Publication date: 30 September, 2024
Letter from the Editor
Our summer seems to have come and gone in a flash, and unless you went abroad, it didn’t feel like there was much in the way of prolonged sunshine. It’s an odd time of year; with so many people away on holiday and some clubs and classes taking a break over the school holidays, life can feel a bit slow for those who stay behind. But, in reality, plenty has been going on, and things are winding up for a great autumn of shows and events.
At the start of October, our Artists of the Year exhibition will showcase all the placed works, and I can’t wait to see them in person. It’s also a great opportunity to meet the artists and visitors. It’s important to me that, as the face of the magazine, I have the chance to meet members and learn more about you. This is your magazine, and it’s my job to ensure you’re happy with it. If you are at the exhibition, please do come and say hello!
If you did get away on holiday, I hope you took a sketchbook or two and will share some examples with us. I find it fascinating how different everyone’s are, even though they have the premise of ‘sketching’ in common. Do you stick mementoes in yours? Use colour? Make notes? I’d love to hear about your approach.
Our ‘tried and tested’ product is the new Bio-based Acrylics from Liquitex. The demand for sustainable, eco-conscious materials is undoubtedly set to grow, and the fact that new products are being developed that ful l those criteria while maintaining the quality and usability of their predecessors is both encouraging and essential. For these innovative, eco-friendly alternatives to be widely adopted, it’s crucial that they not only match but strive to exceed the performance of conventional products, ensuring that sustainability doesn’t come at the cost of quality or functionality. As artists, you need to know that a product will be consistent and reliable, and if it also meets your ethical needs, then so much the better.
So, the air is starting to smell of sweet, dry leaves and woodsmoke, the valleys are swathed in mist in the early mornings, the sun is still hot and the apples are ripe. I hope you take every chance to get outside and enjoy it before we hunker down for the winter.
Rachel