Spotlight - Underpainting Blog Post: Art is Hard

This Spotlight covers a mini-essay by Matthew D Innis, who runs the (very interesting) Underpaintings blog. The blog itself "celebrates excellence in Representational Art - past, present, and future," but this particular post explains the author's views on artistic progress, hard work and talent.

Here's the link: http://underpaintings.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/art-is-hard.html

If you know any great art websites or articles, why not share them here? Send your suggestions to samsketches@yahoo.co.uk - please note that this isn't for self-promotion! 

Update - George Loades' Watercolour Demo

Remember the demo George Loades gave in November? Well, he's finished the painting, which took another thirteen hours due to the processes of layering washes and working details in.

The paitning as it was at the end of the demo:

Here's the final painting:

Thanks for sending that along, George!

Teme Valley Youth Project Christmas Market

The Teme Valley Youth Project will have a stall at the Christmas Market in Hereford on 11th of December, and they would like to ask artists to support this event by donating Christmas cards or prints or other art work to sell on this day. All profits will go to support work of Teme Valley Youth Project with young people in North Herefordshire/South Shropshire. They are looking for Chrismas presents that people will buy on the day. If your donated artwork is not sold, it will be returned to you safely.

 For more information, please call 01568770110 or email youthtvyp1@yahoo.co.uk

AetherCon Live Painting Update

Unfortunately, I've had to withdraw from AetherCon, where I was due to be live streaming digital painting, as I've been unable to resolve significant technical problems with the software required for it.

Do check AetherCon out - there are lots of artists who will be doing live painting demos! Go to the Artists' Enclave at www.aethercon.com for details of times, etc

Pictures from George Loades' Talk

George Loades demonstrated his approach to watercolour paintings, beginning with an already-established pencil drawing and building the first few layers of paint on top of that - all he had time for! He also brought along some finshed pictures, so we could see the level of detail he prefers to include.

That's it for this year! The programme for 2013 will be up soon, and our next evening meeting will be on Thursday 7th February.