January 2021 Showcase - Colored Pencil Artwork
Below, the three artists featured in the January 2021 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.
Treasures by Teddi Bandt
12 x 16 inches
Prismacolors on suede mat board
(Photo by Denise McQuillan.)
The warm, rich hues of the pots on the weathered wooden bench in front of the cold stone wall intrigue me. The reference photo grabbed my attention because of the textures and vivid details. I could imagine being there. By rendering it myself, I was able to go there. What a wonderful journey it was. Working my way around and over each varied surface satisfied my desire to be alone in a quiet place.
Life can be chaotic and getting away is not always feasible. I had pined away for some time over wanting to render this, but it was also quite intimidating. As soon as I started drawing it out on a paper, any apprehension I had disappeared. I could hardly wait to transfer it and start pushing those colors around on the suede. This will always be one of my favorite memories in colored pencils.
About Teddi Bandt:
Teddi Bandt is a self-taught, award-winning, hobby artist who enjoys rendering multiple subjects in various mediums. Art has always been her passion. She lives in Palmdale, California and works at her family business on the coast, spending as much time as possible around her schedule enjoying making more art.
PERSEVERANCE by Susan Donze
16 x 16 inches
Prismacolors, 2% Panpastels base, on toned Pastelmat
(Artist's own photo)
Dedicated to K, whose personal cancer therapy transformed a barren, rocky hill into a paradise of wildflowers, fruit trees, vegetables, garden rooms, and terraced vistas. Fountains burble and native creatures visit to enjoy this cooling oasis. “Perseverance” reflects the literal bedrock and blank canvas of her inner and outer creation. Her will, creative force and strength inspire me beyond words.
This was an enormous undertaking for me. The emotional and spiritual significance of the piece, rendering the rocks, driftwood, and detritus in the largest format of mine to-date and doing them (and K) justice was my highest priority. I am humbled that others seem to feel what I seek to convey in my work.
About Susan Donze:
Susan Rorick Donze is grateful to be retired from education and aerospace to eagerly pursue her own art dreams after years of encouraging young people to follow theirs. A member of the CPSA District Chapter 214 of Los Angeles, she follows and is inspired by many Facebook and Instagram colored pencil artists.
See more at: www.facebook.com/susan.donze/
Steaming up, and over! by Ria Fouché
10 x 15.7 inches
Derwent Lightfast, Caran d'Ache Luminance and Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils on wine-colored Clairefontaine Pastelmat
(Photo by Judy Hastings.)
The majestic steam, taking half of the photo, the old locomotive so neatly made and captured from full front view, coming up the hill through the pine trees, just grabbed my attention. I knew this was a challenge I could not miss. It just needs the perfect colorful and mesmerizing image. I knew it was going to be difficult, and also knew this had to take its time.
I used a ton of colors on this and had a heap of pencils laying around. I did get a little lost along the way, with deciding which parts to do when. The parts I deemed difficult weren't so difficult, but the parts I thought would be really easy weren't. The steam took a tremendous amount of time and I got tired with it and rushed some areas a little. Learned a lot throughout this piece.
About Ria Fouchér:
Ria Fouché has done a great variety of art throughout her life. She loves working in fine detail and has been focusing on colored pencil work for about a year. Some of her pieces were featured in The South African Artist and in CP Treasures, Colored Pencil Masterworks from Around the Globe, Volume 7.
See more at: www.facebook.com/Selahartdesign
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