February 2019 Showcase - Colored Pencil Artwork
The three artists featured in the February 2019 issue of COLOR Magazine Showcase share the stories behind their artwork for our blog. Find out what inspired each of them to create their beautiful art.
Lilly Pilly by Robert Spedding
14 x 10 inches
Prismacolor pencils on Arches Watercolor 300gsm smooth paper. (Artist’s own photo.)
Lilly Pilly is an artwork based on a tree in flower in my garden. The Lilly Pilly is a native Australian tree or shrub, with glossy leaves and a dense, bushy growth habit. It was a challenge to draw as I wanted to use the true color of the plant but played with dark and light to bring some leaves and fruit forward. I used the soft, fluffy yellow flowers to draw the viewer into and through the drawing.
The deep red of the ripe fruit and new leaf growth provide contrast to the greens and yellows. To get the depth and effect I wanted, I started with the light colors and then added darker colors, blending layer after layer of color. Sometimes six or more layers of color were blended. I had a great time doing it and hope you enjoy it.
About Robert Spedding:
Rob began drawing in 2012, initially in black and white, then using Prismacolor pencils. Australian flora and fauna are key themes of his work, reflecting his keen interest in these subjects. He is particularly known for the attention to detail shown in his work.
Bejeweled by Barbara Dahlstedt
30 x 24 inches
Prismacolor, Inktense, Neocolor II, Acrylic Paint, Ink, Birch Wood. (Artist’s own photo.)
Bejeweled was inspired by a young lady selling scarves at the Arizona Renaissance Festival last spring. Her two-toned red hair caught my eye and her costume was an intriguing challenge. I decided to draw it on wood so that I could display it framed, but without glass. I used two cans of Kamar Varnish before I got the consistent shine I was looking for. Another advantage in drawing on wood is that I was able to create the illusion of a wooden mat with part of the drawing breaking the picture frame. The tassel from her costume barely extends into the faux mat area, giving it a three-dimensional effect. I was delighted by how the wood accepted colored pencil and the water-soluble wax pastels. I was able to adjust my colors and get fine detail. I will definitely be working on wood again!
About Barbara Dahlstedt:
Barbara Dahlstedt enjoys living in Arizona. She is a recently retired high school art teacher. Teaching art has been a wonderful and rewarding experience, but Barbara is now free to explore her future as a fine artist. Her next chapter includes teaching colored pencil workshops and discovering her artistic potential.
See more at: DahlstedtArt.com
Mevagissey Harbour by Alison Powell
9 x 11 inches
Faber Castell Polychromos on Fabriano Artistico paper. (Artist’s own photo.)
This was a commission for a lady to give to her sister. Her sister loves Cornwall and it was to be a surprise for her 60th birthday. As I'd lived in Cornwall for 9 years, I had lots of reference photos and my client chose this one. I'm used to drawing pets and people, so this was completely different subject matter and a real learning curve! It included lots of challenges such as using a new type of paper, and the first time using Zest It blender (for the sky), etc. The water was the most challenging part as I'd never done that before either. My favorite part to draw was the shops on the left — I love the fact that I know what's behind the doors and windows in real life!
About Alison Powell:
Although an artist and art teacher in the past, Alison only really discovered colored pencils in January 2016! She instantly fell in love with this medium and now solely uses colored pencils for her commissions. Until recently, she focused on drawing people and animals, but is now looking forward to completing more landscapes in the future.
See more at: www.facebook.com/alisonpowellart
These artworks were published in the
February 2019 issue of COLOR Magazine.
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