of
between. You can put paint on, take surface is small and the brushes finish. You know the famous saying,
paint off with a knife or rag, push the relatively large. This will help you to don’t you? If you do what you have
paint around as it stays wet and cover the surface more quickly and as always done you will get what you have
workable. an extra benefit it is more likely that always got!
you will make confident, definite Capturing the essence of your subject
Limited brushstrokes statements. truly helps the observer to be able to
The following is a good exercise for see what you could see, but without a
beginners and those who find that their Toned grounds need for detail. Practising exercises that
paintings are looking overworked or It helps to start work on a board that challenge how you approach painting
excessively fiddly. It will help you to has already been underpainted with a will soon get you achieving a bolder
work out what is important information mid-toned colour, as this saves you and more direct approach with your oil
to include in your painting and what having to paint over the clean white paintings, resulting in more vibrant,
you can leave out. It will also help you surface before you establish your tones. successful paintings, whatever the
explore ways of using the brushes – The quickest method is to apply a coat subject.
from light touches to confidently of tinted gesso. I mix a mid-toned warm If you struggle to stick to your limits,
drawing with a heavily-loaded brush; grey acrylic paint colour into gesso and ask someone else to come and remove
you will find that mixing up large pools use this to cover my little boards. It’s a the brush from your grasp! TA
of colour and loading up the brush good idea to prepare many boards at
gives you the best chance of success. once, and you must leave them to dry
Instead of putting a time limit on your well before painting on them with your This extract is taken
painting you ration the number of oils. from Vibrant Oils by
brushstrokes that you make – 20 should Most commercially available canvases Haidee-Jo Summers,
and boards are sold ready-primed with published by Search
an acrylic gesso. The label will state Press, ISBN
t Hyacinth and Cupcake, oil, 10⫻8in ‘universal primed’, which means it can 9781782212539,
(25.5⫻20.5cm). be used with acrylic or oil paints. Do price £15.99. Readers
This still life was painted in 30 minutes: I used check before you apply an undercoat can save £2 and enjoy
a timer to make sure I didn’t go over my time because you won’t be able to cover an free p&p when
limit. I think it has a delightful freshness that oil-primed surface with acrylic paint or ordering from our online bookshop – see
would have been lost if I had continued to acrylic gesso, but you can still tint the page 64 for details. To see a short video of
work on it. I find that the earliest marks made surface using a thin wash of oil colour Haidee-Jo painting, go to
in a painting are often the most useful, mixed with turps and rubbing it into http://painte.rs/2vsBYFb
t
ALLA-PRIMA OILS
Exercise Limited brushstrokes
MATERIALS
l Oil paints: viridian, cadmium
yellow lemon, rose doré,
ultramarine blue, titanium white,
raw umber, cadmium orange,
blue-black, Kings blue light
l Brushes: size 8 flat, size 10 flat, size
5 long flat
l 8⫻10in (20.5⫻25.5cm) canvases
l Thinner, glaze medium and rag
u STAGE ONE
Mix a plentiful amount of viridian with
cadmium yellow lemon, then add rose
doré to mute it a little. Without lifting
The subject the brush away from the canvas, make
a zig-zag stroke with a size 8 flat
t STAGE FIVE
The same mix can be
used for the shadow,
which can be laid in with
one stroke
u STAGE SIX
Mix a purple from
ultramarine blue, rose
doré madder and
titanium white and
establish the main
groups of flowers with
the size 5 long flat brush
PRACTICAL
u Keep a tally
Make a mark at the
side of your
painting every
time you lift your
brush to help you
keep track of how
many brushstrokes
you have used – and
of which colours
Haidee-Jo Summers
studied illustration at DeMontfort
University, Leicester. She has exhibited
widely and won many awards, including
The Artist Purchase Prize at The Artist
Open Competition in partnership with
Patchings in 2014, and is a regular
contributor to The Artist. Haidee-Jo tutors
workshops and demonstrates for art
societies. Her DVD Vibrant Oils is
available from APV Films, price £28.55.
Telephone 01608 641798; p Last strokes
www.apvfilms.com Add some shadow in the flower heads Haidee-Jo is leading a The Artist holiday to Île de
www.haideejo.com and with your last two or three strokes, Ré, France, from June 8 to 16. More details are
www.haideejo.blogspot.co.uk using the lilac-purple mix with a little available from Spencer Scott Travel, telephone
blue-black added 01825 714310; www.spencerscotttravel.com
Aerial perspective
Beaches have space and distance, the
sky is unhindered all the way to the
horizon and the expanse of sky and sea
is impressive. I nearly always add
clouds, even if they are not there in
real life, because they add expanse to
the sky and are part of the illusion of
space. Even a bird or two in the sky can
Beach views
help with this.
To convey this in a painting is a game-
changer, but many artists seem to give
it a miss. Getting a handle of
atmospheric perspective or the illusion
of distance and space through colour
and tone is the biggest benefit an artist
Mike Barr reveals the secrets to successful can learn and will be the difference
beachscapes, with tips on colours, composition between an ordinary painting and one
which you feel you can walk into.
and perspective Generally, things get bluer as they
recede into the distance. Darks get
lighter and lights get darker. The very
best way to see this in action is to go to
I
n a nutshell, the ability to convey don’t use a ruler or tape when you a major art gallery and spend some
the illusion of space, light and paint it, as it will look too harsh. Paint it time in the Impressionists section.
distance with paint is the key to freehand, and even though there will Failing that, look up the Impressionists
believable seascapes. For me, be a few wobbles your overall line will online, both the trailblazers of the 19th
painting is not about seeing how close be straight – this makes it look real century and those of modern days, and
we can get our work to looking like a without it looking like a technical see how they have tackled aerial
photograph, it’s about creating drawing. perspective.
atmosphere that the viewer can feel,
even though it may crafted with very Use a limited palette Control the composition
few brushstrokes – artists should be I recently saw a palette with 22 colours Don't let photographic reference or real
skilled illusionists. Here are a few on it, and that included seven yellows life get in the way of a good
pointers to help you with your and reds, plus white. That's too much. composition. I often use references
beachscapes. By having fewer colours on your palette from a number of photos in my beach
you will learn to achieve other colours scenes, particularly when adding figures
Get the horizon straight by mixing intuitively rather than by and boats. Sometimes things are in the
It's so simple that it's almost an insult colour charts, and this will help to wrong position, or there are too many
to mention it, but once a slanted harmonise your work. It's all about things, or not enough. Be the boss of
horizon is noticed it's all you will ever practice and painting a lot. your paintings and, as I like saying,
see. Measure the horizon with a ruler Having too much colour on the canvas don't be a slave to the photograph
and draw it in with a pencil. However, is distracting and can make a work because it is so easy to do.
Add life
I have seen many wonderful works that
miss the mark for no other reason than
there is no sign of life whatsoever. It's
as if life in all its forms was whisked
away by some alien power and this is
particularly noticeable with a beachscape.
Even a few flying seagulls will break the
shackles of lifelessness. Learn how to
paint figures, it's much simpler than
you may imagine, but don't get bogged
down with drawing them with a pencil
first. Draw with the brush and it will
help you keep them simple.
The addition of a few figures will give
the painting life and focus and help
viewers to identify themselves in the
scene. Sails are another great prop in a
beach or seascape – just a hint of a sail
is all it takes.
Finishing touches
A few little highlights can really bring a
painting to life and this is why I really
love the end stages. A few sparkles of
light on the waves, sunlight on the
shoulders of some figures or a few short
sweeping strokes of the brush can
indicate seagulls being blown by the
breeze. These are some of the things to
look for as we finish the painting. Of
course, there is always a time to stop
fiddling and that time is usually before
t
DEMONSTRATION
Autumn Holiday, Semaphore
p STAGE ONE
Contrary to my normal practice, I pencilled-in
main forms first, rearranging what was in the
reference photo and left a gap for viewers to
look through – it's so easy to close-off a
painting without thinking. I ignored some
initial pencilling and broadly filled in with
some ultramarine wash. I didn’t use a ruler to
paint the lines of the jetty, because that
would have tightened up the painting
p STAGE TWO
I established the sky by adding some drama.
In contrast to the solid structure of the jetty
the clouds are free and brushy – the best way
to paint clouds. I used white, ultramarine,
alizarin and raw sienna. Then I punched in
some darks, exaggerating the shadows using
viridian and ultramarine, to give depth to the
painting
u STAGE THREE
I always find jetty railings tedious to paint but
at the same time I try not to be too careful.
I added colour and light to the figures –
always an enjoyable process for me – which
brought the painting to life. The sand is made
up of white, raw sienna and small amounts of
ultramarine and viridian. The shadow of the
jetty is a real anchor in the composition
p FINISHED PAINTING
Autumn Holiday, Semaphore, oil on canvas, – I have toned it all down to produce a softer
351⁄2⫻381⁄4in (90⫻97cm). autumn scene. As always, details and fiddling
I really love the last stages of a painting. could go on and on, so stop before it's too
Compare this with stage three to see how just late! After a day or two it is good to have
a few highlights and details finish it all off. another look, as you will nearly always find
The photo reference is a lot harsher in colour something to finish it off
PERSPECTIVE IN FOCUS: 2 OF 3
P
erspective is the foundation to
everything you will ever want to
paint convincingly – be it
expressively, detailed or any
other way. By learning the rules of
perspective first, your creative
interpretations of the world around you
will be confidently executed – behind
every great painting is a great drawing.
Perspective drawing is a technique
used to create the illusion of a three-
dimensional surface on a flat surface.
