December 2025 Showcase - Colored Pencil Artwork
The three artists featured in the December 2025 issue of COLOR Magazine Showcase share the stories behind their beautiful artwork here in our blog.
The Golden Hour by Ariesian Brooks
9.8 x 14.5 inches
Polychromos, Pablo, Lightfast, Luminance, Derwent Artists/Studios, Holbein colored pencils on drafting film. (Reference photo: Mikell Herrick Photography, used with permission.)
Herons are often seen in folklore as messengers of the gods and symbols of patience. They represent the resilience to persevere through hard times, the wisdom to guide oneself on your own path, and the self-sufficiency to rely on yourself.
As an artist, I have always found the heron to be a great inspiration, and it was such a joy to be able to illustrate this tricolor heron as it begins its evening hunt in the golden hour sunlight at its favorite marshy hunting ground. I am always amazed at how the light plays so delicately through translucent feathers, and I love that I was able to capture that effect in this piece. Overall, I wish I had been a little more consistent with the ripples on the water in the background, but I think the piece still works cohesively. There is always room for improvement.
About Ariesian Brooks:
Ariesian (or just Ari) lives in western North Carolina with their partner and two cats. They spend their days making artwork, enjoying the occasional videogame, and volunteering at their local gallery, where they are proud to share and sell their artwork.
See more at www.facebook.com/AriesianBrooksFineArt/
ALWAYS Keep Your Eye on the Ball by Cheryl Metzger
12 x 9 inches
Luminance, Polychromos, Pablo colored pencils and PanPastel on Pastelmat. (Artist's own photo reference.)
This little boy was born wanting to play ball and often did in my front yard. It was just a typical, hot summer day. The grandchildren had gathered in the front yard trying to stay in the shade of the many trees when they batted. It was Caleb’s turn, and he was ready with his usual seriousness. He was younger than the other boys, but he made up for that in spunk and determination. Of course, he has on the cap of his favorite baseball team. Capturing those special days and that special look with pencils is priceless to me. My grandchildren have always been my models. Caleb is now 19 and when I showed him what I was working on, he immediately asked me to make his forehead smaller. I thought his forehead was perfect.
About Cheryl Metzger:
Cheryl has always loved drawing, but her school never taught art. After college she found an oil painter who agreed to teach her, and she was in love with the creative process. Colored pencil became her medium about 2008, and she was honored to receive her signature status with CPSA in 2012.
Preparations by Victoria Peterson
14 x 20 inches
Polychromos, Pablo, Prismacolor colored pencils on White Museum Board. (Artist’s own photo reference.)
I own all of these 50s items and decorate with them each year. I set up this still life before Christmas last year and completed this painting. I photographed the setup to capture the light and shadow but kept the still life set up until the painting was completed. I drew in the design and then placed each item in front of me as I came to its place in the painting. This allowed me to get good detail of each item and consistent colors throughout the painting. I taped old Christmas cards and ribbon to the wall behind the still life setup to give a feeling of movement and excitement.
I always work with 100% dry colored pencil on White Bristol vellum or White Museum Board. I work five to ten hours a day in my studio and in just three hundred short hours I finished this painting.
About Victoria Peterson:
Victoria is a passionate colored pencil artist. She brings her love of nature and interiors to her work in the hope it will resonate with those who see it. Formerly a dentist in New England, she now dedicates her time to art. She often participates in local and international shows, and her work has appeared in galleries around the country.
See more at www.fineartvictoriapeterson.com
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