Leisure Painter

Leisure Painter - the number one learn-to-paint magazine featuring practical painting and drawing features from top art tutors. Includes step-by-step tuition and easy-to-follow advice on how to draw and paint.

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Leisure Painter

Editor's choice • Don't miss your chance to view this incredible exhbition of some of the most successful landscape painters

Spotlight on art • A round-up of events and ideas to enjoy live and online

Painting an Amaryllis • Jo Allsopp talks through the techniques and colour palettes required to capture the beauty of winter flowers in watercolour

Beyond The Brush • Julia Borodina explores the world of painting using creative tools, with a wealth of ideas for alternative ways to make interesting marks

Winter Geese in Watercolour • Julie King demonstrates how to paint a flock of winter geese in watercolour, with ideas for colour palettes, composition and creativity

Misty Mountain Stream • Create a striking mountain landscape using layers, expressive brushwork and careful use of colour, with Mike Rollins

Snow-filled scenery • David Bellamy uses inspiration and techniques from the Impressionists to create snow-filled landscapes with atmosphere

City skyline • Nina Squire shares how a variety of pastel marks can help capture the light and atmosphere of a view of Westminster Bridge, London

Art clubs • Over to you for the latest news on club exhibitions and activities

Art club challenge • Take a look at some of the great entries we had for the ‘Portrait’ art club challenge we set back in the October 2025 edition.

Q&A Blending layers • Professional colour pencil artist, Helen Carter provides helpful guidance, tips and tricks for using this versatile medium blended to create smoother and richer results

Art History Unlocked • With over a million subscribers on YouTube, art history buff James Payne brings his accessible approach to the written page with his new book, Great Art Explained

SKETCH FOR SURVIVAL

The art of Huãniǎohuà and Caochóng • Paul Riley takes a new look at the art of insects, birds and flowers in watercolour and acrylic.

DEMONSTRATION Rosa Rugosa

DEMONSTRATION Vine Glory

Capturing the everyday • Caroline Saunders talks to Rebecca Holton about pursuing a visual diary of contemporary culture

BRUSH with the PAST • Grahame Booth continues his travels back to his painting roots, this issue focussing on tone… his second great leap in his understanding of painting

The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck • Sarah Middleton continues her history of art series with a look at Jan van Eyck…

Making a late start in painting • Mike Barr shares encouragement for all those just starting out on their painting journey

A camera in my pocket • Bob Brandt explores the pros and cons of manipulating and painting direct from photographs

Hidden Gems • Winner of the Painters Online award at DSWF Wildlife Artist of the Year 2025, Andrew Pledge shares his painting philosophy as he elevates the ‘ugly ducklings’ of nature to high art

Wondrous washes • Catherine Beale starts a new watercolour series, encouraging painters to think differently about the medium through twelve different techniques… embrace running paint, reduce brush marks, own the movement of water through paint. This issue we are focussing on ‘wondrous washes’.

Turning PROFESSIONAL (One year!) • Rodney Kingston reviews his first year as a professional artist