A new beginning
It’s a big hello from me, your new Editor of Artists & Illustrators. What a thrill it is to be here, heading up the UK’s best-selling magazine for artists and art lovers that, for 30-years, has been providing expert advice and inspiration every month. And this issue is no different.
There are probably as many ways to paint as there are artists which is why, within these pages, we will always present an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary art, showcasing a wonderful, inspiring array of styles and mediums. Along with the art, what’s interesting is what people come up against when they start the painting process. Professional illustrator
Sarah Maycock, the artist behind this month’s cover painting, at times suffers from imposter syndrome, something many creatives can relate to. “No matter how many times I work on similar jobs, I always think ‘but what if I can’t do it again?’ and this almost paralyses me. It’s horrible when I have a deadline looming, but in a way, it forces me to battle with it and find a solution.”
If oil painter Rob Adams finds himself stuck,
“I draw and see what comes out. I try not to paint something just because I’m meant to be painting.”
Donald Robertson – otherwise known as @drawburtson on Instagram and widely known as the fashion world’s favourite illustrator – advises on keeping your childish instincts intact. “If you watch the way a three-year-old kid approaches a pen and paper, nobody’s stressing out. They’re just diving in.”
Elsewhere in the magazine, Jake Spicer starts a brand new series on painting life drawing in pastel, there’s a retrospective on Constable’s sixfoot paintings and an introduction to luminaires of the Surrealist movement, soon coming to a new exhibition, Surrealism Beyond Borders, at Tate Modern.
Over the next few months, the team and I will be redefining every aspect of what our brand does: from this magazine to the web, social media and beyond. All in all, it’s an exciting new chapter for Artists and Illustrators. So, let’s make a start.