Articles
Louise Cohen
Editorial features, films and events created, commissioned or directed by Louise Cohen, former Head of Digital Content at the RA.
RA Recommends
5 months ago
The great art quiz of 2021
Gather round, art lovers – because it’s time for our annual art-related quizzing! Play with the family, test your know-it-all neighbours, or just take the blimmin’ thing right now!
Artists
11 months ago
Saturday Sketch Club: experimenting with the figure
Join artist Jake Garfield for this fun and informal life drawing session
Artists
12 months ago
Saturday Sketch Club: drawing as exploration
Discover repetition and transformation in this workshop with Elinor Stanley
RA Exhibitions
12 months ago
Video: David Hockney on his celebration of spring
With David Hockney’s joyful exhibition of spring works filling our galleries – but the artist back at home in his Normandy studio – curator Edith Devaney catches up with him from the RA, pandemic-style.
RA Exhibitions
12 months ago
Virtual tour: David Hockney, ‘The Arrival of Spring, Normandy, 2020’
If you haven’t been able to visit our David Hockney exhibition in person, here’s your chance to experience it from home. Make a calming cup of tea, press play, and enjoy the arrival of spring through Hockney’s eyes.
Artists
1 year ago
Saturday Sketch Club: collage
Join us for a class in collage with artist Sahra Hersi – all you need is paper, glue and scissors
Artists
1 year ago
Saturday Sketch Club: life drawing
Take a lesson in life drawing from Andy Pankhurst in week two of our online Saturday Sketch Club
Artists
1 year ago
Saturday Sketch Club: still life
Catch up on the first of our online Saturday Sketch Clubs, focusing on still life drawing with Mark Hampson
Opinion
< 2 years ago
“Lockdown reminded us that we’re all makers – and that could change everything.”
As museums and galleries reopen, Antony Gormley reflects on a revelatory three months in lockdown – and a cultural shift that could change the arts for the better.
Opinion
2 years ago
“After lockdown, there are decisions to be made. Are the arts essential, or a nice luxury?”
The latest in our ‘Artists in Isolation’ series, Turner Prize-winning artist Lubaina Himid RA shares her experience of grieving in lockdown, and explains why, when we come out of it, conversations about the value of art have never been more vital.
Opinion
2 years ago
“Who knows how many new talents will pick up a pencil, brush or iPad in isolation?”
These are difficult times for everyone – but art thrives in a crisis, says Rebecca Salter PRA, as we launch a new series of artists and architects documenting their creativity in isolation.
Artists
< 5 years ago
Sonia Boyce: “If we can go to Mars, we can send more kids to art school”
Currently preparing for her retrospective at Manchester Art Gallery, artist and educator Sonia Boyce is the latest to reflect on art, life and lessons learnt in our ‘As I see it’ series. She talks tuition fees, a love of Liberty and why we should all be prepared to dream of something different…
Artists
< 5 years ago
Conrad Shawcross: “For the first time I see the political potential in my work”
With his new 16-metre installation suspended above commuters at St Pancras International, London-born sculptor Conrad Shawcross talks activism, optical illusions and why he likes a bit of trapeze.
RA Exhibitions
5 years ago
Five graphic design ideas from the Russian Revolution
Soviet designers gave us dynamic geometry, bold typography and minimalist colour that feels right at home in 2017. Designer and author Steve Heller shares five key ideas you need to know.
RA Exhibitions
5 years ago
Miss Piggy’s American Gothique: the making of a (near) masterpiece
As Grant Wood’s American Gothic goes on show at the RA, the former Creative Director of the Muppets explains how he came to make a painstaking tribute to it – and why he owes Piggy an apology. We begin our story in Bermuda…
Artists
> 5 years ago
Eddie Peake: “I wanted to do anything but be an artist”
Marking a solo show at White Cube Hong Kong, RA Schools alumnus Eddie Peake spoke to us about football, finding himself and “ferocious attention seeking.”
Artists
> 5 years ago
Antony Gormley: “We need art more than ever”
In our new series, artists reflect on art, life and lessons learnt. Here, Antony Gormley RA explains how he first found his subject, why the arts are vital in education and why he’s ashamed of Brexit.
Opinion
> 5 years ago
“History of Art has never been more relevant than in 2016”
With art gallery attendance at record levels and global events putting pressure on cross-cultural understanding, History of Art is a more vital subject than ever. The decision to axe its A Level may be a sad sign of things to come, says guest columnist Professor Michael White.
RA Exhibitions
< 6 years ago
How I got into the Summer Exhibition
Every year there are around 13,000 public entries to the Summer Exhibition, with about 700 making it through to hang in the galleries. We asked 2016’s selected artists to share their creative secrets.
RA Exhibitions
> 6 years ago
Video: a visit to two artist gardens in Germany
While Monet was painting his famous waterlily pond at Giverny, artists across Europe were also finding symbiosis between art and their gardens. The curator of Painting the Modern Garden takes you on a trip to Germany.
RA Exhibitions
> 6 years ago
Jean-Etienne Liotard: inside the show
In this video series, curator MaryAnne Stevens takes us inside the Sackler Wing exhibition devoted to the 18th century Swiss master, Jean-Etienne Liotard, and picks out a few highlights.
RA Exhibitions
> 6 years ago
Ai Weiwei’s rules for life and art
With a promise never to be silenced, China’s most famous artist has become known for his pithy, poetic words on freedom and creativity. We share 21 Weiwei-isms.
RA Exhibitions
> 6 years ago
Ai Weiwei: a beginner’s guide
From surveillance cameras to smashed ceramics, Ai Weiwei is uncompromising in his fight for the freedom of expression. Here’s what you need to know about China’s most famous artist.
RA Exhibitions
< 7 years ago
Listening to Cornell’s record collection
In the first of a new Spotify series sharing the music that inspired major artists, listen to some of the tracks owned by Joseph Cornell.
Artists
< 7 years ago
How to get into the Summer Exhibition? Try this advice
We asked the artists selected for this year’s Summer Exhibition to share their secrets, and tell us their personal rules for making art. Here’s what they said.
RA Exhibitions
7 years ago
Notes to myself: Diebenkorn’s 10 rules for painting
Sometime in his later career, Diebenkorn wrote down ten points of artistic intention. Sharing them here, we also begin a new series of notes, asking artists to share their own creative wisdom.
Artists
> 7 years ago
Cornelia Parker’s poppies at the Whitworth
A survey of work by Cornelia Parker RA is the opening show at Manchester’s newly renovated Whitworth Gallery – featuring a room hung with the negatives from a poppy factory.