Welcome

David Bellamy kicks off this month’s issue with

Letters

SHARE YOUR TIPS, EXPERIENCES, ARTWORK AND QUESTIONS WITH OTHER READERS

Diary

THINGS TO DO THIS MONTH

Art clubs

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

Books

WHAT TO READ THIS MONTH

Online gallery

Jane Stroud’s selection of works from the Painters Online gallery

PAINTING COMPETITION

Enter your own original summer landscape painting, in any medium, for the chance to win

Coming next month

From colourful flowers, landscapes and holiday scenes to portraits, illustrated journals and more, the September issue of Leisure Painter offers all the practical advice, inspiration, demonstrations and exercises you’ll need for the month ahead

A family history

Part 1 David Bellamy discusses how he created an illustrated history of his grandfather’s exploits to inspire you to initiate your own illustrated journals

Painting project

Part 1 Paul Clark uses a photograph of Scotney Castle as inspiration for his two-part project from a photograph. This month, be inspired by line and wash

A tapestry of wildflowers

Follow Rachel McNaughton step by step as you paint flowers on a loose wet-in-wet background

Painting project

Part 2 Follow the late Murray Ince step by step as he paints a sunny woodland scene and gently cascading water using gouache

Rosa Gallery Watercolours

Tim Fisher puts an exciting new range of watercolour through its paces to produce vibrant paintings using an array of techniques

Composition

Part 3 Andy Walker discusses the value of using thirds, fifths and rabatment in your paintings

Step into the landscape

Part 2 How to make the most of contrasting tonal values to paint successful landscapes, by DJ

Develop your skills

Part 1 Using transport and vehicles as the theme, Tim O’Brien demonstrates how to draw ellipses accurately

Nature in close up

Loosen up and have fun painting a colourful ladybird on a natural wet-in-wet background, with Kerry Bennett

Studies in nature

More images from Kerry Bennett’s gallery

Explore, develop, paint

Part 8 Capture light and playful dolphins in an underwater scene using a variety of acrylic techniques and a limited palette, by Elena Parashko

Step-by-step dolphin

In this exclusive digital extra, Elena Parashko demonstrates how to paint a dolphin in detail

A considered approach

Part 1 Preparation is key to watercolour painting from photographs. Over the next two issues, Richard G Green demonstrates how to tackle a subject, from thumbnails and tonal sketches to your final brushstroke

The essential sketchbook

Part 1 Brian Smith begins his series on working with your sketchbook with a look at what can be achieved with simple pencil lines and tone

On the edge

Painting knifes allow you to create a vast range of painting styles. Follow Tim Fisher step by step to paint a bright and cheerful scene of beach huts using only painting knives

The essential sketchbook

More images from Brian Smith’s sketchbook