Published on March 27, 2026
Some of those contemplating entering one of the Artist of the Year competitions might find the tips below to be useful. This is a reproduction of an article I wrote for the WH Smith Blog eleven years ago following (a) the Final of The Big Painting Challenge and (b) the publication of my book “Sketching 365.” I found it searching for something else and realized I had completely forgotten about it! It also seemed very timely for a repost.
Last Sunday was the final episode of The Big Painting Challenge. The series has offered many opportunities to learn over the last six weeks—from the amateur painters as well as from the judges Daphne Todd and Lachlan Goudie. I’ve been following the series on my blog Making A Mark and have written a series of posts—one for each episode. These comment on the challenges and highlight tips as the series has progressed.
Below, I’ve summarized some important tips derived from the program content and the comments of both judges and amateur artists.
TOP TEN TIPS
Check out these tips if you’re thinking of entering an art competition on television or just wanting to improve how you paint.
TIP 1: Observation is key.
It’s essential to look carefully, whether you are painting a person, a still life, a landscape, or objects that move and change while you watch! You will reap the benefits if you spend as much time looking as you do drawing and painting. Find the big shapes, verticals, horizontals, and angles, and don’t forget to measure and check the size and relative proportions of what you see.
TIP 2: Good drawing underpins sound construction.
When a drawing or painting doesn’t look quite right, it’s often due to a problem with the drawing. Issues may arise from:
– A failure to observe carefully (see Tip 1)
– A tendency to simplify, ignoring the difficult parts
– Unfamiliarity with a range of normal drawing media and the possibilities for varied marks (see Tip 3)
– Difficulties in placing an object on a page, leading to missing elements (see Tip 6)
– Challenges in handling and mixing color when using dry media rather than paint (Tip 8)
Identifying the nature of the problem with your drawing is the first step toward learning how to correct it. For example, my major issue is that my verticals often lean if I draw without thinking. My solution is to check how a major vertical aligns with the edge of the page as I draw.
TIP 3: Practice drawing quickly using different types of dry media.
Dry media were predominantly used for the quick draw exercises in The Big Painting Challenge and were not limited to pencils or charcoal. With little time for slow, careful drawings, artists were challenged to explore various dry media, including color, to create quick sketches. Get familiar with the properties of different types of dry media and how they can be used to produce rapid drawings. Remember that not everything is drawn using just the tip; you can also use the side of the medium for quicker coverage. Drawing quickly can be learned, but it requires practice.
TIP 4: Become comfortable working from life as part of your daily life.
Engaging with live subjects is an invaluable experience that can enhance your skills significantly.
For a comprehensive list of tips derived from The Big Painting Challenge, continue exploring.
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