Readers learn painting and drawing firsthand from other artists through written instruction and reproduction, guiding them step-by-step through the creative process. The magazine shows readers a wide variety of creative options, teaching the fundamentals of art making, presenting techniques in different painting and drawing media.
THE ROAD TO DISCOVERY
Artists Magazine
Packing a Punch • George Bellows’ boxing paintings heralded the arrival of a great American artist.
The Empress of Silk • Blending traditional techniques with contemporary storytelling, Xiang Li creates luminous watercolor paintings of Chinese royalty on fabric.
WE ASKED... How do you handle CRITICISM in your artistic life?
A Fresh Approach to Painting With Acrylic • For artists seeking the richness of oil with the freedom of a faster, cleaner process, acrylic offers a surprisingly liberating path to looser, more confident painting.
The Magic of Materials • Artist Ophelia Staton learned early on, if you want to explore what various art supplies can do, a sketchbook is the perfect playground.
Let Curiosity Lead the Way • Curiosity is often the starting point for the most exciting creative discoveries. When you experiment without focusing on perfection or the final result, you create space for the unexpected.
PIECE BY PIECE • By blending the precision of digital design with the organic beauty of botanicals, Jill Haas builds layered floral portraits that are as technically meticulous as they are emotionally resonant.
Stories in Line, Shape & Color • Martin Webb’s paintings emerge from a complex interplay of substantive imagery and the more formal considerations of art-making.
Cultivating Creativity • An artist’s conversation with creativity expert Eric Maisel brings forward some of the critical lessons for building a gratifying life in art.
The Watercolor Journey of Xi Guo • From photography to oil to watercolor, Xi Guo’s command of multiple media is as masterful as it is prolific.
Pet Project • Our 5th Annual Best in Show Pets Art Competition celebrates the wildly imaginative, heartfelt and creative work inspired by beloved animals.
HERE THERE BE MONSTERS • Cartographic embellishments? Symbols of mythology? Early scientific art? Or personifications of fear? What sea monsters and other beasts in ancient art reveal about society.
art news • Keeping you in the know
Reinventing Visibility • As the number of professional art critics continues to dwindle, self-promotion has become a crucial tool for any artist looking to build a wider audience.
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Independent Study • Resources to inspire + build skills
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