January 2020 Showcase - Colored Pencil Artwork
The three artists featured in the January 2020 COLOR Magazine Showcase share the touching stories that inspired each of their beautiful works of art.
Brothers by Sema Martin
16.5 x 23.4 inches
Pan Pastel, Faber Castell Polychromos and Caran D'ache Luminance on extra smooth Bristol board.
(Owner’s photo)
This large colored pencil drawing was a beautiful memory captured on a very special day for these two rescue dogs. The current owners are well-known for rescuing all of their pets and giving them a loving home, and I have created many memorable portraits for them, but this is their favorite and now has pride of place in their living room.
After an initially long and hard life, these two dogs have found love and family and now have someone to play with. The pinecone is the object they were playing with on this wonderful day, running and fetching and enjoying the sun as brothers.
This is the first commission I have created with a full background and my first-time drawing rock and wood. I am really proud of the outcome and overcoming the challenges I had with the multitude of textures involved in this piece. The original image was overexposed, so it was really important to me to tone down the colors and reveal more detail without eliminating the feel of a sunny warm day.
About Sema Martin:
Entirely self-taught, award-winning artist Sema Martin made the leap from NASA aerospace engineer to fine art artist in 2016. Her love of nature and wildlife brought her to the Welsh countryside where she now has a studio in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park and a thriving International pet portrait business.
See more at: www.semamartin.com/
True Love by Rosalind Batty
11.7 x 8.3 inches
Faber Castell Polychromos and Prismacolor Premier pencils on Fabriano Artistico EW HP 300gsm watercolor paper.
(Photo from Pixabay)
I've always loved dolphins. They're so beautiful and majestic. They are incredibly intelligent, and live together in pods, as they are very social animals. I'm passionate about trying to get people to understand the importance of our marine animals, and to try and behave in a much more conscious way when it comes to throwing our plastic waste away.
I was asked to draw a pair of dolphins recently, and was thrilled. I'd seen several dolphin images on the copyright-free photo websites that I use, and had wanted to draw one for a while, but hadn't got round to it. I wanted to capture the special bond that they have with each other, and I love a challenge.
The soft skin of the dolphins and the water ripples and reflections were definitely challenging, but were fun to create. I always try to achieve photorealism, and I'm thrilled with the way my completed drawing looks. It has also encouraged me to draw some more marine animals in the future, and to challenge myself further with more technical drawings.
About Rosalind Batty:
Rosalind has been a pencil artist for several years. She taught herself how to draw, and always wanted to create photorealistic work. She started drawing seriously in colored pencil when she became disabled and had to give up all her other hobbies. Colored pencil gave her something positive to focus on, and she now encourages other disabled people to enjoy art.
See more at: www.facebook.com/northmayofineart
Invisible by Kelly Welch
11 x 17 inches
Caran d’Ache Luminance and Pablo pencils on Strathmore 500 Series Bristol Vellum.
(Artist’s photo)
I saw this child outside of the Pike Place Market in Seattle. With the prevalence of homelessness in our city, we become numb to those affected. With hundreds of people milling about, this child was “invisible” to those who have become numb to their situation. I was heartbroken when I could not do anything to help. I don’t even know the gender of the child, but that he/she was not hungry, and knew that her parents were near.
Perhaps the next time I have an opportunity, there will be some way to help a precious child. It is apparent that not every person who lives on the streets is there because of poor decisions. A concrete sofa may be the only life this child ever knows.
About Kelly Welch:
Kelly has loved drawing all of his life, from drawing pictures of Matchbox cars to characters from children’s Bible stories. Nearly 50 years later, Kelly still draws every day, be it a rough sketch, a piece of artwork for himself, or a commission. He now has a passion for creating art for and of his grandchildren.
See more at: /www.facebook.com/Brawnyartist/
These artworks were published in the January 2020 issue of COLOR Magazine.
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