Paint at your leisure (Leisure Painter)

Name: lellagrace

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Product:	Leisure Painter
Date:	17/03/07 (127 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very informative and interesting magazine

Disadvantages: Might not be so useful for more experienced artists

If you have read my earlier review on Art you will know I have just discovered a new hobby (and talent!) for painting.

Browsing in W H Smiths recently I came across a magazine called Leisure Painter. This is a monthly publication and costs 3.10 GBP from the newsagents. However, if you become a subscriber and pay by direct debit you receive up to 30% off.

ADVERTS

There are quite a lot of adverts in the magazine, but as these are art related they are useful and range from art materials to holidays for artists and painting courses.

GLOSSY PAGES

The magazine is printed on glossy paper and the April 2007 issue consists of 68 pages.

PROJECTS

In the magazine there are various projects for you to try. These are using different mediums, such as watercolour or oils or pastels etc.

This month there is a step by step guide to painting a study of daffodils, very topical and very useful as it shows the steps from drawing the flowers to the finished painting.

Another project featured this month is producing an outdoor scene using water soluble pencils.

There is a list of materials you will need to complete this and then useful tips to help you along, as well as step by step instructions on how to complete various scenes.

TECHNIQUES

There is a section on using different techniques to add interest to your paintings. This month starts with Part 1 and is about buildings, learning how to paint stones and bricks to add the look of texture.

MATERIALS

There are lots of adverts for different kinds of materials, which helps you to find our more about what is available. Paints, brushes, paper etc are all advertised, with a list of suppliers, and there is also an article this month on working with coloured paper.

A feature on painting in oils talks about using water mixable oil colour and using MDF instead of canvas.

There is a feature on what brushes to use as well, I found this very useful as a beginner, but I am sure those more experienced than me would also find something of interest.

CONTRIBUTORS

At the beginning of the magazine there is a mini biography of the contributors this month, as well as details about the regular contributors. Could be a useful opening for freelance writers/painters here perhaps.

There is also a page for readers' letters, with a prize of a binder for the magazines for those whose letter is printed.

MONTHLY EVENTS ETC

There is a section on events throughout the month, with everyting from workshops, talks, guided tours, exhibitions and a section on bursary awards.

ARTIST AT WORK

This month there is an interview with an artist Rosie Sanders, who is a freelance illustrator and botanical artist. In the article she talks about her work, telling us of her favourite subjects and how she sets about producing a picture. All very interesting and helpful to find out about an experienced and successful artist.

CHALLENGE

There is an art club challenge where art groups can contact the editor and submit work for consideration for publication in the magazine. I have joined an art group but I don't think my work is up to the challenge yet!!!

BOOKSHOP

At the back of the magazine there is a section on new books and a review of these.

Leisure Painter also has a mail order bookshop service where you can order copies of featured books.

SUMMARY

To sum up, if you are a beginner in art then I would recommend this magazine to you. This is the second copy I have bought now and I find it so useful and interesting that I am going to subscribe. It inspires me to get on with my painting - which I should have been doing instead of writing this review, but I thought I would share my findings of the magazine with you!

Thanks for reading!

Summary: A great magazine for anyone who is interested in learning to paint