From the mastermind of the Addictive Sketcher (over 17K followers), this book will show you how to capture character and everyday life in oil paints. The modern oil artist's dream: a punchy combination of innovation and enthusiasm, infused with authority and tradition. Learn how to use oils and more from the President of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters. A clear instruction manual for hobby artists hoping to improve their work by learning from a master artist and getting inspiration from a practical showcase of his work. President of the Royal Oil Institute (ROI), Adebanji Alade's mission is to make oil painting accessible to anyone, while simultaneously providing insights and instruction that make the book valuable to experienced artists. From the absolute basics of getting an image onto your painting surface and preparing oils, this book includes invaluable information on different working approaches. Starting from the basics of value, edge and colour, the reader is led through short exercises and key techniques. The book begins with sketching and drawing, before building up to to Adebanji's approaches to oil painting. The reader will discover how best to tackle subjects ranging from intimate portraits, single figures and small groups to  expansive crowd scenes, urban landscapes and interiors. Light, weather, character and atmosphere are all investigated by this infectiously enthusiastic artist.

All royalties, a minimum of GBP2.50 from the sale of each book, will be paid to NHS Charities Together (registered charity no. 1186569) to fund vital projects. When the UK went into lockdown in March 2020 to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus, artist Tom Croft offered to paint an NHS key worker's portrait for free. Unsure how to help and offer his support, he wanted to capture and record the bravery and heroism of frontline workers who were risking their physical and mental health for our wellbeing. Tom suggested that other artists might want to do the same. He made his offer via video message on Instagram and was immediately contacted by Harriet Durkin, a nurse at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, who had contracted Covid-19 and, now recovered, was about to return to the frontline. Tom's portrait of Harriet, wearing PPE, was the first in what became a global art project. The response to the initiative was staggering and Tom personally paired up 500 artists and NHS workers in the first two weeks. When numbers reached the thousands, Tom set up a traffic light system so that artists and frontline workers could match themselves. Portraits in all mediums followed, from oils to pencil, sculpture to ceramic, mosaic to mural. This book presents a selection of these remarkable images. Some are by leading artists such as Alastair Adams and Mary Jane Ansell, and they are showcased here as both a celebration and a remembrance, in physical form, of the dedication of our NHS key workers. 'I just couldn't imagine what it must be like to have to put on your PPE and head into the frontline of the pandemic, so I wanted to try and thank NHS workers in some small way. We are indebted to them, so to be able to commemorate, celebrate and record their experiences through portraiture felt fitting. This collection will stand as a permanent record of their bravery in a time of national crisis.' Tom Croft

Praise for The Addictive Sketcher: "It's impossible not to be carried along by his enthusiasm and the sheer dynamism of his work. Although this is carried out for the most part in the field, it's remarkably polished and a lot more than just quick notes. There's an element of improvisation - a jazz-like tone - and Adebanji certainly has a natural ability. If you share his love of drawing, this is a book to embrace as well as learn from." - The Artist magazine Adebanji Alade is one of the UK’s most renowned artists – and he’s addicted to sketching. Inspired by the sights and sounds of London, he travels around the city filling his sketchbooks with drawings of people, places and scenes of contemporary urban life. Showcasing one of Adebanji’s inspirational sketchbooks in its entirety, and with a fascinating introduction to the way he works, this unique visual record of everyday city life also offers a compelling insight into the creative process of a modern urban sketcher.

Giving an insight into how this inspiring and talented artist works, The Addictive Sketcher passes on Adebanji Alade's infectious enthusiasm and will have the reader reaching for a pencil or pen to have a go. Adebanji has a skill and a passion for speaking and motivating his audience in a fun and engaging way, and this is reflected in his writing style. Lively, stimulating and instructive, it is packed with numerous examples of the author's sketches as well as examples of his vibrant finished paintings. Covering pencils, coloured pencils, charcoal and graphite, along with finished oil paintings, this book provides a fascinating insight into the author's techniques. Adebanji's work covers a broad range of subjects, including landscapes, portraits, crowd scenes, urban scenes and seascapes. He's particularly well known for his portraits and working outdoors capturing the life of London where he lives. This book includes examples from a range of subject areas.