There are other ways to convince the
viewer that your work appears to be
ONE-POINT PERSPECTIVE
Eye level
Diagram 1: one-point
perspective seen from above
The rules of one-point perspective do not
necessarily need to apply to a view seen at
street level. This diagram shows how, using
one-point perspective, the viewer is led
directly down into the city from above. Note
how the lines of perspective converge to a
vanishing point way below the buildings. As
artists we have to learn to see through
shapes to find the anchor points we need to
make every aspect of the drawing correct. In
this case the eye level (and theoretical
horizon) is almost through the centre of the
drawing. Notice how the buildings above that
line appear to converge downwards towards
the vanishing point, while those below it
p Evening Light, Manhattan, pastel on Canson Mi-Teintes ‘Touch’ black pastel paper,
appear to converge upwards to a vanishing
350gsm, 201⁄2⫻14in (52⫻35.5cm).
point somewhere in the sky. The buildings
Here one-point perspective leads the viewer through the painting to the right of centre. By
bisected by the eye level (such as the round
making use of the diagonal, I have created a dynamic composition
tower) do both
three dimensional – tonally through p Evening Light towards the Rialto, Venice,
aerial perspective, or by drawing pastel on sanded paper, 19⫻23in (48⫻58cm).
objects in front or behind one another, One-point perspective was applied to the
for example, to give the illusion of individual buildings along the Grand Canal.
depth. Notice how the buildings on the left (in
Perspective drawing can be divided shadow) have a vanishing point not dead
into three main groups – one-point, centre but to the right. The building on the
two-point and three-point perspective. far right (in full evening sun) also has a
The most challenging, yet most vanishing point stretched to the left of
exciting, in my opinion, is three-point centre. However, both are fixed to points
perspective, as looking down on a parallel to one another on the eye line. To
cityscape from above, or looking up have drawn all buildings directly from one
from street level, creates really axis point in the middle would have been
dramatic viewpoints. wrong!
PERSPECTIVE
TWO-POINT PERSPECTIVE
Eye level
p Diagram 2
The principles of two-point perspective for above eye level, on
eye level and below eye level p Diagram 3
Two-point perspective in stylised detail. Note the architectural
details reflected in the pond in the foreground which also helps
increase depth in the drawing
q Soft Evening Glow, Manhattan, pastel on perspective to interpret this, and there to the left or right, but with careful
Sait P500 pastel paper, 22⫻72in (56⫻183cm). will be two vanishing points. Again, first observation, and following the angles
Note how the two perspective points are determine your eye level, then draw from the top and base of the buildings
outside the composition. To find the all- your lines from both sides of the to where the lines converge at eye
important vanishing points I set up two building to the points where they meet level, you will be able to draw the
draughtsman’s parallel motion boards at on the horizon, the vanishing points. correct angles of the buildings with
exactly the same angle, equal distance from Diagram 2 (above), shows two-point confidence.
one another across the studio, with a very perspective when looking at simple
long sheet of rigid wooden board between cubic shapes, directly at and from Three-point perspective
them. Drawing pins and taut string also above them. Have you ever wondered how to draw
helped! In Diagram 3 (above right), the eye or paint buildings convincingly when
level is approximately through the looking up or looking down on them?
centre of the drawing. Notice how both This is when you use three-point
the vanishing points (to right and left) perspective, which will have three
are outside the composition. In the real vanishing points, but be aware they
world, vanishing points can be way off may be outside your picture plane –
PRACTICAL
THREE-POINT PERSPECTIVE
Eye level
Eye level
p Evening Light Towards the Santa Maria Della Salute, pastel on Canson Mi-
Teintes ‘Touch’ 350gsm black pastel paper, 20⫻20in (51⫻51cm).
Two-point perspective was applied for this high vantage point. Using a 1/3 to
p Three-point perspective with the buildings 2/3rd divisional ratio for the square composition, repeating triangular shapes
stretching above eye level and to the left and right and placing the axis point pretty much through the main bell tower of Santa
give you the feeling that the buildings are really tall Maria Della Salute makes for a strong design – but it is the celebration of the
with the emphasis of them stretching away from you glowing Venetian light that makes the painting really dynamic
TEST REPORT
rocolour pencils are Derwent's about this new addition to Derwent's quickly, but layering one colour over
C O N T R A S T S I N W AT E R C O L O U R : 6 O F 6
A
mantra that I have developed not a fan of pre-wetting paper but if
over the time I have been you prefer it that way then go for it. Be
painting is ‘start with a mess, mindful, however, that paint added to
end in success’. It’s true. The pre-wetted paper usually dries lighter
looser and messier the start of the than expected due to the dilution of
painting, the better the end result will the colour on the damp surface. Use a
be. If you start with a careful and timid big brush and don’t try to paint careful
outset, making perfect washes and hard shapes or individual features, just
edges, the entire painting will follow in broadly apply colour of the lightest
a tight and constrained way. There is values only. Where adjacent shapes
Paul Talbot-Greaves nothing wrong with that of course if that have different colours allow them to
has been painting for over 20 years is how you like to work, but if you blend and fuse where they meet. At the
and teaches watercolour and acrylic prefer a looser and more expressive end of this stage I sometimes slosh
painting in his home county of west way of working, let go and start your water onto the paper to make colours
Yorkshire. He also runs workshops and painting with what many people run further and create runbacks, as this
demonstrates to art societies describe as a mess. I aim to capture generates more interest in the washes.
throughout the north. Paul can only the colours and values at the
beginning of a painting, using fluid Colours, shapes and values
be contacted by email:
information@talbot-greaves.co.uk or washes of paint and allowing them to When the messy wash is dry I begin the
through his website: fuse and blend as I brush them on. I’m painting on top, but I hold off any fine
www.talbot-greaves.co.uk
work or details. Instead I concentrate
on building up the colours, shapes and
values that I see. I allow a lot of the
THIS brushwork at this stage to be messy
MONTH’S too, as the refinement of the subject
CHALLENGE generally comes after this layer has
dried. I work from shape to shape,
allowing fusing between them, and I
use paint in various consistencies,
Create a painting from this
depending on the value required at the
photograph of the tree-lined
time. All the time I am painting I
road. I’d like you to let go with
consciously refrain from painting tight
the starting washes and allow the
details such as the leaves of a tree or
paint to do what it wants. Mess it
fenceposts, and so on. I use mop
up a bit by sloshing with water
brushes for good coverage so that I can
then allow to dry and build up
capture the main shapes without
the painting using the first wash
working too fiddly. If you find yourself
as the lightest values. Tighten up
painting walls brick by brick, or you
at the end with some finesse.
constantly paint every blade of grass in
the foreground, try some of the
Take a good-quality photo of
following ideas to loosen things up a
your painting and email your
bit before adding just a little
work to dawn@tapc.co.uk
refinement at the end.
together with a brief
description (no more than 100 Stand your reference material
words) about the process you out of reach
used, with PTG6 in the subject If you’re not careful you can find
line, by November 24. yourself painting with a brush in one
Have fun, good luck hand and your reference photo in the
other. If this is the case, I’m guessing
and happy painting the reference picture will end up held
at close quarters, allowing your brain to
PRACTICAL
Work from smaller photos break this down into manageable parts short while. I prefer to stand with my
If you print your own reference as you analyse your reference, so ask painting at a shallow angle on a table
photographs, try printing them small, yourself what is the colour? What and my arm held loosely outstretched. I
say around 6⫻4in (15⫻10cm), as this shapes are you painting? And, how paint through the movements of the
will consolidate details, allowing you to strong or weak are the colours? thumb and finger and the shoulder and
concentrate more on the overall picture I find this is a reasonably controlled but
instead of becoming distracted by Holding and handling the expressive way of painting.
fiddly little shapes. Often plain typing brush Towards the end of the work, I usually
paper produces prints of poor quality Your hold on the brush has a direct tighten up some details and shapes
that lose detail. These can sometimes effect on how messy and loose your using smaller brushes or tools such as
make preferable reference material brushwork can be. Holding it at the ruling pens and card stamps for making
over quality photo papers that produce ferrule with your hand resting on the finer marks. This is the finesse at the
pin-sharp images with every detail and table is usually comfortable, especially other end of the scale to the earlier
nuance captured. if you sit down to paint, but this will mess. I usually look out for anything
produce a tight finish to your work as containing fine lines, such as tree
Concentrate on colour, shapes the movement will come from the wrist. branches and twigs, wire, fencing – that
and values Sitting down to paint is restful but can sort of thing. Just a small amount of
Try to work only on colours, shapes and be restrictive if you want to put energy finesse contrasted with a majority of a
values. To a large extent these can be into your paintings. Holding the handle messy painting will be enough to
achieved by painting through half- towards the opposite end of the ferrule tighten up your picture and the two
closed eyes to consolidate and will give looser results but if you’re sat contrasting approaches will really
t
eliminate the finer details. You can down, this can produce arm ache after a complement each other.
W AT E R C O L O U R
u STAGE ONE
I began the painting
with a loose drawing
using a 4B pencil. I
always aim to sketch in
the main shapes
without describing
detail and I look at my
drawing as a guideline,
not an outline. When I
was happy with the
placement of the shapes
I selected some colour
and squeezed out fresh
tube paint, ready for
painting
u STAGE TWO
Using a size 5 squirrel mop brush I added a varied, messy mixture
of colours, starting at the top with permanent sap green, burnt
sienna, cadmium yellow pale and bits of cerulean blue. Without
pausing I continued into the road, capturing the lit parts of the
tarmac with cobalt blue, alizarin crimson and yellow ochre. When
the paper was covered I splashed some water on top to make some
runbacks and textures. The more variety and the more mess you
can create at this stage, the better
p STAGE FOUR
Continuing down the paper with the colours, shapes and values,
p STAGE THREE I connected the background to the foreground with the strong
When it was dry I began to add the mid- and darker values in the linear lines of the shadows. These were painted in French
trees using slightly heavier colours of permanent sap green, ultramarine and brown madder using a well-loaded size 4 mop
cadmium yellow pale, burnt sienna and cobalt blue. As I painted, brush, which allowed me to continue making marks without
I allowed each shape to fuse gently into the next having to reload the brush constantly
I
nstruments have inspired many a number of still-life pieces, either as
artists through the centuries; their sole subject or placed alongside other
sensuous and rhythmic shapes objects.
have provided painters with a In recent paintings the violin had
fascinating and challenging theme. In been hung against a light background
Caravaggio’s paintings we see many or placed on a light surface with other
beautiful instruments and also in the objects. The idea for this painting was
work of Chardin, Vermeer and Holbein. to place the instrument amongst the
Musical instruments have long rich reds and greens of the studio chair,
featured in my work, whether being which make the warm colours of the
Adele Wagstaff played during rehearsals or used as a wood appear more intense and vibrant.
trained at Newcastle University and the
still-life subject. The beautiful shape of I also began to think of the painting as
Slade School of Fine Art. She has taught
the stringed instruments hold a a kind of self-portrait, in so much as I
in Belgium, Germany, Italy and the UK,
particular fascination for me and, as a am showing another aspect of my
including West Dean College, Putney
violinist, my own violin has featured in painter’s life. TA
School of Art and Design, Slade School
of Fine Art and Royal Academy of Arts.
