The Raw Umber Blog

Hints and tips about drawing and painting, plus news from Raw Umber Studios.

Raw Umber Challenge December 2025 - The Christmas One

Enter our December challenge by painting a work on the theme of Christmas Read more ...

The votes are in! Read on to find out the winner of the public vote for this year's Paint Off Read more ...

In August 2025, ten amazing artists game to our studios in Stroud to paint a portrait from life. Read on to learn who the winner was. Read more ...

Enter our October challenge by painting a work on the theme of haunted Read more ...

We've added yet more reference images to our image library. Read more ...

Enter our September challenge by including an abstract component in your work Read more ...

We've added yet more reference images to our image library. Read more ...

Enter our August challenge by painting a landscape Read more ...

Every wondered how we create the photographs for our image library? Watch Lizet Dingemans explain what goes on behind the scenes. Read more ...

Enter our July challenge by painting using a palette knife Read more ...