Innehållsförteckning för July 2024 från Artists & Illustrators

We should create what we want and however we wish, whether that be loose, tight, realistic or completely abstract, whilst the subject matter can be anything of our choosing. That’s the beauty of our craft. There are no clear and set rules or boundaries to stick to. Which is why it’s always fascinating to see how other artists develop a painting. In our newly created step-by-step section, Alvaro Castagnet paints a scene from one of his favourite plazas in Barcelona. Here, his impressive interpretation of light and rich use of colour is an example of why he’s one of the world’s most respected watercolour artists. We also have Matthew Jeanes painting a harbour scene, Siân Dudley creating one of her favourite blooms whilst Lara Scouller draws an otter from her…

3 JUNE Enter the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers competition at Bankside Gallery. The prize fund is worth over £850. Entry fee is £16 per work. re-printmakers.com 12 JUNE Submit your drawings for the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize and win up to £8,000. Open to UK and International artists. Entry fee starting at £30. artopps.co.uk 14 JUNE Enter your ‘On a Windy Day’ artworks for the Tabernacle Art Competition. The prize fund totals over £2,000. UK and International artists welcome. moma.cymru 30 JUNE The Women in Art Prize celebrates women artists. Submit your art and you can win up to £1,500. For UK and overseas female artists. zealous.co…

BORN AND RAISED in a small Essex household devoid of artistic inclinations, Michele Ashby, a British Art Prize 2023 finalist, never envisioned herself as an artist. In fact, the very title of ‘artist’ seemed too “grandiose and flamboyant” for her humble beginnings. Yet, her childhood was punctuated by glimpses of creative expression, with spare moments dedicated to sketching anything that caught her eye. Her earliest memories are adorned with sketches and doodles; her fingers, always embellished with graphite smudges and her pencil, a constant companion. It was her art teacher’s insistence that pushed Michele towards the path of creativity. Despite her initial naivety about the existence of art courses, she found herself enrolled in Foundation Courses, where her talent began to blossom. Although graphic design emerged as her primary focus,…

THE IMAGE I AM GOING TO PAINT is a view of Cascais, a charming Portuguese seaside town, known for its picturesque beaches, beautiful architecture and rich history. I particularly liked the composition with all of the beach huts drawing your eye into the seascape, with the large mast in the foreground. It’s a challenge for me, as it contains strong perspective drawings and lots of boats. I am going to have to lean on my old technical drawing lessons from college. For this painting, I am going to use a new watercolour paper, a frisk A3 300 GSM Cold Pressed NOT surface. For me, this should take the water and paint well preserving and blending the colours nicely, but at the same time be able to cope with masking fluid…

BRETT HUDSON Brett originally trained as a children’s illustrator. He now paints in several different styles. He has exhibited for the RBA, SAA, Derwent Drawing Prize, British Art Prize and most recently RI. His large watercolour cityscapes feature busy, complex scenes, building layers for strong contrasts. HAZEL JOHNSON Based in Cambridgeshire, Hazel is self-taught and works in watercolour, coloured pencil and pastel. She is inspired by raising awareness for creatures on the red list. With a passion for artistry and an eye for detail, she offers bespoke commissioning services that transform visions into vivid realities. JOSH HERNANDEZ An expressive portrait painter and drawer, Josh quickly gained a huge audience of over eight million followers on social media, showing his drawing process, mesmerising viewers with a delicate balance of realism and…

ART THROUGH TIME: CONTEMPORARY REFLECTIONS Until 31 May 2024 This exhibition showcases a blend of modern and contemporary artworks. Pioneering figures like Michael Craig-Martin and Alexander Calder feature prominently, alongside Gavin Turk and Keith Tyson. The display explores themes of identity and memory, offering intriguing juxtapositions between past and present. Richard Wathen’s response to Paul Delvaux and Wen Wu’s exploration of Asian culture enrich the dialogue. The show celebrates the evolution of artistic expression, emphasising contemporary art’s substance and significance in today’s world. Alon Zakaim Fine Art, 27 Cork Street, London W1S 3NG. alonzakaim.com THE LAST CARAVAGGIO Until 21 July 2024 Imagine, it’s May 1610, Caravaggio is in Naples, crafting what would become his final masterpiece. Just two months later, he dies under mysterious circumstances. Yet, it’s during these tumultuous…