Adele has been shortlisted for the DEMONSTRATION Still Life with Violin
Jerwood Drawing Prize and the BP
Portrait Award, and her work has been
exhibited in the National Portrait
Gallery, Discerning Eye, Royal West of
England Academy and the Royal
Society of Portrait Painters. Adele has
published two books: Still Life Painting
in Oils (2012) ISBN 9781847973139 and
Painting the Nude In Oils (2015), ISBN
9781847979056, both published
by Crowood.
www.adelewagstaff.co.uk
MATERIALS
l Oil paints: warm white, cadmium
lemon, raw sienna, burnt sienna,
cadmium red, alizarin crimson, p STAGE ONE p STAGE TWO
viridian, terre verte, cerulean blue, The violin was propped up against cushions Continuing the drawing, the shape of the
ultramarine and raw umber was used in the studio chair so that it was positioned violin was adjusted, using a larger brush with
for the sketching-out. The brands I use diagonally across the composition. Once the a little turpentine to soften any lines that
are Michael Harding, Winsor & violin, bow and music had been placed I used needed re-positioning. After blotting the
Newton, Blockx and Old Holland a viewfinder to observe how the shapes, surface, less dilute paint was used to
l Brushes: riggers, sizes 2 and 4, and a balance of colours and weight appeared continue and fine-tune the shapes. The
selection of synthetic rounds and within the rectangle. Moving the viewfinder outline had become a little too heavy and
filberts from Rosemary & Co and nearer to and further away from the set-up ideally should have been lighter. The scale of
Winsor & Newton helped me to decide on the amount of space the various parts of the violin were
l A wooden palette, palette knife around the subject. The intricate shape of the continually checked throughout this drawing
l Turpentine and linseed oil violin was drawn onto the linen using a dilute stage due to the complexity of the shapes
l Oil-primed extra fine linen from Belle wash of raw umber with a fine rigger brush. A and a subtle foreshortening and curvature
Arte line was placed along the diagonal that runs across the front of the instrument
through the centre of the instrument
t STAGE FIVE
The colour placed over the front of the violin was initially applied
quite thinly so as to not lose any of the references or structures drawn
underneath. All remaining darks were added, the darks of the
fingerboard and chinrest are the darkest tones in the composition.
Another layer was painted over the red area; the colour was slowly
becoming richer and vibrant, with greater depth
t Detail
This shows how small
areas of colour were
patched-in over the
background instead of
using one flat colour.
Various green mixes were
made on the palette and
painted in quickly; warmer
vivid viridian green and
subtle terre verte was
placed against cooler
mixes with cerulean or
alizarin crimson added
t
t Detail
This close-up shows how
colour was applied over the
wood, using brushstrokes
that follow the length of the
instrument to echo the
direction of the wood grain
and patterning of the wood.
The drawing of the outer
curves has been sharpened
up using light, cool mixes to
show how light describes
these edges. Light lines were
used to begin to suggest the
strings over the bridge
p STAGE SIX
Using a rigger and small round synthetic brushes, the outline
of the violin was drawn in more carefully; a few alterations
were necessary after checking the symmetry of the curves. A
lot of time was spent looking closely at the painting upside-
down to check the overall weight, shape and balance of the
composition. Small areas of contrasting tone and colour,
including the colours seen in the reflections on the different
woods, were then painted
p STAGE SEVEN
The long diagonal of the bow was placed alongside the violin. Because the
lighter mix was beginning to pick up the crimson, the underpainting was
allowed to dry before work continued. Using graphite, I began to suggest
the notation on the sheet of music in the foreground. Once the crimson
underpainting was dry enough the edges of the
bow were tidied up. The curved shadows
on the cushion made by the bow were
painted along with the deep
shadow on the right of the violin
u STAGE NINE
Up to this point the scroll and
tuning pegs at the top of the
violin had had little work done
to them. The warm dark tones
p STAGE EIGHT of the wood continued the
Using a rigger brush, and making the line as faint as possible, colour used for the wood of the
the characteristic f-shaped sound holes were carefully drawn– bow. This area was kept fairly
it is the tone of the negative shape that describes the sketchy so as not to take the eye
structure. The right-hand hole is lighter in tone than the left, away too much from the main body of
to show how light falls inside the instrument
p FINISHED PAINTING
Still Life with Violin, oil, 193⁄4⫻153⁄4in (50⫻40cm).
The reflection of light along the bow was placed using a very pale cool blue mixture. A few small
details in the lower part of the bow were also added. Finally, there was a little more work to the music
using both graphite and very dilute paint to pick out the movement and shapes of the groups of notes
PRODUCT FOCUS
o paint on canvas in acrylics or oils portrait or detailed painting. Where product that not only gives portability
pressing or heavily charging the brush p Country Track, acrylic on Jackson’s rough-grain jute over MDF, 71⁄2⫻12in (20⫻30cm).
with the medium. The rough texture of the jute produces a very pleasing result. The board was underpainted with
The fine and super-fine textures were a neutral mid-tone and completed using Jackson’s Artist acrylics
superb and gave the smoothest result I
could imagine from a canvas. Perhaps
someone who paints finer detail than me
might make more of the very fine linen For more information about Jackson’s linen boards and panels, see.jacksonsart.com or
than I did during the evaluation, but I am telephone 0207 254 0077.
looking forward to trying it out at my next
portrait session – my bet is it will prove to
surpass anything I have used in a cotton
variety.
Like all Jackson's own-brand products,
these well-made linen canvas boards offer
good value for money. It’s likely they will
change your view on texture of support,
as well as give you an opportunity to
experience a superb product at an
affordable price. TA
Max Hale
studied at Harrow School of Art.
He teaches workshops and painting
holidays, and offers personal mentoring.
His DVD First Steps in Water-Mixable Oils
is available from Town House Films price
£29.95; www.townhousefilms.co.uk
telephone 01603 782888. p Five Bottles, water-mixable oil on Jackson’s fine linen over MDF, 12⫻151⁄2in (30⫻40cm).
www.maxhaleart.co.uk This canvas feels wonderful to paint on. Results from wiping-out are excellent as the surface is
so resilient and flexible, even on such a rigid support
Mixed-media watercolours
Paul Riley suggests introducing other media to your
watercolours, with advice on the best way to do this. It’s all down
to good planning…
W
atercolour can be
particularly tricky, especially
for beginners. There are
many pitfalls that snare the
unwary and the results can be frustrating
and depressing. It all seems so simple
at the outset – what could go wrong?
Pitfalls
Well, as anybody who has tried will tell
you – loads! Colours run into one
another creating muddy tones and
blurred edges. Often as not the
painting lacks intensity, looks wishy-
washy or smudged. This invariably
leads to the addition of some other
media to save the situation. The first
job is to reach for a pen and some ink,
or a Pentel-type pen, and rectify those
lost edges. The trouble is that the
results can often get smudged, creating
an obvious mess. By this time, in
desperation, you reach for some
gouache to clean and recover some of
the paint areas and cover some of the
ink. But the likelihood is that more
muddiness will result. Finally, if all else
fails there are pastels, which by some
miracle can quite often save the day. If
not there are always the scissors. There
may be something worth saving if that
bad quarter or half is chopped off…!
Potential
The reason for using alternative media
to rescue a deteriorating watercolour is
invariably to cover up something
physically and also intellectually – a
lack of preparation and planning. To say
it is a cover for poor workmanship
would be unfair to a beginner who
knows no different.
Watercolour is a transparent medium,
so the light areas must be accounted
for at the outset. The paint must dry
thoroughly in order to maintain crisp
p Venetian Façade – Hvar Island, mixed media on Saunders Waterford HP 300gsm, 18⫻12in edges. If you must use a pencil to draw
(45.5⫻30.5cm). in the image (graphite isn’t
I used quite a broad and stiff pen nib that glided swiftly over the HP surface. The ink is a sepia watercolour), then keep it clean. No
bought in Venice! It is not waterproof so the watercolour went on first. Gouache was added smudging with the hand or sleeve, and
thickly and carefully so as not to disturb the ink work. Finally, pastel was broadly added for keep the eraser at bay. In short, pure
texture. Here I used soft pastel rounds watercolour has its limitations but also
MIXED MEDIA
DEMONSTRATION Venetian Fragments
t My reference sketch
A very small sketch gives the basis for an
idea. This was done on the spot and I
have no photograph. I had to make it up
on the go!
p STAGE ONE
Venice provides a lot of
scope for experimentation,
seeing atmosphere and
noting textures. For mixed
media it’s ideal –
watercolour, wetness,
penwork detail, gouache
and pastel textures. I
commenced with a light
drawing-in using pale
phthalo blue using a No. 2
sable round. The washes
were wet-into-wet, applied
gouache into the mix adds to it. With vertically
collage you can get crisp edges, which
can appeal to those who are a little
impatient when it comes to waiting for
things to dry.
l Water-based oils can be diluted to
various consistencies from very watery
to creamy, and poured and t STAGE TWO
manipulated like watercolours or oil The pen work was
paint. These can be done on deliberately kept loose.
watercolour paper or on canvas. The Too much use of a straight
effects are startling and well worth edge will result in a
experimenting with, such as with a mechanistic look, which
watercolour sub-base with water- isn’t quite Venice! Further
soluble oils as an additive. It just goes watercolour was added
to show that there is always something over the ink colour – this
new around the corner. Along with comprised phthalo blue,
mixing the media try variations in paint burnt sienna and burnt
handling – dripping, pouring, printing, umber watercolour, varied
splattering, ragging etc. Have fun! TA in tone and colour. The
pen colour remained fixed
* www.cornelissen.com under the watercolour
PRACTICAL
p STAGE THREE
This was the stage to exploit the opacity of
the gouache. The earth colours raw umber,
raw sienna, burnt sienna, Naples yellow and
indigo were mixed with white and applied in
varying concentrations. This is ideal for
textures and highlighting around windows
T
he variation of edges between
soft and hard can be one of the
signs of a more sophisticated
painting, introducing an element
of subtlety. Hard edges, or edges that
are very visible, are easy to paint and
tend to be produced without much
conscious thought. Soft edges are less
visible.
