The 10 Greatest Portraits Ever Painted
To be a great portrait painter, you need to study the best portraits. Here's a list of masterpieces that will make you want to get to work.
By John Howard Sanden

Staying Fresh
Follow your portraits wherever they lead by making better use of your compositional sketches.
By Paul Newton with Larry Charles

In Character
Jada Rowland shares her secret for getting the drama out of her portrait subjects.
By Pat Matson Knapp

No Small Matter
From being able to paint more quickly to selling more art—painting small can pay off big.
By Jack Hines

Learning to Let Go
Give yourself permission to experiment, and watch your paintings become more expressive.
By Sandra Paynter Washburn

Competition Spotlight
2004 Art Competition finalist C. Dennis Forsyth.

Under Pressure
Take your colored pencil color from wimpy to wow with this tried-and-true process.

By Fred Paulson

Special Section: Something New
No matter where you are in your career, freshening up your work with new approaches can give you a new lease on art. Three pastel artists share their journeys.
By Maggie Price

Columns

Brushing Up
Broaden your compositional horizons by learning where to place your horizon line.
By Patti André with Deborah Robson

Color Corner
Simple, effective techniques for painting blond hair that looks as good as the real thing.
By Butch Krieger

The Drawing Board
Speed up your drawing process with this easy shortcut for simplifying values.
By Juliette Aristides

Art Clinic
Use details, shadows and brushstrokes to make your focal point a true center of interest.
By Jane Jones

Business
Learn how to write your Bio and Artist's Statement—and leave your collectors clamoring for more.
By Kathy Gulrich

Master Class
Make your self-portraits as revealing as John La Farge did.
By Greg Albert

Departments

• Dialogue
• The Artist's Life: One artist's unique vision; Michelangelo gets the last word; an art school breaks new ground; and more.
• Technical Q&A
• Art News
• Materials Handbook: Oil sticks put to the test; tips for getting started with plastic paper; a paper for markers; and plein air painting books.