Read hints and tips for artists from Winsor & Newton's technical advisor and practical advice from both Leisure Painter and The Artist magazines.

Simple step-by-step painting and drawing demonstrations and practical 'How to' features for beginners and amateur artists .

From a simple pencil sketch to a finished art work, drawing skills are the foundation for all good art. There are many and varied drawing materials and subjects, for all artistic abilities, covered in the following features

Reviews and reports on the latest art materials.

Watercolour paint is the most popular medium of choice for amateur painters and is often the first choice for the complete beginner. The following features offer practical advice and step-by-step guides for capturing colour and light in a variety of subjects.

Oil paints have long been the preferred medium of professional artists. They can be used in different ways to produce a variety of textures from thick impasto to thin, transparent washes. With the advent of new technologies some oils are now water-soluble therefore avoiding the use of solvents

Acrylic paints are the ideal medium for those new to painting. They are able to imitate the character of both watercolour and oil paints, they have a quick drying time and are easily diluted with water. The following features show the versatility of this popular medium.

There are four types of pastel available: soft and hard pastels, pastel pencils and oil pastels. The advantage of all four types is the directness of the medium and the wide range of tints and shades available.

Artists often combine acrylics with watercolour, gouache and ink, also with drawing media, such as pastel, pencil and charcoal, as a means of extending their range of expression. Working with mixed media is also an ideal way to express abstract ideas and it can be great fun to see different materials reacting and responding to each other.

As well as traditional art media, there are many other available to today's artists, including gouache, tempera, batik, sculpture etc. The experience of working with a wide range of media will widen your scope - stay in touch with what is new in the market and experiment with unfamiliar materials and techniques from time to time. This section includes extracts from our magazines showing different artists' approaches to some of the less well-known materials

Art books reviewed by contributors to Leisure Painter and The Artist