Ann's Colored Pencil News & Stuff!

by Stacey Barge People often ask why I choose to draw portraits. Out of everything I could create, I always come back to faces. For me, a portrait is so much more than a likeness; it’s a way to communicate emotions that are often difficult to put into words. The Weight of the World, this piece portrays an elderly woman... View more

Inspiration can arrive in an unexpected tumble of pencils, a curious bird outside the window, or a fleeting encounter with wildlife. We're delighted to spotlight Nancy Honaker, Julie Podstolski, and Gemma Gylling, the Professional category honorable mentions in our 27th Annual COLOR Magazine Member Show. Their drawings invite us to look a little closer at the color, character, and possibilities... View more

We're delighted to spotlight Peggy Lohman, Judy Hussein, and Kathrine Davis, the Advanced category honorable mentions in our 27th Annual COLOR Magazine Member Show. Below, each artist shares the story behind her drawing in her own words. We'll continue highlighting more honorable mentions here on the blog in the coming weeks. Explore the October 2026 issue of COLOR Magazine for more... View more

Every drawing has a story, and these three are a lovely reminder of how much there is to celebrate when artists begin exploring colored pencil. We're delighted to spotlight Diane Kirby, Boni Meddock, and Lauren Bean, the Beginner category honorable mentions in our 27th Annual COLOR Magazine Member Show. Here's a closer look at their artwork and the experiences that inspired... View more

The three artists featured in the October 2026 issue of COLOR Magazine Showcase share the stories behind their beautiful artwork here in our blog. Golden Theoby Andrea Hieke10 x 8 inchesFaber-Castell Polychromos, Derwent Lightfast, and Luminance Pablo colored pencils on Pastelmat. (Artist's own reference photo.) Art is a gift. And sometimes, a trade. Let me explain. Our neighbor is a... View more

Corresponding with the art gallery that is featured each month in Ann Kullberg's COLOR Magazine, The Pencil Box blog series will give artists a bit more space to share insight and inspiration about their colored pencil art. Make sure to check out FB group links at the bottom of this post. Call for entry is posted every month in participating Facebook groups—join in... View more

by Lori Loré Colored pencils are ideal for realistic, detailed figurative drawing, but also allow for imagination, exploration, and artistic expression. I am free to challenge myself, to explore techniques, surfaces, color schemes, and pencils, which best set the scene to portray a unique story. Vacation photos are great sources of anonymous people in a variety of places. Painting random... View more

Corresponding with the art gallery that is featured each month in Ann Kullberg's COLOR Magazine, The Pencil Box blog series will give artists a bit more space to share insight and inspiration about their colored pencil art. Make sure to check out FB group links at the bottom of this post. Call for entry is posted every month in participating Facebook groups—join in... View more