February 2026 Showcase - Colored Pencil Artwork
The three artists featured in the February 2026 issue of COLOR Magazine Showcase share the stories behind their beautiful artwork here in our blog.
Kingfisher by Corinne Vuillemin
8.27 x 11.69 inches
Derwent Drawing Pencils on Canson. (Reference Photo from 123RF.com.)
I love drawing human portraits. But, sometimes I draw animals, such as dogs, wolves or wildlife, for their intense gaze. And, sometimes, a bird catches my eye with the splendid colors.
I love animals and some have beautiful colors. What better way to do this than to draw an animal in autumnal tones? So, I chose to mix photos of kingfishers and try out Derwent Drawing colored pencils. I took the background of one photo, the plumage of another and the position of a kingfisher.
I started by coloring the head and then the body of this beautiful bird. I gently scratched the paper to create the plumage. Then, I sketched the background and then the branch. The Kingfisher finally appeared on the paper in the color of autumn.
About Corinne Vuillemin:
Corinne has always been passionate about drawing and painting. She has explored several techniques in oil painting, watercolor, graphite, charcoal, black chalk and colored pencils. Her interest is in portraits. The eyes are what attracts Corinne. That's why the portrait is, for her, the best way to fix the look on paper with pencils.
See more at Instagram: @corinne_s_portraits
Washed Ashore by Janet Mayes
5 x 7 inches
Polychromos, Verithins, Holbein Soft White, Neopastels (underpainting) on Grafix Drafting Film .005. (Photo reference by client, used with permission.)
This was a commission piece ordered by the child’s grandmother to give to her parents. The reference photo that I worked from was taken at a beach in North Carolina. Although I draw predominately florals and birds, I decided to challenge myself in accepting this child portrait. There were a lot of firsts for me in tackling this subject. I had never done a portrait on drafting film before but enjoyed rendering the skin tones and hair. It was also the first time I drew sand, shells and tiny little houses. I think her swimsuit adds a nice pop of color to the artwork. I was happy with the final result and it has now given me more confidence to try other subjects as well.
About Janet Mayes:
Janet Mayes lives in a mountaintop city in Australia, surrounded by beautiful parks and gardens, which inspires her love of depicting the detail found in nature. Janet has completed a three-year Bachelor of Creative Arts course, majoring in Painting and Printmaking. Works have been shown at group exhibitions and featured in various publications.
See more at www.facebook.com/JanetMayesArt
When the Sun, the Moon and the Stars Came Together by Linda Lucas Hardy
15 x 21 inches
Prismacolor colored pencils on UArt 800 grain sandpaper. (Artist’s own photo reference.)
When I take photos I hope to come up with something dramatic. On my computer, if I see one that might have possibility, but at first glance appears boring, I manipulate the dark and the light. By adding contrast, I can probably create the drama I hunger for. My reference for this piece had been speaking to me for a very long time. Once I finally listened, my work began, dare I say painfully, but when it comes down to it, I'm generally up for a challenge so, we wrestled. When it came to a title, I kept thinking how much the water drops looked like stars and how the glow behind the pear mimicked moonlight. What else could the pear be if not the sun?
About Linda Lucas Hardy:
With very little confidence and knees knocking, Linda Lucas Hardy blindly set off on an adventure, one that has taken her to amazing places and fulfilled every corner of her life for 25 years. That adventure began with one competition in 2001 and has led to numerous awards and honors which include 36 magazine publications and 20 books.
See more at www.lindalucashardy.com
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