August 2019 Showcase - Colored Pencil Artwork

The three artists featured in the August 2019 issue of COLOR Magazine Showcase submitted stories about their artwork for our blog. Read below about their inspiration for each of these interesting animal subjects.

Teshi by Lauren Cahill
11 x 14 inches
Color Pencil, Strathmore 500 Series
Original design/concept, drawn from life, en plain air

Kookaburra birds, members of the Kingfisher Family, are so beautiful. These birds were at a point, unknown to me. There is a song or poem that had been mentioned in passing and intrigued, I was inclined to learn more about these creatures. I found their songs and laughter to be so sweet and moving I was inspired to create a rendering of these extraordinary birds. I so named them 'Teshi' meaning "Laughing like a babbling brook," a fitting name for such amazing creatures as they are commonly known as Laughing Kookaburras. The intricate detail defining the feathers of these birds resembles life-like texture, as if they were resting on a branch directly in front of you.

About Lauren:

Lauren founded her passion for art through the study of Colored Pencil accidentally and has been drawing part-time for the last two years. Lauren paints the subject manners of Pet, Wildlife, and Nature artworks in colored pencil using both pencil and brush. Lauren donates proceeds from her works to various environmental and animal charities.

See more at: www.facebook.com/LCFineArtist

Sunglasses by Rochelle Oberholser 
8.5 x 12 inches
Colored Pencil on Strathmore Bristol Vellum
Photo credit: Sally Robertson, used with permission

The kind image that appeals to me most is one object against a plain white background. I’ve learned that you can take anything - - an old bucket, a dirty, scuffed shoe, a rusty piece of whatever - - stick it in front of a white wall, and it becomes a breathtaking work of art. That being said, the colors and exuberance of the reference photo for this drawing absolutely grabbed me. It wasn’t until I was well into it that I realized that half the picture is sand. Really? Sand??? But that wasn’t the only challenge. I had never done clouds before, had no idea how to get the reflective effect of the sunglasses, and was equally intimidated by the pearlescent snail shell. Because I’m a self-taught artist, I needed to figure it all out by myself, so I admit it; I’m quite proud of this painting.

About Rochelle:

Rochelle spent 45 years working for a major airline, and now refers to herself as “blissfully retired.” After retiring, she took up drawing, using only graphite and trying to figure out which end of the pencil did all the work. It wasn’t long before she discovered colored pencils, and that’s when a pleasant pastime became a full time hobby.

Pool Tiger by Martin Buffery 
16 x 25 inches
Colored pencil on Canson paper
Own photo reference

T"Pool Tiger" is my most ambitious work in coloured pencil to date. Its primary challenge is its size, and also the large amount of intricate detail I wanted to show. A lot of my artwork relies on eliminating detail for a more lively image, but here I wanted lots of detail to keep the attention of the viewer. This detail is contrasted with a feeling of depth, achieved by carefully blurring details that are in the far background. It certainly kept me on my toes learning how to depict water, and reflections in it, fur, twigs and leaves! For the picture to be successful, in my eyes, it has to draw the viewer in towards the detail, but also maintain a harmonious image overall without looking overworked. Tigers are a wonderful subject, with their rich colouring and variety of long and short fur they provide an endless source of inspiration. I think showing animals in their environment is important, both to put them into context and to put across the message about the pressures on wildlife and wild places. When I saw this tiger, half submerged and enjoying the shade of the vegetation I new straight away it would make a great picture. The final result is taken from several photographs, but I am careful never to simply reproduce them and much of the detail is from my imagination. Always remember creating a powerful and beautiful image is much more important than just slavishly copying reality!

About Martin:

Martin Buffery has been involved in art and design since school and is currently a chief interior designer at Land Rover. He dedicates his spare time to drawing and painting animals, for which he has had a life-long fascination. He is always looking to explore new techniques, and follows many contemporary artists on social media.

See more at: https://www.facebook.com/studiobuffery/ 

These artworks were published in the August 2019 issue of COLOR Magazine.

Download the 40+ page digital version of the magazine for just $3.89, or subscribe and save 15%. Each issue is packed with step by step projects, critiques, colored pencil tips, artist profiles and much more.