OVER SEVERAL NIGHTS in January 1879, the French artist Edgar Degas (1834-1917) visited the popular Paris entertainment, Cirque Fernando. Posters by François Appel (1821-82), promoting Cirque Fernando (and Fernando Cirque) included illustrations of the distinctive 1875 purpose-built, 2,000-capacity circus building on the corner of Rue des Martyrs and Boulevard Rochechouart. Degas was there to observe and sketch the sensational aerialist Miss La La, described as la mulatress-canon, the mulatto-cannon woman. Degas was of mixed-race Creole heritage from New Orleans. His work, Peasant Girls Bathing in the Sea at Dusk painted against the light, accentuated the different skin tones of the girls. How would he depict Miss La La? From his seat in the audience, Degas would create a remarkable portrait. Fresh from her appearance in Brno, where she was billed…

I LOVE SPENDING TIME in this city. I often sit for a drink at a corner cafe while sketching and watching people go by. Plaça Reial is a beautiful square in the heart of the old town of Barcelona, surrounded by many architecturally rich buildings. They have fancy balconies and streetlights around a stunning central fountain, creating an intimate setting, accentuated by the cafe’s awnings, umbrellas, tables under the arches, street performers and people. I wanted to capture the light, the mood and energy of the square. It is very important for me to have a clear idea and almost see the painting finished in my head before I begin. I decided on the overall design and approach, together with a predominant colour palette, to create a strong and unified…

Things we love… From this June, British artist Flora Yukhnovich’s paintings will temporarily grace the top of Hertford House’s grand staircase, a unique space at the Wallace collection, replacing two of French painter François Boucher’s works. Her large-scale paintings challenge traditional gender dynamics, infusing the genre with contemporary vibrancy. The new Yukhnovich works – which prompt reflection on Rococo’s timeless allure – will be integrated into the Wallace Collection’s display, engaging in a dialogue with Boucher’s surrounding masterpieces, immersed in the atmosphere of the 18th century. wallacecollection.org Don’t miss… …Sussex-based artist Sarah Money’s latest exhibition, which showcases a new collection of paintings and sculptures created over the past two years. As a former dancer and mime artist, Money infuses her artwork with a fluid rhythm, exploring the movement of the…

GROWING UP, I developed a fascination with human facial structure early on, sketching portraits and people from a young age. My parents were very encouraging in my desire to draw and create; always investing in art materials for me. I still remember the first time I picked up charcoal and tried to use it like graphite. I hated it and completely failed. In high school and college, the life drawing courses I took required me to sketch gesture drawings in charcoal. As I learned the more expressive, less fine-tuned approach compared to graphite, I fell in love with the material. Art for me was only a way of life, I did not see it as a career or job and wasn’t sure whether it would be realistic to pursue it,…

THERE IS SOMETHING MAGICAL about watercolour. This can be seen in the translucency of the medium, the way light can shine through transparent washes, and the subtle mingling of water and paint. It is an alchemy of sorts. I hope any painter will find the techniques and tools in this story invaluable. Remember, watercolour itself is a medium that encourages flexibility and intuitive painting. Most importantly, remember to relax and enjoy the process. Every painting you create is one more step in your own journey. TECHNIQUES WET-IN-WET This technique involves painting onto a wet surface so that the marks soften, blend and diffuse on the page. This technique is used to create a sky wash: by wetting the area with clean water first, then adding washes of colour onto the…

SIÂN’S MATERIALS Watercolour Paint Daler Downey Permanent Rose Daler Downey Sap Green Daler Downey Viridian Hue Daler Downey Permanent mauve (PV23) Daniel Smith Quinacridone Magenta Daniel Smith Hansa Yellow Medium Schmincke Ultramarine Violet Support Paper: Bockingford 140lb, stretched Winsor and Newton colourless masking fluid 2B pencil Eraser Ruling pen FOR THOSE OF US WHO ENJOY PAINTING FLOWERS, clematis are fabulous plants. The vibrant flowers, standing tall above a tangle of stems, along with budding blooms stretching upwards, radiate a dynamic allure that captivates artists. But how do you unravel the visual confusion to even begin? As a tutor, I am often asked what should be left out, but I turn this question around and ask, ‘What should I include?’ By taking just a few flowers and designing an image around…

Before Holly, we always had Labradors. But on this occasion, we decided to put our ‘do-gooders’ hats on and rehome a rescue dog. After much discussion, we thought the gentle nature of the greyhound would probably suit our family. Holly is very quick and is referred to as a sighthound. This is quite a revelation as a new sighthound owner. She will fix on something, and although you can’t see it, she can. Holly can see up to a mile away, in 270 degrees, meaning she can see motion behind her, and has ‘stereoscopic vision.’ So, neighbourhood watch is right up her street. Hence, the painting title, Nosey. For this piece, I took a picture of her mid-gaze nose, a little twisted to the side, like she does when concentrating.…