Tabla de contenidos para March 2023 en Leisure Painter

It's always good to hear from you, especially if we can help with art-related problems. This month's features begin with our editorial consultant, Tim Fisher responding to a recent colour-mixing question from a regular Leisure Painter reader. Knowing the bias of your colours will go a long way to figuring out why some mixes appear muddy, says Tim, while others turn out vibrant. Tim's advice is just the starting point. Spend time this month making your own colour charts and wheels, and learn from your experiments with colour. There's more advice from our contributors this month, including Julie King who demonstrates how to produce the colours you'll need to paint a sunny Tuscan scene in watercolour, and follow Rachel McNaughton as she paints a vibrant study of a kingfisher, while…

A reader, who paints with acrylics, recently wrote to Leisure Painter: ‘I find I often end up with muddy colours. Can you tell me which opaque colours - and separately, which transparent ones - mix well together? I'd also like to know which opaque and transparent colours mix together and which won't.’ Unintentionally mixing muddy colours can be an issue when first exploring the acrylic medium. This has little to do with the opacity or transparency of the medium, but more to do with the pigments that constitute each colour. From our early school years, we are informed that just mixing yellow and blue will make green; combining red and blue will make violet; and mixing red and yellow will make orange. We were warned that mixing all three primaries…

Learning objectives ■ Understand the basic materials you will need ■ Practise brushstroke techniques ■ Follow a beginner's step-by-step process The time-honoured practice oi brush painting is widely regarded as exemplifying the long history and rich cultural heritage of the Chinese nation. Generations of master artists have been brought up surrounded by examples of the craft, and, in turn, the work of these masters has played an important role in the ongoing progress and development of the practice. Over time, the works of amateur scholar-poet-painters, as much concerned with personal expression as surface beauty in their painting, gradually developed. This led to the ideal of wen-jen hua, or ‘literati painting’ - regarded as an ideal blend of poetry, calligraphy and painting. Here we introduce traditional Chinese painting skills to a…

IN THE FRAME New English Art Club Capturing Life: A Century of the New English Art Club at the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath features current work by members of the New English Art Club (NEAC) alongside over 30 paintings by illustrious past members. These include John Singer Sargent, Philip Wilson Steer, Gwen John, Walter Sickert, Stanley Spencer and Winifred Nicholson. The NEAC was founded by a group of artists who were dissatisfied with the entrenched attitudes of the art establishment, and mounted their first show in 1886. The work by current members will be available for sale. Capturing Life: A Century of the New English Art Club is at the Victoria Art Gallery, Bath from 21 January until 11 April. For more information visit www.victoriagal.org.uk Events Dreams and stories…

More painting challenges We received so many entries to the Leisure Painter January Challenge that we wanted to share some of them with you here. One of the entries was a group montage from the Chevin Watercolour Group's Christmas project (above right). Most members painted their submissions in watercolour, with a few mixed-media paintings in there too. This small group of watercolour enthusiasts meet every week in Menston, near Ilkley, occasionally inviting professional artists to demonstrate or run workshops for them. ‘We are so thankful to live within the beautiful Wharfedale landscape,’ writes group member, Julie Wood. ‘It's well recognised that the outdoors creates feelings of exhilaration and inspiration. We hope to convey such feelings of wellbeing through this collection of winter paintings inspired by nature and outdoors. This is…

Learning objectives ■ What is siiverpoint? ■ Materials and techniques needed ■ Follow an easy step-by-step process Put simply, silverpoint is drawing with a piece of silver. This creates a grey line on prepared paper that has been covered with gesso, emulsion or acrylic paint. As the resulting paper surface is slightly rough, some silver is deposited on the drawn lines, which gradually darken due to tarnishing. Gold and copper can also be used in this way, and it is then called metalpoint. Drawing with silver is easily achieved and the marks resemble pencil drawing. You will need • Surface Thin white card, thick watercolour paper or stretched heavyweight cartridge paper • Ground gesso, white emulsion or white acrylic • Hog hair brush for applying the ground • Small silver…

Learning objectives ■ What are soft pastels ■ How to choose your colours? ■ Techniques to try Soft pastels, which embrace a variance of composition from very soft to firm, provide the artist with a quick and direct way of working. They are made from Artists’ quality pigment, the same as used for watercolour, oils and acrylics, but the difference is in the binding of the pastel that holds the pigments together. By mixing the pigment with a weak solution of gum tragacanth and water, the pastel is bound then formed into the desired shape. It is the proportions of gum and water that determine the softness or firmness of the final product. There are many manufacturers of soft pastels, each one: coveting the desired firmness for you, the artist.…

