Up to the Challenge

This June/july issue, we’re unveiling the winners and finalists for our first ever Cityscapes Competition. For years, our bimonthly art competitions have been a cornerstone of International Artist magazine. We love seeing all your submissions come in month after month, and with each issue, a different subject to explore. The cityscapes genre has been on our minds for a while, so it’s been wonderful to see it come to fruition and witness the enthusiasm pour in over this fascinating subject. One artist might paint an electrifying nocturne aglow with the bright lights of a metropolitan city, while another might capture a quiet alleyway in a lesser-known part of town. Read about all of the challenge finalists starting on page 6.

Speaking of city scenes, oil painter Michele Byrne has a fantastic demonstration in this issue showing readers how she captures the energy of a cafe patio teeming with customers and bustling staff. On the other hand, Arizona-based landscape artist Naomi Brown demonstrates her process for painting the vibrant locales of the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts. You’ll also find demos and master painter articles featuring figurative art by Spanish artist Jose Lopez Vergara and Nigerian artist Olamide Ogunade, as well as wildlife art by Shawn Gould and Sally Edmonds, from the United States and Australia respectively.

For comprehensive tips on how to prepare for an art fair, see artist Kevin Grass’ feature on page 50. As always, we strive to fill the pages of this magazine with content that both instructs and inspires. Enjoy exploring this June/july issue!

Warmly,