Joseph Mallord William Turner would have been 250 years old today! He was born on 23 April 1775 in Maiden Lane in Covent Garden - which, I think I worked out once, is round about where Rules restaurant is (established 1798!) #turner250

Good morning! This week's theme is Bridges. ------ 'Sunset over the Thames, Waterloo Bridge' (1918) by Emile Claus (Private collection)

We are proud to launch the RP Drawing Prize: Revealing the Human. There is also the chance to win The RP Drawing Prize of £5,000, as well as other prizes and awards. Find out more & submit entries here: therp.co.uk Submission deadline: Wed 20 Aug 2025, 5pm

'London Bridge' (from 'London: A Pilgrimage', 1872) by Gustav Doré

"You're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." — Winnie the Pooh. 🐻 Illustrations by E. H. Shepard

An idyllic sunny picnic setting on the banks of the River Lys, by Belgian realist Emile Claus ~ in the foreground, simply-dressed country folk observe the fashionable, elegant bourgeoisie over the river. This painting was bought by King Léopold II (Le pique-nique, 1887)

'Breakwater, San Sebastian.' (1918) Most of Sorolla's paintings at the beach in San Sebastian are different from his Mediterranean scenes. In Valencia, the figures belong to the sea, but here they watch it from the promenade, like an audience watching a performance in a theatre.

About my comments on the Coronation Portraits * how to see them in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace from 10th July * a new exhibition in the Throne Room about Royal Tour artists & artwork they have produced. makingamark.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-co…

Two Annual Art Exhibitions worth visiting open in London this week by (1) Contemporary British Portrait Painters - in Brixton; and (2) the Society of Women Artists - at the Mall Galleries makingamark.blogspot.com/2025/06/two-ar… #annualexhibition #art #artexhibition

Does HMRC's "Making Tax Digital" affect you? Did you know how much you earn does not only affect how much tax you pay? In future, it will affect HOW you: (1) account for your gross income to HMRC and (2) pay your tax READ more at makingamark.blogspot.com/2025/08/does-h… #makingtaxdigital

We were at Chartwell yesterday. Churchill had a large studio in the garden - this part is where he did his painting indoors. Although he was a fanatical plein air painter too.

FOR ALL ARTISTS SELLING ART TO BUYERS IN THE USA no matter where you live. A new webpage artbusinessinfo.com/shipping-art-t… about cancellation of #postal services to #USA. Airlines refuse to carry any parcels relating to Trump's new #tariff direction on small parcels/post valued below $800

READ what I thought about the opening episode of the new series (12th) of Portrait Artist of the Year #portraitartistoftheyear2025 created by @storyvaultfilms and broadcast on Freeview by Sky Arts. makingamark.blogspot.com/2025/10/review… #artistoftheyear #portraitartistoftheyear #makingamark

Two BBC Arts Programmes about JMW Turner and LS Lowry this Autumn * Turner: The Secret Sketchbooks * Lowry: The Lost Tapes READ more on #makingamark makingamark.blogspot.com/2025/09/two-bb… #jmwturner #lslowry #artontelevision

My review of the third episode of Portrait Artist of the Year 2025 - includes, as usual, profiles of the sitters and artists and commentary on themes which emerged during this heat. makingamark.blogspot.com/2025/10/review… #ArtistOfTheYear #PortraitArtistOfTheYear #portraitartist #portraiture

The Call for Entries for the HSFK Portrait Award 2026 has been published by the #nationalportraitgallery. You have until 6 January 2026 to apply. Read my summary makingamark.blogspot.com/2025/10/call-f… which many of those I've met in past #portrait award exhibitions have told me helps a lot!