The Raw Umber Blog
Hints and tips about drawing and painting, plus news from Raw Umber Studios.
Portrait Paint Off 2024
Monday 19 February, 2024
We’re running a live, free to enter, portrait painting competition with £3,500 of prizes in August 2024 and you could be one of the participants. Find out more here! Read more ...
Raw Umber Studios Image Prize 2023 - Public Choice Award Announced
Monday 11 December, 2023
We had over 1,300 votes in our public choice competition. We're really pleased to announce the winner! Read more ...
Winner of the Raw Umber Studios Image Prize 2023 Announced
Thursday 23 November, 2023
We had some 1,000 entrants from over 300 entrants, all based on images from our searchable image library. We have chosen a winner, and are also awarding an additional prize based on a public vote. Read more ...
Lydia Cecil - Artist Spotlight
Tuesday 7 November, 2023
There’s something about Lydia Cecil’s portraits that’s arresting; often cinematic. Learn more about how one of our regular visiting and online tutors became the artist she is today. Written by Katie Jarvis. Read more ...
Prize: Reference Image Library
Friday 6 October, 2023
Want to be in the running for a cash prize of £1000? Read more ...
Drawing the portrait from a photograph
Thursday 13 July, 2023
Here, Lizet Dingemans takes us through how she draws from a photograph when she can't get to the studio for the live subject... Read more ...
Student showcase
Tuesday 6 June, 2023
We've launched a section on our website showcasing works that artists have created from our online sessions, inspired by our reference images, or during our workshops... Read more ...
Site Festival Open Studios 2023
Tuesday 9 May, 2023
All welcome as we open our doors for a half-day of open studios involving a drop-in life drawing class and gallery, as part of Stroud's Site Festival 2023. Read on for more info and how to book. Read more ...
Simon Davis: Raw Umber Studios Prize Winner
Thursday 4 May, 2023
We are delighted to announce the winner of Raw Umber Studios 2023 Prize: Simon Davis. Read on for more information and to take a look at the winners! Read more ...
Announcing: Raw Umber Studios Prize
Friday 14 April, 2023
We're really pleased to announce the creation of the annual Raw Umber Studios Prize in association with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. Read more ...