A painter's struggles...

One of the things that I have always struggled with as an artist is getting a natural or pleasing balance of colours in my paintings. Do you have the same problem? You know the sort of thing: you are witness to a beautiful sunset but when you try to paint it, the colour just seems too bright or fake. Or you want to include the red barn in your landscape but you can't stop it jarring against its green leafy surrounds.

Help is at hand then in our new issue, which is in the shops today. The first in a new series on harmony will help you to understand and get the most from your palette. It's a tricky subject but luckily it has been written for us by Mitchell Albala, one of America's leading art tutors. As he says in the piece, "harmony doesn't happen by accident".

Elsewhere in the issue, we have a great portrait masterclass with some very useful tips on bringing your drawings to life and a behind the scenes look at the forthcoming Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Christopher Le Brun RA is hanging the last of the works in the show as we speak, but he took time out to discuss the show and offer tips for getting your work selected next year.

There's also an interview with Dame Elizabeth Blackadder and the entry forms for our own Artist of the Year competition. We've got details of some fantastic prizes in there, and unlike many other open shows, you don't have to pay to enter this one! I hope you enjoy the issue anyway and have a very artistic bank holiday weekend.

- Steve Pill, Editor