In this article I will explain how to
create edges – there are more methods
than described here, which you can
discover by experimenting. These
methods are applicable whether using
a brush or palette knife – I have used
oils. I refer to brushstrokes in this
article for simplicity, but palette knife
strokes are implied, too. Indeed, any
kind of tool to deposit or remove paint
on a surface could be used, whether a
finger, cotton bud, paper tissue, rag,
etc.
My recommendation is to study the
methods, practise them, and aim to
internalise them, then to work
instinctively rather than analytically
while painting. Also it is well worth the
effort to study the works of old masters
as well as contemporary artists to
understand how they achieved their
edge effects.
PRACTICAL
Where there is little or no contrast of Soft edges p Scottish Valley I, oil, 24⫻31in
(61⫻78.5cm).
value, hue or saturation between two You may choose to paint without the
Methods 2 and 4 (see page 54) were used in
shapes, the edge will disappear. An knowledge of how to soften an edge,
several places. I used a palette knife. Have a
edge can also disappear and reappear, but having an understanding of what is
look at the rocky slope on the right (method
which is usually referred to as a lost- possible allows you the freedom to
2) and also on the right at the ‘fingers’ sloping
and-found edge. For example discard it if you choose. There are two
downwards, some of which have edges of an
someone’s hairline may appear sharp main approaches. The first involves
orange colour of intermediate value to soften
where the light illuminates it. painting directly on the edge to reduce
the transition to the grassy areas (method 4)
What follows may seem arid and its hardness. The second is indirect and
technical, but I believe that achieving involves painting on either side of the
variety in a painting, and balancing that edge, or on both sides, but not on the titanium white (Winsor & Newton),
with unifying the painting, is important edge itself. In one painting one or more lemon yellow lake (Michael Harding),
and one way to do it is through varying methods may be useful on the same cadmium yellow pale (W&N), cadmium
edges. edge or on different ones. red (W&N), permanent alizarin crimson
(W&N), ultramarine blue (MH), cerulean
Hard edges Materials blue (W&N), burnt umber (W&N).
A hard edge often appears without any While materials are not directly Sometimes I supplement the palette
thought. However, sometimes an edge important to varying edges, I have with one or two specific colours for a
may need to be hardened further to listed what I use in case it is of interest. painting. I use Liquin Impasto (W&N) in
make it more prominent, particularly at I buy brushes from Rosemary & Co: varying quantities, which adds body,
the focal area of the painting. This can Classic short flats size 12 for canvases helps to retain brushstrokes and
be achieved by increasing the contrast up to 50⫻40cm and proportionately quickens drying.
between the two shapes through larger for bigger canvases. I use RGM Understanding why we vary edges,
varying the value, hue, saturation or palette knives. I mix paint on a large and knowing how to do this, can
any combination of these for one or kidney-shaped palette with a mid- elevate your representational art to
both shapes. Another approach is to brown colour. My colour palette is another level by adding an additional
increase the contrast by painting over limited, with a warm and a cool version dimension to those of drawing, value
t
T
he dramatic title of this article is Payne’s grey colours as temporary, and the most
to draw your attention to I have found that many students are accurate and best advice I can give you is
particular colours that can to check the lightfastness of a colour on
keen on Payne’s grey and can become
potentially dominate or spoil your the tube. Take particular care if you are
very reliant on this powerful colour. I using old watercolour paints. I say this
work in some way. It is not to say that have never been fond of Payne’s grey,
you shouldn’t use any of these colours because most recent watercolours have
mainly because it contains three been improved; for example, Winsor &
but they either need to be treated with pigments: black, ultramarine and Newton’s Professional watercolours are
care or could be substituted for another sometimes crimson. Any black in now lightfast. However, if you have a tube
colour or mix. watercolour can be dangerous as it of alizarin crimson as opposed to a tube
will dull or deaden your work. If you of permanent alizarin crimson, it is more
Blacks and greys than likely that it is not lightfast. It goes
use a colour that is made up of two or
Black is an extremely dominant colour three pigments already, like Payne’s without saying that if your painting
and some watercolour artists go so far as grey, then when you mix with another
disappears or fades it would be very
to say not to use it at all in your disappointing. In the Winsor & Newton
colour your mix contains four colours. Professional range opera rose, alizarin
watercolour paintings. Personally, I use it Too many colours in a mix can very
very rarely and would never allow a crimson and rose madder genuine aren’t
easily dull your work. Lastly, when we lightfast. You can substitute permanent
watercolour beginner to use black. This become reliant on a very strong colour rose for both opera rose and rose madder
is because it is so strong and mainly it can dominate your work and also genuine, and substitute permanent
because it is possible to mix your own prevent you from experimenting with alizarin crimson for alizarin crimson.
blacks and greys. I would encourage you other colours that could be more If you are unsure if any of your
to do the same and also to refer to suitable. watercolours are lightfast, paint some of
‘darks’ rather than ‘black’. the colour in question onto some
watercolour paper and put it in sunlight
Blacks, greys and dark blues straight for several days to see what happens to it.
Indigo from the tube Lightfast readings can usually be seen
Indigo contains black, so the on the side of the tube of paint or can be
information about Payne’s obtained from the paint manufacturer.
grey also applies to indigo. Most watercolour manufacturers produce
You could try using Prussian excellent charts of all their watercolours.
blue instead. I = Excellent
Mars black Neutral tint Mars black Ivory black Lamp black II = Good
Mars is a dense black with III = Poor
brown undertones. Mars black IV = Fugitive
is made from iron oxide and is
the alchemical name for iron.
Ivory black Payne’s grey Indigo Prussian blue Sepia
Ivory black has brown
undertones.
+ Permanent
Lamp black Modified alizarin
Lamp black is one of the oldest lamp black crimson
pigments and is made of pure
carbon. This chart
shows lamp + Winsor
Neutral tint blue (yellow
Neutral tint is a grey-black black that has
shade)
pigment and is opaque and been modified
staining. by the gradual
Sepia addition of
Sepia is a black-brown and another colour + Raw sienna
made from carbon and umber.
Lamp black
PRACTICAL
Mixing your own darks
There are numerous good combinations
that can be used to make your own
darks. It is useful to experiment mixing
your own darks. You can see here where French ultramarine + burnt sienna = A dark medium grey medium/pale grey pale grey
I have mixed my own darks, firstly with blue
French ultramarine and burnt sienna.
Remember that you need to use plenty
of pigment with little water when you
are mixing a very strong dark. Then I
have used a blue, red and yellow to French ultramarine + light red + new gamboge = A dark medium grey medium/pale grey pale grey
make a strong dark, which in turn has blue yellow
been gradually diluted to create various
grey tones. Try out different
combinations of red, yellow and blue to
discover your own darks. Some other
suggestions include cadmium red,
cadmium yellow and French ultramarine
blue. This combination makes a very
dark grey, which is almost black. Then
French ultramarine + permanent + quinacridone = A dark medium grey medium pale grey pale grey
you could try aureolin, rose madder blue alizarin gold
genuine and cobalt blue, which will crimson
make a soft black. Here I also show
French ultramarine blue, permanent
alizarin crimson and quinacridone gold
that make a dark with a brown tinge.
Then try using Winsor blue with various
reds and yellows to make many more
Winsor blue + permanent + cadmium = A dark medium grey medium pale grey pale grey
darks. alizarin yellow
(red shade)
crimson
Staining colours
Winsor green Winsor green Hooker’s Permanent Terre verte Oxide of chrome
(yellow shade) (blue shade) green sap green Staining watercolours are usually excellent
transparent and vibrant colours. However,
they can be impossible or extremely difficult
to lift off once painted down. Also, take care
when mixing a staining colour with a non-
staining colour, as the staining colours can
+ a touch of burnt sienna dominate the mix. However, staining colours
Mixing your own greens mix very well together and can create very
even areas of paint.
Cadmiums
The cadmiums are potentially slightly toxic if
Cobalt blue + Winsor lemon = inhaled or digested, but the risk is very low
because of the dilution of the pigment in
watercolour paints. However, it is worth
French + Winsor lemon = mentioning that it is important not to lick
ultramarine your watercolour brushes as some pigments
blue
are toxic – it’s better not to get into this habit.
Cobalt blue + new gamboge =
yellow
DAY 1
t Watersmeet, watercolour sketch, 6⫻13in
(15⫻33cm).
Starting off at Hillsford Bridge we made our
way down the wooded pathway towards
Watersmeet. On arrival I set up and did a
quick demo in my small sketchbook, trying to
keep the ever-increasing raindrops away from
my sketch but not always succeeding!
Waterproof pens are fine for line work on dry
paper but tend to smear on wet paper so you
will see the odd blob here and there on my
sketch. After a good sketching session we set
off further downstream to the Memorial
Gardens at Middleham, where we stopped for
lunch
PRACTICAL
DAY 3
p Silcombe Farm, watercolour sketch, 6⫻13in
(15⫻33cm).
We woke to bright sunshine, which was a
welcome sight after all the rain and wind we’d
been having. Our route would follow along the
coastal footpath from above Broomstreet Farm to DAY 4
Porlock Weir. Our first sketching stop was at
Silcombe Barn; it’s perched on the side of the hill
On our last day we headed for Barry Herniman
the lovely town of Dunster. We organises and tutors painting
with the Severn estuary in the distance started off on the coast at holidays at home and abroad. He is also
Dunster beach and walked along available for workshops and
q Culbone Church, watercolour sketch, 6⫻13in the shore, past a long line of demonstrations to art societies. His
(15⫻33cm). chalets before making our way Cloverleaf paintbox is available online
The jewel in the crown was Culbone Church, the inland. Our first sketching stop at: cloverleafpaintbox.com. Barry buys
smallest church in England, where we had a was the quaint railway station his sketchbooks from Frances Iles
relaxed sketching session. Pen work is great for where we were graced with the Artworks, 104 High Street, Rochester,
buildings where I can get into a little more detail. arrival of two lovely old steam Kent ME1 1JT, telephone 01634 843881.
