Welcome from the editor
Ihave great pleasure in publishing a very special article by one of our favourite artist-tutors in celebration of his 40th annniversary with Leisure Painter this month. David Bellamy is well known as an adventurer, artist, writer and teacher, who braves the most extraordinary conditions to find those perfect places to sketch and paint. From someone who is very much a fair-weather sketcher, I do admire the resilience and fortitude of such artists. His article looks back at a long career in painting and, along with fun anecdotes, David discusses how the natural world has inspired him to produce the atmospheric landscapes for which he is so best known. He also critiques a variety of his own paintings, spanning several decades, looking at what worked and, just as importantly, what needed to be developed and changed.
We didn’t want this celebration to pass without attaching a painting competition to it. Joining up with our website, PaintersOnline and Search Press, we invite readers to paint an original landscape – with an added element (see page 17 for full details and how to enter). In true Bellamy style, we are looking forward to seeing entries full of atmosphere, drama, nature or interesting weather effects. Your deadline is 9 July so there’s plenty of time to set your imagination to work. David will be judging the three winners.
Thank you to everyone who has already entered our annual TALP Open competition and exhibition this year (see pages 64-65 for details). This really is one of the highlights of our publishing year and something we all look forward to judging and eventually seeing in the galleries at Patchings Art Centre during their summer festival. Although the festival won’t be going ahead this year, the live exhibition is planned from 21 August to 26 September at Patchings (Covid rules permitting) – and, of course, will also be available to view online at PaintersOnline. The deadline of 3 June is now fast approaching so, if you haven’t already entered, now’s the time to begin selecting your work.
I hope the easing of restrictions will help you to paint with friends and fellow artists in the coming months. Now more than ever we could be honing our plein-air skills and enjoying our beautiful spring countryside with sketchbook and paint.
INGRID LYON Editor