December 2020 Showcase - Colored Pencil Artwork

Below, the three artists featured in the November 2020 issue of COLOR Magazine Showcase share the inspiration behind their artwork for our blog. Learn the story behind each of these lovely pieces of art.

Three Jars by Tom Strutton
9.5 x 15 inches
Polychromos on Daler-Rowney smooth heavyweight paper
(Artist's own photo)

My passion is rich colors coupled with values that range from deep shadows to brilliant highlights, to which end I design compositions and seek out subjects that allow me to exploit this interest.

At surface level, "Three Jars" is a conventional still life that celebrates the aesthetics of contrasting materials in a simple arrangement with dramatic lighting. Beyond this is an observation on different states of being, told through the positioning of the lids in relation to the containers. One jar is firmly sealed, another appears halfway opened and a third is free of its lid entirely. The transition from closed-off to open (or vice-versa) is an attractive narrative with wide application.

Telling a story through the way items are placed in relation to one another and their environment is one of many exciting challenges that keeps me coming back to this genre.

About Tom Strutton:

Tom first started using colored pencil in 2015, having previously been a watercolor hobbyist. He initially established himself as a specialist in bird art, though just recently he has been exploring other genres. In 2020 he became a member of the International Guild of Realism and the UK Coloured Pencil Society.

See more at: https://www.tomstrutton.co.uk/

Qwerty by Luanne D'Amico
12 x 16 inches
Colored Pencil on Pastelbord
(Artist's own photo)

Qwerty is part of a series I have done on vintage items that used to be very predominate in everyday life, but have been replaced by modern technology. Other pieces in the series include a film camera, a rotary phone, a sewing machine, and a fan.

This colored pencil painting was completed by putting down multiple layers until no tooth of the surface was left. I lay down the darkest and lightest values first. As I get more layers over the whole painting, I will start to focus on individual parts to the painting and begin to build depth and dimension with layers of both dominate colors and complimentary colors.

This appears to be a very monochromatic painting, but in actuality, many colors were used to achieve the final result.

About Luanne D'Amico:

Receiving formal education in both fine art and graphic design, Luanne D'Amico draws on both to create paintings which combine realism with strong composition and design elements. She calls her style “decorative realism.”

See more at: https://pixels.com/profiles/luanne-damico

Friends by Kerstin Stocker
11.8 x 15.7 inches
Caran d'Ache Pablos, Derwent Lightfast, and Polychromos on Clairefontaine Pastelmat dark grey
(Photo by Bella Steger, www.bellasteger.at)

When I saw this photo for the first time, I immediately fell in love with it. Ilvy, the little girl and her owl. The reference photo was taken by her mom, who is a professional photographer. The owl, Navajo, is one of two owls that live with the family. Navajo and Ilvy love the forest, nature, and the mystique. The two are best friends.

For me, this picture reflects the deep connection between people and nature. Life can be so beautiful when you get involved and, above all, enjoy the essentials. The finished artwork itself is a gift from me to Ilvy's mother. I hope to make her happy with it. Every time she needs a little cheer, I hope the artwork will give her a small break by looking at it and recharging the empty batteries.

About Kerstin Stocker:

Kerstin is an artist from Austria. The love of art has accompanied her throughout her life. Although she constantly tried out the most diverse art media, she always came back to colored pencils. A particularly important concern of hers is to bring people closer to the beauty of nature through her art. Commissions are welcome.

See more at: http://www.art-drawing.at

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