Afterwards we carried on the path which led us locomotives. On reaching Copies of Barry Herniman's Travelling
through Yearnor Wood and down a fairly steep Dunster Castle we set up in the Sketchbook are available from his
and twisty track to finish up in Porlock Weir. Time grounds for our lunch and website, price £25 inc p&p.
for a welcome coffee or ice cream – and a quick another sketching session before www.barryherniman.com
sketch of course! we packed up and headed home
Subscriber savings
extended 80 PAGES PACKED WITH INSPIRATION & ADVICE FOR ALL ARTISTS
Inspirational
artist
How to start with Practise the alla prima Discover the secrets !
a mess & end in technique for fresher- to painting successful
success! looking paintings beach scenes
THREE-POINT
CUS: 1 OF 3 PERSPEC TIVE PRA CTICA L
PERSPECTIVE IN FO
on how to
series on perspective with advice
Robert Dutton continues his exciting
three-point perspective with
use the rules of one-, two- and
- cityscapes
viewpoints to create dynamic
to
erspective is the foundation
Three-point
P
perspective
to below eye
everything you will ever want level; the angles with buildings being
drawing is are very extrem
paint convincingly – be it dynamic! e but the
£2.92
any
expressively, detailed or
rules of
other way. By learning the
perspective first, your creative
three dimensional – tonally through Evening Light towards the Rialto, Venice,
aerialaround you or by drawing
interpretations of the world perspective, pastel on sanded paper, 19⫻23in (48⫻58cm).
– behind
objects in front or behind one another, One-point perspective was applied to the
will confidently executed
drawing. individual buildings along the Grand Canal.
every great painting is a great
for example, to give the illusion of
depth.
technique Notice how the buildings on the left (in
Perspective drawing is aPerspective drawing can be divided shadow) have a vanishing point not dead
of a three-
used to create the illusion
intoflat centre but to the right. The building on the
a three
dimensional surface ontwo-point
main groups – one-point,
surface.
far right (in full evening sun) also has a
and
thethree-point perspective.
There are other ways to convince vanishing point stretched to the left of
The most challenging, yet most
to be
viewer that your work appears
exciting, in my opinion, is three-point centre. However, both are fixed to points
perspective, as looking down on a parallel to one another on the eye line. To
cityscape from above, or looking up have drawn all buildings directly from one
from street level, creates really axis point in the middle would have been Eye level
dramaticTIVE
ONE-POINT PERSPEC viewpoints. wrong!
an issue
and the axis around which a One-point perspective is used to create above eye gs perspective 20⫻20in (51⫻5
give you the level and to was applie Mi-
feeling that the left and 2/3rd divisio d for this high 1cm).
perspective drawing is constructed. As compositions that show objects with the empha the buildin right nal ratio for
the square vantage point.
gs are really and placing composition, Using a 1/3
a rule of thumb if you stand to draw, appearing to get smaller as they get sis of them tall the axis point to
stretching Maria Della pretty much repeating
your eye level will be higher than if you further away, converging towards a away from Salute makes through the triangular
Eye level
you
glowing Veneti for a strong main bell tower shapes
sit. If you can see the horizon, that’s a single vanishing point on the horizon, an light that design – but of Santa
makes the it is the celebra
massive help. Often within the city it is or bigger as they come forward, using painting really tion of the
dynamic
hard to determine were the eye level the same guidelines. see the diagra
actually is because the horizon is likely At street level when the subject is ms (above).
three-point
to he hidden behind buildings. viewed front-on, perhaps looking along, perspective Without doubt,
create the can be used
most unusu
If the horizon is hard to find, how do or down on, a street, one-point Towards the Fish Market, Venice, pastel on compositio al and dynam to
we discover we’re it is? On hard- perspective is appropriate. The Canson Mi-Teintes ‘Touch’ 350gsm balck ns. ic
surfaced subjects (such as buildings), painting Evening Light Manhattan (far pastel paper, 17⫻13in (43⫻33cm). Other type Robert Dutt
Diagram 1: one-point draw theabove
s of pers pective teaches pastel, on
perspective seenfaçades from asangles of many different
they slope towards or away
left), clearly shows the principles of one
point perspective from my viewpoint
Standing at my easel my eye level was quite
high, but the moored gondolas were right in
Aerial persp
ective is anoth acrylic,
do not perspective er form of watercolour
The rules of one point perspective
from you in real space. Observe how looking down onto the city from front of me and the one at the front was uses
effects of depth to give visual and techniques
and mixed
-media
a view seen at creative
necessarily need to apply thetolines converge to one single point Brooklyn Bridge. almost below me, creating an almost we will look in their work. nationally and
tutors
how, using at Next month art holidays
street level. This diagramin shows
the distance, known as the vanishing foreshortening effect. By following the rules focus on coastathis more closely when Norfolk and
in the Lake
Distric
is led a perfectly horizontal Two-point perspective l we Spain. He exhibi t,
the viewer
one-point perspective, point. By drawing of one-point perspective I was able to create Whether you seascapes. widely and
line from
through thatNote
above. vanishing point you When you can see a building at an this impressionistic sunlit scene confidently are working with has won severa ts
directly down into the city conventiona
l materials awards for
his work. Robert
l
will discover
converge to ahorizon line, as
your angle, such as on the corner of a street, and accurately, with all the interesting and paints such as penci
how the lines of perspective
shown inbuildings.
Diagram 1As(left). , or other media ls contributed
pastel paintin
has
the you would use the rules of two-point elements perfectly one in front of the other and under , a knowledge
vanishing point way below standing of Artist’s Drawin
g Techniques
gs to
see through remains an perspective
artists we have to learn to essential tool drawing published
by Dorlin
to be
points we need to
www.painters-online.co.uk artist October 2017 33 enhance your to help you price £20, ISBN97 g Kindersley,
shapes to find the anchor A clear under
drawing techn 8024125598
drawings correct. In ique. To learn more 8.
make every aspect of the perspective
standing of
the rules of about Robert
(and theoretical will, witho holidays and ’s art
this case the eye level your painti ut doubt, streng workshops
see more of and
horizon) is almost through
the centre of the ng. then his work, visit: to
www.rdcrea
NEW!
above that TA tive.co.uk
drawing. Notice how the buildings www.painters-on
towards
line appear to converge downwards line.co.uk
those below it
the vanishing point, while
to a vanishing
‘Touch’ black pastel paper, appear to converge upwards
pastel on Canson Mi-Teintes The buildings
Evening Light, Manhattan, point somewhere in the sky. artist Octobe
as the round r 2017
350gsm, 20 ⁄2⫻14in (52⫻35.5cm). use bisected by the eye level (such 35
1
to the right of centre. By making
viewer through the painting
Here one-point leads the tower) do both
a dynamic composition
of the diagonal, I have created
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Some of the books reviewed here can be purchased from our online bookshop:
visit www.painters-online.co.uk/store and click on the link for books
EXHIBITIONS
GALLERY OPENING TIMES AND EXHIBITION DATES CAN VARY; IF IN DOUBT, PHONE TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT
☎ 01424 728377
Museum & Art Gallery Rock-a-Nore Road.
Poor Art/Arte Povera: Italian history,
☎ 01629 533540
Influences, British until October 22. Terrace Road. A Selling Retrospective,
Paula Rego: The Boy Who Part II; the work of the late
Responses; Fahrelnissa Zeid; abstracts
Harold Riley: A Derbyshire Loved the Sea and Other David Prentice,
September 20 to December 17. with Islamic, Byzantine, Arab
Retrospective; Stories; October 7 to 28.
and Persian influences fused
Flowers September 16 to October 21 to January 7.
with European approaches,
☎ 01603 495897
October 4 to November 4. Fitzwilliam Museum Castle Hill.
Painting Pop;
☎ 01223 332900
Queer British Art; Trumpington Street.
Jonathan Cooper Park until October 1. until October 7. Rembrandt: Lightening the
Walk Gallery Darkness; Rembrandt’s
Degas: A Passion for
☎ 020 7351 0410
20 Park Walk, SW10.
Victoria Miro Mayfair Perfection; KINGSBRIDGE fascination with printmaking,
☎ 01865 515123
until October 21. Pelforth, Clare Pumfrey and Summertown.
Frank Wotton,
Royal Society of Marine John Minton: A Centenary;
The Wallace Collection October 3 to 8. Dialogues; Sarah Spackman,
Artists: Annual Exhibition; until October 1.
☎ 020 7563 9500
Manchester Square W1. paintings, and Linda
October 5 to 14. Bomberg; a major review with
Society of Wildlife Artists: El Greco to Goya – Spanish
over 70 works, LIVERPOOL Bloomfield, ceramics,
The Natural Eye 2017 October 21 to February 4. until September 30.
Masterpieces from the Tate Liverpool
October 19 to 29. Bowes Collection;
☎ 0151 702 7400
Albert Dock. PENZANCE
September 27 to January 7. EASTBOURNE
National Portrait
Portraying a Nation: Penlee House Gallery
Gallery Towner Art Gallery
Germany 1919–1933;
☎ 01323 434670.
and Museum
☎ 020 7306 0055 REGIONS
St Martin’s Place WC2. College Road.
Germany between the two
☎ 01736 363625
Morab Road.
world wars seen through the
BP Portrait Award; Sussex Open 2017;
eyes of painter Otto Dix and
until September 24. BATH until October 1.
photographer August Sander,
John Armstrong: Dream
and Reality;
until October 15.
Nunnery Gallery Victoria Art Gallery September 16 to
EXETER
☎ 020 8980 7774 ☎ 01225 477244
Bow Arts, 183 Bow Road, E3. Bridge Street. Walker Art Gallery November 18.
STOW ON THE
WALES
WOLD CARDIFF
Fosse Gallery Albany Art Gallery
☎ 01451 831319
The Manor House, The Square. 74b Albany Road,
Martin Llewellyn;
The Thinking Eye; latest September 14 to October 7.
works by George Underwood, Royal Institute of Painters
October 1 to 29. in Water Colours;
October 12 to November 4.
STRATFORD ON CONWY
AVON
Royal Cambrian
Compton Verney Academy
☎ 01926 645500
Wellesbourne.
☎ 01492 593413
Crown Lane.
Browse &
Seurat to Riley: The Art of
p
Perception;
Jan Gardner; Darby, Craigie Aitchison Washing Line, Montecastelli II, 2001, oil on
Paul Joyner; London
until October 1.