FIFE J & G Innes Ltd 107 South Street, St Andrews, Fife KY16 9QW Tel: 01334 472174 Open: Mon to Sal 9am-5.15pm Sun 12.30 - 4.30pm www.ig-innes.co.uk Stockists of: Winsor & Newton, Daler-Rowney, Hahnemühle, Staedtler, Parker, Waterman, books, magazines, cards, games and a gallery. Upstairs @ J & G Innes Ltd GLOUCESTERSHIRE Cotswold Art Supplies Church Street, Stow on the Wold, Gloucestershire GL54 1BB Tel: 01451 830522 Open: Mon to Sal 9.15am-5.15pm www.colswoldarlsupplies.com Stockists of: Winsor & Newton, Daler-Rowney, Pro Arte, Unison pastels, Sennelier, Conté, Paperblanks, Reeves. Picture framing on site. Pegasus Art Shop Griffin Mill, London Road, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 2AZ Open: Mon to Sal 9am-5pm www.pegasusart.co.uk Stockists of: Williamsburg, Rembrandt, Old Holland, Cranfield paints, Cobra, Winsor & Newton, Daler-Rowney, Derwent, Daniel Smith, Schmincke, Caligo, Da Vinci, Pro Arte,…

Visit www.painters-online.co.uk/store and click on the link to books to buy the latest practical art books available from LP’s online bookshop. Textiles Sarah Campbell's new book, Hand-painted Textiles provides a practical guide to the art of painting on fabric. Sarah is an internationally acclaimed textile designer with many years’ experience and here she shares with us her world of pattern and colour. Create your own designs using a range of tools and techniques, such as potato-cuts, stencils or brushes; explore a range of fabrics from silk to calico and learn how to paint on each of them; and develop your understanding of colour and pattern. Alfred Augustus Glendening The life and work of Victorian landscape painter, Alfred Augustus Glendening is presented in this beautifully illustrated book from Paul Holberton Publishing. Alice…

Learning objectives ■ Enhance your photographic references ■ Create a mood with colour ■ Paint with acrylics and your imagination In last month's issue, we looked at how we could compose a wintry, rural scene using reference photos. After painting a base layer on our chosen surface, we transferred a drawing of our tractor onto it and completed the underdrawing. This issue we will be using it as a starting point for our acrylic painting. As the reference photos were almost monochromatic, I wanted to inject some colour into the painting, to offset the red of the tractor and to create an atmosphere. As snow generally reflects its surroundings, I decided that a sunrise yellow would add some warmth, with complementary shadows of soft blue. A dark, grass green would…

Learning objectives ■ Practise painting a gradated wash sky ■ Work wet on dry with variegated colour mixes, and wet on wet ■ Try stippling and splattering paint This scene caught my eye when travelling by train through the Tuscan countryside. It was a fleeting view, but one that encapsulates the character of the area: rolling hills, tall cypress trees, a white farmhouse with its shallow roof of terracotta tiles, and a carpet of lavender. The house, being the local point oi the picture, appears to stand out brightly in the sunshine. The cast shadow along its frontage and the tones surrounding the house create contrast against the white of the paper, giving an atmosphere of heat and light. With a little artistic licence, I produced a scene that I…

ROSA GALLERY WATERCOLOURS Rosa Gallery watercolours are designed and produced in Ukraine. A range of 60 beautifully vibrant colours made with finely ground Artist's pigments and organic gum Arabic. Made in collaboration with professional artists, these paints are made with consideration of the needs of the contemporary watercolourist. www.artsupplies.co.uk/cat-rosa.htm PAINTON RECYCLED PADS Clairefontaine's latest PaintON pads are made using 100% recycled, PEFC™ certified paper that is extra white with a satin, smooth surface. Perfect for both dry and wet techniques, the paper's high grammage is suited to folding and pasting. Acid free and pH Neutral, the paper is compatible with laser and inkjet printing! www.clairefontaine.com/en www.facebook.com/ClairefontaineUK DA VINCI COLINEO WATERCOLOUR BRUSH BOX SET FROM PEGASUS ART Elegant set of three watercolour brushes in a magnetic box. Made from a balanced…