The Raw Umber Blog
Hints and tips about drawing and painting, plus news from Raw Umber Studios.
Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition 2026 | Raw Umber Award Winner
Monday 11 May, 2026
Raw Umber Studios is delighted to award the 2026 Raw Umber Studios Prize at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition to Hillary Butterworth for her portrait Aimee. Read more ...
Paint Off 2026 Announced
Tuesday 7 April, 2026
Want to pit your artistic skills against the best of your peers and win over £3,000 of prizes? Our Paint Off is back! Read more ...
Winner of Raw Umber Image Prize 2026 Public Choice Award Announced
Thursday 2 April, 2026
We're really pleased to announce that Carole Condé is the winner of the public choice award for this year's image prize, with this stunning portrait of Arnie. Read more ...
Raw Umber / Cass Art drop in portrait drawing
Monday 23 March, 2026
Join us at Cass Art in Bristol for a pop-up art exhibition and drop-in workshop. Read more ...
Subscription changes
Saturday 21 March, 2026
We're updating our pricing for new subscribers. Read more ...
The Winner of the Image Prize 2026
Sunday 15 March, 2026
Find out the winner of this year's image prize, and vote for your favourite entry. Read more ...
Raw Umber Challenge March 2026 - The Spring One
Thursday 5 March, 2026
Enter our March challenge by painting a work on the theme of Spring Read more ...
More Reference Images - February 2026
Monday 9 February, 2026
For our latest photoshoot we were inspired by the classical poses John Singer Sargent and dramatic lighting of Joseph Wright of Derb Read more ...
Raw Umber Challenge January and February 2025 - The Interior One
Tuesday 20 January, 2026
Enter our December challenge by painting a work on the theme of Christmas Read more ...
Image Prize 2026: Win Cash Prizes!
Wednesday 7 January, 2026
Draw or paint from our image reference library and win cash prizes! Read more ...