September 16 to October 14.
canvas, 24⫻20in (61⫻51cm)
WAKEFIELD
The Hepworth ART SOCIETIES Community Centre, from October 14 to
27. www.bournemouthbayart.co.uk
Poole & East Dorset Art
Society (PEDAS)
Wakefield Alton Art Society Autumn exhibition at the Gallery Upstairs,
Crown Hills Art Society
☎ 01924 247360
Gallery Walk. Annual exhibition at Alton Assembly Upton Country Park, from September 29
Annual exhibition at Crown Hills
Rooms, from October 7 to 15. Community College, on October 21 and to October 16. www.pedas.org.uk
Howard Hodgkin: www.altonart.org.uk 22. Tel: 0116 2419781. Stow Art Group
Painting India;
until October 8. Ambleside & District Dedham Arts Group Autumn exhibition at Lower Slaughter
Art Society Fiftieth anniversary exhibition at Village Hall, near Stow-on-the-Wold, from
Annual exhibition at Ambleside Parish Dedham Parish Church, from October September 21 to 26.
YORK Centre, from October 18 to 29. 24 to 28. Weald of Sussex Art Club
York Art Gallery Arnold Art Society Dorking Group of Artists Annual exhibition at Martletts Hall, Burgess
☎ 01904 687687
Exhibition Square. Autumn exhibition at the Pondhills Annual exhibition at Denbies Wine Hill, from October 11 to 14.
Community Centre, on October 14 Estate, from October 13 to 15. Tel: www.wealdofsussexartclub.org.uk
Albert Moore: Of Beauty and and 15. www.art4arnold.com 01372 375123.
Aesthetics; Woking Society of Arts
until October 1.
Artful Dodgers Epsom & Ewell Art Group Autumn exhibition at The Lightbox, from
Art Group Autumn exhibition at Bourne Hall, October 17 to 22.
Autumn exhibition at Wetherby Town Ewell, from October 16 to 28. www.wokingartsociety.org
Hall, on October 7. Tel: 01904 705552.
Horsforth Art Society
SCOTLAND Attic Art Club
Art fair at Queen’s Hall, Cuckfield, from
Exhibition at The Studio, 15 Back Lane,
Wye Valley Art Society
Autumn exhibition at Shire Hall,
from September 30 to October 8. Monmouth, from October 19 to 22.
EDINBURGH September 29 to October 1.
Plymouth Arts Club www.wyevalleyartsociety.co.uk
OPPORTUNITIES
& COMPETITIONS Check out the latest competitions to enter
and make a note of important deadlines
Sending-in days drawing and models. Three works managers Parker Harris. Cost: £15 per work; £10 per work for
should be no larger than 59in ) 01372 462190 artists under the age of 35.
Rugby Open (150cm) in any dimension, including Contact: The Federation of British
Details: Entries of visual art and craft frame; two works should not exceed Rye Winter Salon Artists, 17 Carlton House Terrace,
are invited for Rugby Art Gallery and 141⁄4in (36cm) in any dimension. Details: Entries are invited for the London, SW1Y 5BD.
Museum’s open exhibition. Open to Online registration and submission Rye Creative Centre’s Winter Salon. ) 020 7930 6844
artists and makers aged 16 or over in first instance. All work must be for Open to all artists aged 18 and over,
on November 19 2017 provided they sale. Cash prizes. The exhibition is at living or practising in the UK or EU. Columbia Threadneedle Prize
also meet one of the following the RGI Kelly Gallery, 118 Douglas Up to three works may be
Street, Glasgow G2 4ET from Details: Entries of fresh and topical
criteria: is a member of one of the submitted – painting, drawing, paintings, drawings, prints, collages,
local art groups (see website for full November 11 to 26. Full details and original prints, photography,
enter online at sculptures, 3D works, sculpture,
details); is currently studying, or has sculpture, maquettes, collages, video, maquettes, installations (video
studied, in the Rugby Borough; lives https://theroyalglasgowinstituteofth installation and performance will all
efinearts.co.uk allowed) or reliefs are invited from
or occupies a studio within a 15-mile be considered. Maximum size, 941⁄2in
artists aged over 18 and living or
radius of Rugby Art Gallery and When: Submissions deadline, (240cm) in the longest dimension. All
practising in the UK or Continental
Museum (see website for list of October 1. Handing-in, October 30 work must be for sale. Digital
Europe. A maximum of six works
villages). Up to three works, created and 31. submission in first instance. Selected
may be submitted. Maximum size,
in the last year, may be submitted; Cost: First work £10; two works £20; works will be shown in the Rye
941⁄2in (240cm) in the longest
acceptable disciplines are painting, three works £25; four works £31; five Winter Salon at the Rye Creative
dimension. All works must be for
drawing, original print, photography, works £36. Concessions available for Centre, New Road, Rye, East Sussex
TN31 7LS from November 25 to sale. Digital submission in first
film/video and craft. Performance students. Hanging fee for selected
December 9. First prize is a solo instance at
and installation cannot be accepted. works, £20 per work.
Maximum size of 2D and 3D work, exhibition at the Rye Creative Centre. http://mallgalleries.oess.uk. Selected
Contact: RGI Kelly Gallery. works will be exhibited at the Mall
) 0141 248 6386
59in (150cm) in any direction, For full details and to upload images,
including diagonally; one person go to http://ryecreativecentre.co.uk Galleries, The Mall, London SW1 from
must be able to carry the work and it January 31 to February 17. First Prize,
Daiwa Foundation Art Prize When: Submission deadline, October £20,000 and a solo exhibition at Mall
must be under 25 kilos in weight. 15, 11.59pm.
Selected works will be exhibited at Details: The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Galleries, awarded to best new work
Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, Foundation’s triennial competition. Cost: £5 per work, or £10 for three of figurative and representational art;
Little Elborow Street, Rugby CV21 The winning artist receives a first works. five prizes of £1,000; a Visitors’ Choice
3BZ from November 28 to January solo show at a gallery in Tokyo, Contact: Rye Creative Centre at Award of £10,000.
Japan; a participation fee of £5,000 above address.
) 01797 229797
13. First prize is cash plus an When: Submissions deadline,
exhibition in Floor One Gallery; other and a period of support and September 22. Handing-in, October
prizes include a People’s Choice introduction to key individuals and 28, 10am to 5pm.
Award of £100 and, new this year, organisations in the Japanese Pastel Society
Cost: £15 per work; £10 per work for
the Martin Valentine Prize for contemporary art world. The Details: Artists over the age of 18 are artists under the age of 35.
promising young artists (aged 16–24 competition is open to British artists invited to submit works for the Pastel
years). Full details and entry forms resident in the UK who have neither Society’s annual open exhibition. Contact: The Federation of British
can be found at www.ragm.co.uk. had, nor are planning, a solo The society seeks the best in Artists, 17 Carlton House Terrace,
London, SW1Y 5BD.
) 020 7930 6844
exhibition in Japan. Acceptable contemporary pastel and dry media,
When: Submissions deadline,
media are painting, photography, with applicants combining creative
November 12. Handing-in,
print, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, originality with traditional skills.
November 19, 10am to 4pm. Chelsea Art Society
installation and moving image. Acceptable media are pastels, oil
Cost: £5 per work or £12 for three Entrants may submit one pastels, charcoal, pencil, Conté, Details: Annual exhibition open to
works. application, to be supported by four sanguine or any dry media. A non-members for work in all media:
Contact: Rugby Art Gallery and recent works in any medium, a maximum of six works, completed paintings (all media accepted),
Museum, address above. supporting CV and personal within the last 12 months and not prints, drawings and sculpture. Up to
) 01788 533201 statement in the first instance. An shown elsewhere, may be submitted; three works may be submitted, all of
exhibition of shortlisted artists will up to four may be selected. which must be framed and for sale.
Royal Glasgow Institute of be held at the Daiwa Foundation’s Maximum size, 941⁄2in (240cm) in the Needlework, beadwork,
the Fine Arts (RGI) Japan House Gallery, London in June longest dimension. All works must photographs, mosaic or stained
Details: Annual open exhibition 2018. The winner’s exhibition at be for sale. Digital submission in first glass will not be accepted. The
established in 1861 to promote Mizuma Gallery, Tokyo, Japan will be instance at exhibition is at Chelsea Old Town
contemporary art in Scotland. Works autumn/winter 2018. For full details http://mallgalleries.oess.uk Hall, King’s Road, Chelsea, London
previously submitted for this and to apply, see www.dajf.org.uk Selected works will be exhibited at SW3, from October 27 to 30. Prizes
competition will not be accepted. Up When: Submissions deadline, the Mall Galleries, The Mall, London include the Wedlake Bell Award for a
to five works may be submitted in October 2. SW1 from February 20 to March 3. young artist; the Tiranti Award for a
painting, sculpture, fine art Prizes include Alfred Teddy Smith young sculptor; Heatherley’s Award
Cost: £5 per artist. and Zsuzsi Roboz Prize of £5,000, for a drawing; and Green and Stone
photography, drawing, mixed media,
stained glass and architectural Contact: Queries to project awarded to a young artist, aged 35 Award for a painting; many other
years or under, for traditional skills, awards. Full details and entry forms
used in an original way; Jackson's available from the website:
Award of a full set of 200 Handmade www.chelseaartsociety.org.uk
A much larger selection of opportunities can be viewed Soft Pastels in a wooden box; The When: Handing-in, October 23,
on our website, where you will find a list of workshops, Artist Award of a feature in the 8.30am to 3pm.
magazine. For full details see
tutors, painting holidays and more. www.mallgalleries.org.uk. Cost: £12 per work.
When: Submission deadline, Contact: Honorary Secretary,
www.painters-online.co.uk November 3, 12 noon. Handing-in,
January 6, 10am to 5pm.
Chelsea Art Society, 50 Bowerdean
Street, London SW6 3TW.
