It has been a fantastic year for us here at Leisure Painter. Not wishing to rest on our laurels, however, we are already geared up for the coming months with a full programme of articles, competitions and events. As I mentioned last month, January brings with it a new four-week publishing schedule. Within the new line-up is a special summer issue that will focus on painting landscapes, and a spring publication of StartArt, our popular annual magazine for absolute beginners. Talking of beginners, we’re starting a new Let’s Start with Art watercolour series in the January issue. Written by Liz Marsden-King and Dave Pilgram, this goes right back to basics, showing month by month how to paint watercolour landscapes successfully. If you are new to painting, the articles will soon build up your confidence. Also new this month is Martin Kinnear’s ‘Learn to paint in an hour’. Throughout the year Martin will look at traditional painting techniques and how we can incorporate them into our own work. This month, imprimatura (the first wash), much loved by such greats as Turner and Constable, which seems a very good place to start! On the other hand, some things don’t change, so if it’s the January issue, it’s time to launch our annual art competition.The competition, run in association with Patchings Art Centre, is a great way to present your paintings to a wider audience, as winning entries are exhibited at Patchings over the summer months, on our and Patchings’ websites, and within the pages of this magazine. And there’s a host of impressive prizes to be won, too, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors. This leaves me just enough space to wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and creative 2011. Enjoy the holidays!