Artists Back to Basics – Volume 16 Issue 2 2026

Summary

John McCartin's original paintings have risen from 55 Australian cents per square centimetre in 2003 to AUD 2.55 today — an average 18 percent annual appreciation — and the Volume 16 Issue 2 2026 of Artist's Back to Basics profiles the South Australian landscape and still-life artist across a 10-page feature that also includes Brett A Jones's three-part pencil-drawing course, a Bali art tour with Leonie Norton, and a back-to-school product review.

The cover star John McCartin (page 4) was born in Sydney in 1954 and worked at the Central Mapping Authority before committing to painting full-time in 2002. His wife Julie and son David run the John McCartin Fine Art Gallery in Hahndorf, Adelaide Hills, freeing him to paint. His work is also carried by Morpeth Gallery in the Hunter Valley, NSW. Auction houses in Adelaide, Brisbane and Melbourne have directed Hans Heysen buyers toward McCartin's originals as investment pieces before they reach Heysen's price level. His most recognisable subject is cattle — he had to learn to wait until their tails dropped after customers objected to raised tails in lounge-room paintings. Brett A Jones's Pencils Down series runs across three sections: The Bare Bones (page 14), Handling the Tools (page 36) and Drawing What You See (page 54), covering fundamental drawing technique from structural sketch to refined observation. Art Tours With Leonie Norton (page 18) offers a guided trip to Bali. The Product Review section (page 22) tests back-to-school and university art supplies.

Regular features include In The Galleries covering Ben Roberts Caf and Gallery (page 32) and Patrick's Crash Paintings exhibition (page 50), a Water Colour Demonstration with Leonie Norton (page 42), Brush Strokes (page 58), Back to The Drawing Board (page 62), and Teachers Pet (page 66). The Ian Reardon feature (page 44) profiles another traditional artist working in landscape and figurative genres.

Editor's Take

This issue knows its audience: traditional artists who want structured drawing instruction and investment-grade artist profiles. The strongest asset is the Brett A Jones three-part pencil course, which progresses logically from structural basics to refined drawing across 12 well-spaced pages. The McCartin profile delivers genuine market data — the per-square-centimetre pricing and 18 percent annual appreciation are the kind of concrete numbers collectors actually use. The weakest section is the Bali art tour feature: it reads as a travel advertisement rather than an instructional piece, with no technique takeaways for the reader who cannot afford the trip. The product review is serviceable but short. This is for the traditional medium artist who wants measurable improvement from a single issue.

Strengths
• Brett A Jones 3-part pencil course delivers structured progression across 12 pages
• John McCartin feature includes concrete pricing data and investment-grade market analysis
• Strong mix of landscape, still life and portrait demonstration content

Weaknesses
• Leonie Norton's Bali tour feature reads as paid travel promotion
• Product review section is thin — one spread for back-to-school supplies only

Verdict: Recommended — Traditional artists will find real value in the drawing course and McCartin market data; skip if you work in contemporary or abstract media.