January 2026 Showcase - Colored Pencil Artwork
The three artists featured in the January 2026 issue of COLOR Magazine Showcase share the stories behind their beautiful artwork here in our blog.
Elegy in Silver by AnnMarie Concetta Caster
18 x 22 inches
Prismacolor, Polychromos, Derwent, Luminance, and soft white colored pencils on Drafting film. (Artist's own photo reference.)
This piece was a labor of love. I lost count of how many layers involved. It was challenging for many reasons: the different types of surfaces in the piece, the colors, and the reflections in the tableware. Working on this piece gave me opportunities to use colors I rarely use and love. The patina on the aged silverware was created with blues, greens, bright oranges, and purples. Working on drafting film is a pleasure; it forgives mistakes of overworking, allowing more erasing, sanding, and layering on top of layers.
Using workable fixative, letting it dry, and lightly sanding the surface helped with layering without building up wax. It accepted the pencils as a fresh new layer, not compromising the previous colors. It was a process of trial and error, layered on top of more layers. I also used a heating pad to help blend the pencils. The wood was fun and something I enjoy. The knots, aged wood, and tableware effects were achieved using Polychromos, Derwent Lightfast, and Prismacolor pencils.
About AnnMarie Concetta Caster:
AnnMarie resides in Flat Rock, Alabama, on a serene 34-acre property with her loving family, two Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, and a beloved companion named Lucy Lu. Originally from Oswego, New York, she has lived a life always been steeped in creativity, shaped by her mother, an elementary art teacher who instilled a love for artistic expression.
See more at www.facebook.com/amcwatercolours
You Lookin’ at ME? by Linda Metzger
9 x 12 inches
Polychromos, Derwent Lightfast, and Pablo colored pencils on Pastelmat. (Photo reference by Terri Dallos, used with permission.)
The words used to describe Norm include sassy and attitude. I think that anyone looking at his portrait would agree with that description. His is the sixth portrait for the same client, who has followed me since my beginning days in graphite. His expression combined with that pose was so full of character that I actually laughed out loud when I’d pull his portrait away to look at my progress.
I loved capturing the shine of those mischievous eyes, the little underbite, and the contrast between his strong features and the soft blanket. The strong direct light from the left combined with a softer, reflected light from the right was a dream for this artist. I love capturing and accentuating values to bring vibrancy and life to my work. How fun for me to have such an endearing little puppy as a subject.
About Linda Metzger:
Linda is a self-taught artist who took a 40-year detour as a teacher and physical therapist before returning to the art she loves. She lives near Orlando with her husband and her furry family members. Her work has been recognized and published both in the USA and abroad.
See more at www.facebook.com/Lmmportrait and www.lindaspetportraits.com
Cute as a Bug by Rochelle Colgan
8.5 x 9 inches
Polychromos, Luminance, Pablo, Derwent Lightfast colored pencils on Pastelmat. (Artist’s own photo reference.)
This is a drawing of my daughter when she was almost three months old. I love the outfit she was wearing, although there were a lot of little squares to draw. It was a bit challenging to keep track of the rows and get them in the right spots. Thank goodness for Scotch Magic Tape to take out some of the wrong marks I made. It was a very useful tool. In my reference photo she was sitting in her car seat that was snapped into the stroller. Unfortunately, that meant she had big straps across her front. I tried looking for more photos of her in the same outfit so I could see what design was on the front of her shirt but didn’t find any. As a result, I had to improvise on her shirt.
About Rochelle Colgan:
Rochelle Colgan is an artist from Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada, who has loved drawing since she was a child. Rochelle has experience in pastel and graphite and is focusing on creating realism with colored pencils. Her current inspirations include drawing animals, children, and some pretty skyscapes. She also accepts commissions.
See more at www.rochellecolgan.com
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