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?