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PRINTING SERVICES
70 October 2017
SOTEad Artist 7/17.indd 1 17/07/2017 10:36
PAI NT ER SONLI NE
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portraits, landscapes, still life and more, to competitions. Closing date
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October 2017 71
Open Competition
Be inspired by the excellence of some of the winners of
this year’s open competition and exhibition, organised in partnership
with Patchings Art Centre
The Artist Purchase Prize & curved, distorted reflection. This gave blocked in the main areas before
a unique and otherwise impossible refining smaller areas. I try and pay
Exhibition Awards view of a small space and allowed me very close attention to values and
Tom Hughes
to include myself in the painting. It’s a colour temperature when I paint and
Studio Interior with Imac and Air Filter, oil,
very personal piece and I feel it shows feel I managed to capture the cool
30⫻30in (76⫻76cm).
me at my most comfortable, doing greys and purple tints on the shadow
‘I love the intriguing corners of small what I love. areas on my white walls. The hardest
cluttered rooms and wanted to ‘The initial drawing part of the part, tonally, was making the
capture my studio space on a single painting was all done with a brush (no computer screen and lamp look
canvas, showing it from floor to charcoal) and seemed to happen bright enough compared to
ceiling. I struggle judging very wide naturally. I love those early stages, everything else in the room. Tricky!
scenes like this with just the naked working around the canvas judging I’ve done another similar painting
eye so I bought a large convex mirror, angles and scale until the jigsaw since on a larger scale which features
the sort you normally see in roadside puzzle of all those intermingled two separate light sources, one warm,
hedges opposite tight driveways. I shapes matches up. I then went in one cool, which you can see on my
placed it on a tripod and painted the with opaque accurate colour and website.’
u Canson Award
Peter Barker
Sheds and Sunlight, Brancaster, Staithes,
pastel, 13⫻19in (33⫻48cm).
‘I have been painting for a living since
giving up a 12-year career as a golf
professional in November 1983. In 2015 I
opened my own gallery in Uppingham in
Rutland, selling 30 or so esteemed
colleagues’ work, as well as my own.
Selling superb art is a buzz in itself, but
my passion for painting remains
undimmed and I constantly seek to
improve and tackle new subjects and I
will need to live to 100 to paint all the
things I want to paint! (61cm) screen. I felt it would suit the sheds and vessels – were blocked in and
‘The “hook” for this painting was the pastel medium so set out the modelled a little with the fingers, the fun
pure sunlight bouncing off the mud composition on my favoured surface, and bits were left to do – the smudges of
behind the boat in the foreground, and moved the dark foreground boat a little reflected spots of sunlight, using pure
the incidental flashes on the boat and to the left, so that it wasn’t too central. titanium white soft pastel, with subtle
other bits and pieces. A fleeting light Making careful note of the relative tones touches of yellow and orange to give that
effect like this is difficult to capture on of the darks in the sheds compared to the blinding flare around them. I was
site, so I took a couple of reference photos nearer post-supports and the foreground delighted to find the painting won the
and painted the picture in the studio, boat, made sure of giving the illusion of Canson Award, and many thanks to
t
using the images displayed on my 24in depth. Once all the main players – the Canson for sponsoring the prize!’
p Clairefontaine &
find the right angle or viewpoint. The backed stencils, which I then stick on
Exhibition Awards photos are manipulated in various the canvas and paint over. Then I do it
Kris Mercer programmes on the computer and then again and again and again. By the fifth
A Corner of South Kensington, acrylic, when I am happy with the picture I stencil the canvas is moving and lining
24⫻36in (61⫻91cm). make stencils, anything between eight up is nigh on impossible. The stencils
‘A passion for architecture, an interest in and 12 with up to three colourways for are one use only. I very often have to
people watching and my lifelong love of each. I then paint a base colour on a repaint parts where the paint has been
photography are the inspiration for canvas which corresponds with a colour pulled off with the stencil. It seems like
many of my traditional-style paintings. in the painting and then a sky if a difficult process but I love how the
I use my own photographs and can relevant. I spend hour upon hour painting builds up and it’s the way I
spend hours, sometimes days trying to picking little bits out of adhesive- love to do it.’
t Derwent Award
Carol Emsley
He Loves Being a Goalie, mixed media,
18⫻14in (46⫻36cm).
‘I trained as a mature student at Hull
College of Art. I have painted all my life
and I’m also a printmaker. I love all
media. The inspiration for this piece
was my little grandson who was trying
on his rather oversized football kit; I
knew immediately that I would paint
him. I didn’t even need a photograph
as the image was imprinted on my
mind.
‘I created a background on hot
pressed watercolour paper, using craft
acrylics and a roller. I pressed
bubblewrap into the wet paint (lower
right) and used PVA glue to stick on
pieces of painted paper (lower left).
Then I rollered white Artist quality
acrylic on to some plastic mesh and
printed it on to suggest the goal
netting.
I then painted the figure with Artist
quality acrylics and added details with
a cork, some small pieces of paper and
a pen. Finally I gave it a coat of heavy
matt gel to protect the surface.’
A D E B A N J I ’ S M O T I V AT I O N A L T I P S : 1 1 O F 1 3
Slow down
Haste is the artist’s worst enemy says Adebanji Alade.
This month he advises you to take your time – it will help
you to produce better paintings
I
teach at two art schools in London, things rightly positioned and in the beginning. But if that wasn’t the plan
the Art Academy and Heatherley’s right proportion, than spending and you know you could have put in a
School of Fine Art, and I have valuable time trying to correct things bit more effort and time, then take my
noticed the speed at which some that could have been avoided with advice and slow down – you’ll be
students approach their work. I’ve told careful and slower planning. surprised with the quality of, and the
them a thousand times to slow down. In Depending on the size of the artwork, response to your work in the future. TA
fact one of the things I always say in the I would say a very good piece will take
classes I teach is ‘Don’t rush, slow from 90 minutes to 40 hours or even
down; I would rather you had an more, to complete. Always have this at
Use the following questions
uncompleted beauty than a completed the back of your mind. This does not
to prompt a slower process
mess’. I heard this somewhere and it mean you then have to work the piece l Have I measured?
really resonates with me. to death with so much detail and l Is it proportional?
I know from experience the buzz that blending. What it does mean, is that l Is the drawing accurate?
hits us when we approach a new you need to make sure you have given l Is this how I wanted it to look like
painting, especially when painting from yourself enough time to put in the right at the beginning?
life. For most artists it’s pure amount of effort on the piece that l Have I spent enough time planning
excitement but for some it’s anxiety at would result in a very successful the composition?
the beginning. painting. It’s only when you approach l Would it be worth doing some
My usual advice is to approach every your works this way, that you are going studies before starting this piece?
work with a plan, a plan that allows you to be able to know whether you have l Do I need to resolve that area?
to dedicate enough time to ensure that produced your best work or not. l What would I think if this wasn’t
everything about the positioning is Many artists, myself included, have my work?
right, by which I mean the drawing. It’s had works rejected for open exhibitions l Is this the best quality that I can
not something to rush, you’ve got to and competitions because they had produce?
measure, and plan the position of been rushed. My advice is to start on l Have I allocated enough time and
whatever you are painting and how it is time. Plan the work in stages and make effort in this piece?
going to fit on the surface you are sure each stage is allotted a sufficient l What have I overlooked here or
painting or drawing on. This is the stage amount of time for completion and to there?
that most people spend the least assess whether you have done justice l Am I relying on the fairies to fix this
amount of time on and, nine times out to the piece. part of the painting?
of ten, this will result in corrective I know some works don’t need much l Have I really considered all the
painting or drawing, with constant time – they are done with a quick dash main factors of drawing, tones,
rubbing in and rubbing off. In this state and still come out good. That’s OK as colour, temperature and edges?
of mind, progress is always going to be far as that was the purpose and you
slow. I would rather be slow in getting planned for such a piece at the Next month: Celebrate other artists
Adebanji Alade
studied fine art in Nigeria and has a
diploma in portraiture from Heatherley’s
School of Fine Art, where he teaches in
the Open Studio. He has exhibited
widely and won many awards. Adebanji
In order to spend is a member of the Royal Institute of Oil
sufficient time on Painters and a council member of the
a plein-air piece, Chelsea Art Society; he tutors
I might visit the workshops and gives demonstrations
same spot for art societies and also offers private
between four and coaching. For more details see
six times, and www.adebanjialade.co.uk
sitting helps to www.adebanjialade.blogspot.com
slow me down. It’s www.sketchinspiration.com
always worth it
pAintinG in the
pennines
u Tips on using mixed media
in the landscape from
robert dutton
http://painte.rs/2vw5voB
river scenes
See how paul talbot-
Greaves tackles painting u
water in watercolour
http://painte.rs/2hqk6kl
Artists’
OutdOOr kit
u See haidee-Jo summers’
en plein air painting kit
and learn how to paint
outside in oils
http://painte.rs/2vsBYFb LINEN
S U R FAC ES
WAtercOlOur
techniques
paul riley demonstrates
u
how to paint leaves in
watercolour
http://painte.rs/2w9nydi
Be inspired!
Adebanji Alade shares his
u thoughts and passions as
a professional artist
http://painte.rs/2hqFs5O
CM
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art courses
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2017/18
Inside!
Your guide to
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painting courses
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Art Holidays in Dorset Arte Umbria Gartmore House, Scotland Art Safari Art in the Algarve
Choose from hundreds of art courses and holidays available in the UK and abroad
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ARTE UMBRIA
T H E L E A D I N G PA I N T I N G H O L I D AY D E S T I N AT I O N
Holiday painting
After
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Painting it is important not party atmosphere. Single travellers, all the footsteps of Laura Knight and the
to be too
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www.creative-getaways.com pen, 8x15in. (20x38cm).
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www.shorlandoldfarm.co.uk through your
enhance the local town, we came upon
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itexperienced,
was not possible fun andto linger for long
professional and
artist. never been touched by western ideas Ethe family in Three Generations (page 15):
bettina.schroeder@virgin.net
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and five-star unique with of civilisation.
Staithes ArtBeware
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0207 6090843resigned, the mother
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capture the atmosphere or emotion of a was spent with another foolhardy artist, was impossible to capture it all. u
For more information and booking, please email info@watermill.net or call Bill or Lois on 0039 327 379 9178
Arte Umbria techniques and joys of watercolour. accommodation, lovely food, friendly
and Painting in Europe Paint en plein air in great destinations: atmosphere, and its extensive list
We offer painting and creative Antigua, Mallorca, Venice and Provence. of tutors. The studio and gardens
courses in Umbria and other exotic E tessa@tessasprovence.com of Dedham Hall as well as the
world locations. Check out Udaipur, T 0033 4 94 68 73 76 beautiful Stour Valley offer the perfect
the Himalayas in India or their new M 0033 6 11 25 29 72 setting to relax and let your creative
stained glass course in Umbria next www.paintprovencewithtess.com juices flow.
year. We guarantee the best art E sarton@dedhamhall.demon.co.uk
workshops with top tutors dedicated The New Pastel School T 01206 323027
to ensuring that you achieve fantastic Nel Whatmore and Rebecca de www.dedhamhall.co.uk
results. Take the painting trip of a Mendonca, with over 50 years’
lifetime in 2018! experience between them, run four Authentic Adventures
T 0033 643 436 721 courses in the UK and one in Italy. Devised with artistic travellers in
T 0039 340 371 6510 Our courses are friendly, structured mind, Authentic Adventures offer
www.arteumbria.com and and designed to inspire! We both innovative escapes set in inspiring
www.paintingineurope.com teach on each course and, as locations. The range of painting
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Paint Provence E thenew.pastelschool@yahoo.co.uk by a professional tutor. The aim
with Tess Goes Global T 07801 051468 or 07719 585957 is to combine a memorable and
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beautiful villas. Five-star meals cooked Dedham Hall painting potential.
