Buttercups & bluebells

Step 1 See last month’s issue for a detailed look at how to draw this scene. Use either pencil first, or go straight in with a permanent ink pen. Step 2 THE BUTTERCUPS 1 Prepare pools of: • A dilute t

I often see raised eyebrows when I mention that I love using soft pastels in my sketchbook. Watercolours are a popular choice, being portable and easy to use, but pastels and pastel pencils feel more

In my opinion, British summers are rather fantastic, especially when spent in a garden. Even if you’re not naturally green-fingered, being a painter gives you a wonderful opportunity to enjoy and enga

‘The real subject of every painting is light.’ CLAUDE MONET WHENEVER I’M PAINTING A PIECE, I am constantly appraising each movement, blend and nuance along the way. When you break it down, the number

Isabelle Palmer is an expert when it comes to using containers to turn small balconies and patios into something fabulously floral. Here, she advises us on how to team plants and planters to create different looks

SOMETIMES THE INSPIRATION FOR YOUR NEXT PAINTING can be right in front of you – literally. Trying to find the correct subject with great lighting and composition is quite an art: a lot of images won’t