July 2025 Showcase - Colored Pencil Artwork
The three artists featured in the July 2025 issue of COLOR Magazine Showcase share the stories behind their beautiful artwork here in our blog.
Swiss Pumpkins by June Wright
12 x 16 inches
Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils on Saunders Waterford HP paper. (Artist’s own photo reference.)
My colored pencil drawing, “Swiss Pumpkins,” depicts a simple pumpkin display that caught my attention at a market in Switzerland. For this composition, I focused on a section that showcased an interesting cluster of pumpkins, highlighting their vibrant colors and variety of intriguing textures. In contrast to the rich orange hues, I wanted also to focus on the deep negative spaces in the darker areas to reveal depth and dimension between the pumpkins. To give the drawing a local touch, I included the details of the stickers on the pumpkins, grounding the artwork in its Swiss context. My enjoyment of pumpkins and the cozy feeling of autumn they bring, along with the display I experienced, inspired me to create this piece.
About June Wright:
June is an Irish artist from Dublin, specializing in colored pencil art. She has a strong interest in subjects that derive from nature, such as botanical art, but also loves discovering objects and compositions that captivate her. June has won numerous awards for her work through the years and exhibits regularly in group exhibitions throughout Ireland.
See more at www.instagram.com/june wright art
Little Red Angus Bull – It’s Bathtime and I’m Next! by Sherry Goeben
9 x 12 inches
Polychromos, Luminance, Holbein, and Derwent Lightfast colored pencils on Clairefontaine PaintOn Mixed Media white paper. (Artist’s own photo reference.)
I have a booth at the Grange Fair every year. I usually spend at least one afternoon walking around hunting for interesting animals to photograph. I walked by the beef cattle exhibit washing station and saw this cute little red angus bull that was wiggling and fidgeting with all his might. When he noticed me he immediately stopped moving and gave me the most adorable look that seemed to be imploring me to “Please, please make them hurry up so I can get my bath!” It melted my heart and I knew in that instant I wanted to draw this sweet character. He stood still, looked directly toward me and allowed me to get several nice reference photos of him. What a sweetie. I also try to find subjects to draw that stretch my abilities and this one definitely did. I have been trying to get better at more complex backgrounds and that soapy water was challenging — along with the bull’s lighting and colors. It was a daunting project but I am so glad I stepped up to the challenge.
About Sherry Goeben:
Sherry Goeben, a well-known colored pencil artist in the Facebook community, is best known for capturing the soul of her animal subjects. She has won several awards for her artwork. Sherry loves to share her knowledge and techniques with fellow artists. There are three things that mean the most to her — God, her family, and doing art.
See more at www.facebook.com/SherryGoeben
Athabasca River, Alberta by Wilfrid Barbier
11 x 14 inches
Prismacolor Premier, Faber-Castell colored pencils on Bristol Board. (Artist’s own photo reference.)
This drawing is part of a series I started from photos I took on a trip across Canada in an RV with my wife a few years ago. This river is in Jasper National Park in Alberta. It was an extraordinary trip that allowed me to get to know my country a little better. It allowed me to discover the immensity and indescribable beauty of our territory. When I saw these rapids in front of me, I already saw them on paper with my colored pencils. Before starting work, I immersed myself in the photo by imagining the final work. This internal visualization lasted at least a week, allocating a few minutes here and there each day. But what a great pleasure it was for me once I got started to create this work.
About Wilfrid Barbier:
Wilfrid completed a graphic design course in 1983, but stopped practicing art for several years. He is one of the few colored pencil artists in Quebec. It was in 2001 that he discovered the full potential of this medium, which he knew little about. Self-taught, he quickly mastered it quite well, knowing that his learning would never be complete.
See more at www.wilfridbarbier.com
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