Problematic Painting Newsletter

Apologies for the technical hitch in the Painting newsletter that went out on Saturday, with the links misdirecting to military history! The techies have sorted it the gremlin, and the links in the newsletter should now take you to the intended articles. If you deleted the newsletter, I've listed all the items in it -- with the correct links -- here.

Artists in Venice
Venice is an inspiring city for artists and provides plenty of opportunities for plein-air painting, as these photos of various artists and groups of artists at work show. It felt as if there was another artist around every other corner, with different artists in the same spot on different days!

Painting Composition Class: Rule of Thirds
The Rule of Thirds is a basic composition rule popular among photographers, but equally applicable to the composition of paintings. Applying the rule of thirds to a painting means you'll never have a painting that's split in half.

Tips on Buying an Easel
There's nothing to beat an easel for keeping a painting in place while you're working on it. Working vertically means you're working in the same plane as the painting will finally be hung, reduces the risk of spilling anything on it, or dust collecting on it. But what kind of easel should you get?

Artist's Block: How long can it go on for?

Tate to Rehang Its Collection: Will your favourites still be there?

Contract for a Commission: What should be in it?

Under Painting: What's it about?

Watercolour Pencils: Which brushes to use?

Painting a Sunset in Acrylics: Any tips to share?

Essential Painting How-Tos

Quizzes on Painting  from your Painting Guide
Here a few quizzes on art/painting related subjects -- give them a try and see if you know as much as you think you do! (If you've any suggestions for new quizzes, do let me know!)

1) Art Trivia
An array of questions that'll test your knowledge of painting techniques and general art history.

2) Quiz on Cubism
In the 1900s artists broke the 'rules' of art that had been followed since the Renaissance, abandoning art single-point perspective and instead presenting subject from various viewpoints simultaneously. This became known as Cubism. Test how much you know about Cubism with this short quiz.

3) Quiz on Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh's bold, new way of painting changed the course of art history, as he set about using colours to capture mood and emotion, rather than using them realistically. Test how much you know about the life of this talented artist with this quiz.

Unexpected Uses: For Conditioner
Karen says: "Usually we buy a bottle of shampoo anda bottle of hair conditioner. Most of the times the shampoo runs out before the conditioner, so what to do with it? Dont' throw it out!!!!"
"You can use it as hand cream when gardening before putting on your garden gloves or if your not wearing any just before you pull those weeds, it will make the dirt come out easier. It can be used as a body conditioner,or rub it on your vinyl or leather to keep soft and best of all it keeps your brushes nice soft and pliable."
"I keep a little in a jar and after washing my brushes with soap and water (I use water soluble oils) I dab a little on the brush and rinse again. Makes the brushes feel really good."