Editorial

Welcome to the April issue of Leisure Painter

DIARY

EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS FROM THE ART WORLD

Books

DEVELOP YOUR DRAWING AND PAINTING SKILLS WITH THIS MONTH’S SELECTION OF BOOKS

Art clubs

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

Art Club Challenge

Jackie Grant Turning the Lights on for Christmas

Exhibitions

■ Bedford Art Society Exhibition and sale

Painting project

Part 1 How do we make the most of winter landscapes when the snow starts to melt? This month, Colin Steed demonstrates how to paint tonal and colour studies of the scene in watercolour

Painting project

Part 2 Learn how to simplify and paint a complicated scene in a photograph using acrylics, with Elena Parashko

ZigZag sketchbook

Perfect for panoramic views and storytelling, the Hahnemühle ZigZag sketchbook is an invaluable artist’s companion, by Nick Stewart

ICY TERRAIN

Develop your skills by following a variety of essential watercolour techniques to paint a king penguin, with Kerry Bennett

Develop a sketchbook habit

Part 1 Steve Strode introduces you to the benefits of keeping a sketchbook

Simply drawing

Part 1 Develop drawing techniques as you create a regular practice, with Anthony Nield

Introducing… oils

How to paint safely and confidently with traditional and water-mixable oils, by Tim Fisher

Have sketchbook, will travel

Colin Joyce describes how he made the most of a recent trip to Ireland to fill his sketchbook

Take a humble pencil

Part 4 How to create backgrounds that complement your wildlife drawings, with Conor Smith

How to choose your colours

Q&A

Step into acrylics

Part 2 How to paint a sunrise over water using a painting knife, fan brush and seven basic colours, by Alice May

How to use your knives

BASIC TECHNIQUES

Sunrise over the Sea

DEMONSTRATION

Artist Essentials

Discover your must-have art supplies for this month! Whether you’re exploring new techniques or perfecting your skills, these essentials are just what you need:

EXPRESSIVE CONTROL

Giacomo, 2024, 27 cm x 36 cm, Nitram

WELCOME from the editor

Want to comment on something you’ve read, or seen?

THIS MONTH’S COVER

Greta Vilidaite Daisies in Dappled Sunlight, oil on

EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS

David Curtis ROI, RSMA has won many awards

TURNER 250

A year celebrating Britain’s greatest artist

José María Velasco A View of Mexico

José María Velasco The Valley of Mexico from

Royal Institute of Painters in WATER COLOURS

The 213th annual Royal Institute of Painters in

The Spirit of CHARLESTON

Camilla Perkins Studio Flowers from Firle, oil pastels,

A day in the life of NICHOLAS POULLIS

Regular contributor to The Artist , Nicholas Poullis talks to Sally Bulgin about his life and career as a professional artist

Orchestrating a painting

Caroline Saunders talks to Eileen Curran Chamberlain, winner of The Artist Showcase Award at TALP Open 2024, about her sketchy, expressive scenes from the past that evoke raw emotion

SOURCE MATERIAL

PART 2

A STORY TO TELL

In the first of four articles on painting with oils, Tushar Sabale demonstrates a street scene en plein air

JOY of COLOUR

Barry Freeman shares his passion for colour and the uplifting qualities it inspires within us

Linocuts

PART 1

Winter-scapes in MOUSEHOLE

Lizzie Black embraces the quiet of her Cornish village in winter to paint en plein air . Here she tells us about her painting process

Loosening up

Making changes to the way you stand, hold the brush and apply your paint will make great differences to the success of your painting. Greta Vilidaite shows you how loose brushwork in oils will pay dividends

Find the life in your still-life painting

Just painting what’s in front of you, won’t produce a successful painting. Julie Dunster finds ways to enliven your still-life work in oils

It’s never too late to become an artist

Becoming more than simply a social painter requires a change of mindset. Mike Barr offers advice to artists who want to improve

Charles Rennie Mackintosh glasgow, japan, catalonia

In this history-of-art series, Sarah Edmonds shines a light on lesser-known artworks by artists we know and love. This month she explores the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Turning PROFESSIONAL

MONTH FOUR

ASK AN ARTIST

Ask an Artist podcast was devised by working

IN ONE GO

In this abridged extract from his new book, The Acrylics Companion , Hashim Akib explores the advantages of one-session painting

ART BOOKS

Buy it! For some genuinely creative ideas

NEXT MONTH IN the artist

HIGHLIGHTS FROM YOUR MAY 2025 ISSUE