FEATURES
The Human Tradition
Like masters who have gone before him, Malcolm T. Liepke paints extraordinary images of ordinary people—expressing the comforting commonality of the human experience.
By Loraine DeBonis

Simply Sublime
When is a chair more than a chair? When Ara Leites imbues it with meaning about life, herself and the universe.
By Betsy Dillard Stroud

Two Painters, One Canvas
Working on the same painting at the same time, Duncan Simmons and Keiko Yasuoka redefine creative collaboration.
By Michelle Taute

And the Winner Is. . .
From more than 2,300 entries in this year's Watermedia Showcase competition, 43 paintings stood out. Find out what makes them so special from the artists themselves. Plus, the judges take you inside the jurying process.
By Kelly Kane and Patricia Craft

Special Report: In the Moment
Three seasoned sketchers take you from a local farmer's market and the cobbled streets of Europe to the back lots of a Hollywood movie studio to share their sketchbook secrets.
By Kelly Kane

COLUMNS
Making a Splash
How one artist is making a difference, plus where to find Michelangelo, Picasso and Degas this summer.

Creative Challenge #21
Five artists take on the challenge to use photo references creatively—and dare you to do the same.
By Betsy Dillard Stroud

Watercolor Q&A
How to avoid muddy washes, what "hue" really means, plus the difference between gouache and transparent watercolor.
By David Pyle

Watercolor Essentials
Eight simple techniques for creating spectacular texture.
By John Salminen with Kathleen Salminen

Studio Staples
Our tester gives Prismacolor's new line of watercolors a try.
By Carla O'Connor