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finish, you will be guided through the 30 years and is well known for its www.authenticadventures.co.uk u
art safari
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Join us and paint. Art Safari runs UK art workshops and exciting holidays Malawi, Zambia
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Painting Getaways
Discover new places while developing
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T 0208 458 3583 or 07564 906 850
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Gorgiano Studios
All inclusive Art Holidays in the Heart of Italy
Now with private ensuite rooms for all artists
www.paintingholidaysitaly.com
or ring/text 0039 968 0796 for a brochure
David Bellamy, Grahame Booth, Jem Bowden, Roger Dellar, Joe Francis Dowden, Soraya French, Jeremy Ford,
Steve Hall, Barry Herniman, John Hoar, Richard Holland, Michal Jasiewicz, Anne Kerr, Carol Kibble, Arnold
Lowrey, Kevin Scully, Keiko Tanabe, Andy Walker, Paul Weaver, David Webb, Dave White & Peter Woolley
Abbey Arts
On this practical course, you’ll learn the
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Dedham Hall
2018
Egg Tempera: The Italian Primitives
22nd - 31st October 2017
Loire Valley, France
Dedham Hall has been hosting residential art courses for nearly 30 years and is
well known for its accommodation, lovely food, friendly atmosphere,
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of giclée prints, greetings cards and Enjoy quiet year-round. Run by people who actively
stationery in Harrods, Fortnum & time painting enable the creative process, with access
Masons, Liberty’s of London and in and relaxing in to stunning private Devon coastal
Kobe, Japan. the courtyard locations, gorgeous food and tutors,
E info@janblanch.co.uk at Coombe who actively teach and demonstrate,
T 01493 393639 or 07702 069300 Farm Studios Coombe is an ideal creative break.
www.janblanch.co.uk E lara@coombefarmstudios.com
T 01803 722 352
Quality Art Retreats in Spain www.coombefarmstudios.com
Dramatically improve your watercolours
54
in Spain. Enjoy a life-changing painting Artsmartuk
experience away from the world with Tutors include Varvara Neiman,
the best watercolour masters: Zbukvic, Ali Cockrean, Barry Herniman and
Castagnet, Chien Chung-Wei, Schaller Jonathan Newey teaching landscapes,
and Penovác. Every detail is fully Enjoy a week of painting in seascapes and portraiture in oils,
organised, just for you to relax, enjoy beautiful surroundings with watercolour and acrylics. Locations:
the sun, the food, exquisite wine and Dalvaro Art Holidays (page 7) Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Italy,
the company of your favourite tutor. Spain and France. Weekly and weekend
51
E angela@epc-artcourses.com
David Webb innovative and informative learning courses together with painting holidays
T +34 645 767 contributor
Popular 403 to Leisure programmes for adults. Drawing on the in perfect locations for beginners and
www.epc-artcourses.com
Painter, David, runs adult watercolour specialist knowledge of its staff, improvers.
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The Norfolk
Learn Painting
useful painting School
and drawing utilising the museum’s incredible T 01494 670372
The Norfolkand
techniques Painting
choose School
from is the UK’s
venues collections and exhibitions, the V&A www.artsmartuk.com
in Dorset, Cornwall, south Walestuition.
leading specialist in oil painting and delivers lively and engaging sessions
55
From traditional
Essex. Groups have glazing skills to of 12
a maximum for a wide range of interests. Tuscany in the Frame
expressive
students to contemporary
allow one-to-one oils,tuition.
we have T 020 7942 2000 Italian painting holiday
Tcourses
01803for all interests, abilities and
846321 www.vam.ac.uk/courses specialists in stunning locations:
ambitions. Tuition starts from as little
www.davidwebbart.co.uk Tuscany, Amalfi, Venice/Lake Como,
53
as £199 with our affordable ‘Pay Now’ Coombe Farm Studio Malta, Matera and Puglia, Sicily. Tutors
Join Martin Kinnear at
52
pricing. To find out and
Victoria moreAlbert
and read Painting Holidays include Jan Pollard, Margaret Evans,
student reviews, just visit our website The Norfolk Painting
Museum (V&A) ‘I learnt more in a weekend than I have Phil Hobbs and Tom Wood.
or call. School for oil painting
The V&A Learning Academy was in years!’ Unlock your creativity, paint E info@tuscanyinthefame.com
T 01485in 528588. courses for all levels
launched 2016 to build on over fresh vibrant watercolours, get to grips T 00 39 0575 610406
www.norfolkpaintingschool.com u
30 years’ experience of delivering with oils or experiment with acrylics www.tuscanyintheframe.com bb
2018 dates
Lake Como 5th-12th May
Tuscany 6th-13th June
Amalfi 1st- 8th Sept
Amalfi 8th-18th Sept
Amalfi 18th-23rd Sept
Tuscany 23rd Sept-1st Oct
Amalfi 1st-8th Oct
Sicily 9th-16th Oct
Sicily 16th-26th Oct
Sicily 26th Oct-5th Nov
Other workshops to be
Villa Nobile Villa Nobile updated.....check website
www.painters-online.co.uk
10 Inspirational art courses and holidays 2017 Inspirational art courses and holidays 2017/18 13
www.painters-online.co.uk
Enjoy a house-party
Fire your enthusiasm for painting atmosphere and plenty
in an unspoilt region of central of individual tuition with
Italy with Gorgiano Studios Art Holidays in Dorset
Art Holidays in Dorset St Ives School of Painting Wild and Tame wildlife
We offer professional, supportive For nearly 80 years, we have been workshops in pastels
tutors, comfortable, en-suite providing high-quality art tuition in Cate Wetherall runs small friendly
accommodation and no single spacious studios overlooking the beach. wildlife pastel workshops at her home
supplement. There’s a relaxed, friendly Our tutors are well-respected exhibiting studio, set in six acres of
house-party atmosphere. Enjoy our artists with the training and ability to Buckinghamshire countryside. You’ll
attractive secluded courtyard, well- share their knowledge. We work in small meet her donkeys, goats, hens and
equipped in-house studio, stunning groups so there is a friendly atmosphere ponies, which are often used as the
locations and delicious home-cooked and plenty of one-to-one time. subjects of the day! Small, unhurried
food. Small groups ensure individual All materials are provided which makes and relaxing workshops enable you to
support. All holidays include full board packing easy and all this in one of the develop your own style, using a variety
and wine. most stunning locations in the world. of pastels and papers.
E info@artholidaysindorset.co.uk. Use code EARLY10 for 10% off courses E cate@wildandtame.co.uk
T 01202 393234 booked by end Sept. T 07702 060113
www.artholidaysindorset.co.uk T 01736 797180 www.wildandtame.co.uk
www.schoolofpainting.co.uk
Inspired Painting Holidays Watershed Studio
Join Catherine and Peter Stott for Gorgiano Studios Watershed Studio holds a wide variety
inspiring 2018 painting holidays in Art holidays in central Italy now offer of art workshops throughout the year.
beautiful Devon and Exmoor. Enjoy four- private en-suite rooms for each artist. ‘We are very lucky to have such a great
star accommodation, a spacious studio Unleash your creative side with the team of tutors who teach here and we
and wonderful locations with individual resources of our vast studio and find try to cover most media. We specialise
attention from experienced tutor, inspiration in this unspoilt region. With in one and two-day courses, priding
Catherine, and Peter’s lovely cooking! delicious food and wine included, and a ourselves on good-quality, professional
Small groups, family atmosphere, all range of floppy hats, you just bring the but affordable painting breaks.’
levels. ‘Fabulous painting experience. enthusiasm. E allison@watershedstudio.co.uk
The whole set up – painting, rooms, E caroline@paintingholidaysitaly.com T 01255 820466
food, atmosphere – is brilliant,’ VD, T 0039 328 968 0796 www.watershedstudio.co.uk
Carshalton www.paintingholidaysitaly.com
E info@catherinestott.co.uk Cumbrian Chapel Studio Breaks
T 01398 332094 or 07763 882955 Society of Botanical Artists Unique painting holiday venue with
www.inspiredpaintingholidays.co.uk Course director Simon Williams SBA optional tuition situated near the
says: ‘Our independent SBA Distance historic city of Carlisle, Hadrian’s Wall
Callington School of Art Learning Diploma Course is highly and the Scottish Borders. Sark Chapel is
Callington School of Art offers painters respected internationally. Each year it a delightful, spacious conversion with
of all abilities the chance to develop and evolves with new aspects, assignments accommodation for individuals or groups
improve their techniques in any medium and tutors and the standard of students’ of up to six guests. Large and light
or try something new. ‘There is a studio work continues to rise. Many graduates studio with original feature chapel
to die for and Tessa is a patient and go on to become full-time botanical windows. Enquiries welcomed for tailor-
knowledgeable tutor. Peter’s cooking artists, illustrators or tutors throughout made courses with professional artist
always attracts praise.’ the world so if you aspire to be a and tutor, Ceri Allen. Contact Ceri at
E info@callingtonartschool.com botanical artist then we look forward to E art@ceriallen.co.uk
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www.callingtonartschool.com www.soc-botanical-artists.org www.ceriallen.co.uk b
PERFECT PENCILS
Derwent Procolour pencils are the perfect combination
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A SE LE CT IO N OF TH E LA ST ES
AR T PR OD UC TS TO PA CK T
FO R YO UR NE XT AD VE NT UR
E
With the Open College of the Arts you can choose from one of our specialist
Open BA (Hons) Degrees in Fine Art, Painting or Drawing, or try our
pre-degree Open Foundations Drawing course first.