In the August issue of The Artist, Paul Talbot-Greaves set readers the challenge of painting from a photograph using both warm and cool colours.

Of the reader versions sent in, Paul selected the work of Jane Clarke (see below) for critique saying: 'You have a great drawing base and sense of distance here. Your comment about slapping on the paint initially made me smile as ironically, that’s exactly how the first colours need to be applied. You’ve reached mid value Jane but no further in the scale. Don’t be afraid to make the darker shadow values by making paint about the consistency of full fat milk/single cream and this will give you a rich contrast to the painting'

Of the challenge Jane said: 'I painted Paul's photograph using watercolours and found it an interesting exercise in perspective as well as contrasting tone. I didn't hold out much hope for an interesting result so tended to slap on the paint after a very light pencil outline of the bridge, road and horizon. There are many things I have learnt from Paul's challenges and they all tend to be of subjects that I wouldn't have chosen to paint. The tips have been useful when painting subjects I feel inspired to paint. To bring the rather loose painting back to some sort of order I used pen to define some areas'

You can see all of the reader versions of Paul's challenges in the PaintersOnline gallery by clicking here.

Challenges from Paul continue in the September and October issues of The Artist - click here to purchase back copies.