Welcome from the editor

With the nights drawing in and more time spent painting indoors, we have included an array of tutorials aimed at painting successfully from photographs this month. Andy Walker writes an introduction to how to choose, manipulate and paint from photographs, explaining the reasoning behind making thumbnail sketches and working sketches before you put paint to paper, and how to make colour choices before picking up your paintbrush. As Andy says: ‘What usually makes a successful painting is the unique way in which the artist has portrayed the subject’ so, as you work through the tutorials, ideas and prompts within these pages this month, remember his words and make the paintings your own. Perhaps you can think of a different colour scheme than the one recommended, or mix the colours needed from just three primaries in your palette? What could you do to work around finding suggested colours that you don’t own? If you know you don’t have enough time to finish a landscape, why not paint a tree or a sky study – or set a timer and paint the entire scene in 30 minutes – or five?

Think about these paintings as exercises to build skills and confidence. It’s great when you finish a painting that you’re proud enough to sell, give away or hang on your own wall, but for every one of these you could be producing tens of studies, sketches and small paintings that are vibrant and fun, and teach you a lot about how to paint well. Consider making this the winter when you experiment, and enjoy colour mixing and playing with your brushstrokes. Why not try two or three new ways of working? Consider painting smaller or larger than you usually do; using a paintbrush four sizes larger than the largest one you own; or trying a painting medium for the first time. Spring will be here before we know it and you’ll have a stash of interesting work and ideas feeding into and sitting alongside your finished artwork.