June 2026 Showcase - Colored Pencil Artwork
The three artists featured in the June 2026 issue of COLOR Magazine Showcase share the stories behind their beautiful artwork here in our blog.
Henry and Daisy Go For A Walk by Alan Watters
9.5 x 12.6 inches
Polychromos colored pencils on Pastelmat. (Photo reference by Sally Moore, used with permission.)
I finished drawing this memorial portrait of Henry’s beloved cockapoo Daisy recently. I was sent several photos of Daisy by Henry’s partner Sally Moore, and one of them also included Henry. Sally is a lawyer and a very special person to me and my family, because 20 years ago she fought so hard to get justice for my daughter who nearly lost her life when she was run over by a driver who was texting on his cell phone.
I decided to use the one of Daisy and Henry together to draw from. It was to be a surprise present for Henry and my choice of photo to use was also going to be a surprise to Sally who commissioned me, so I was nervously crossing my fingers that they would both be happy with what I had done.
I was ultimately so relieved to find out that they both loved it, phew! Now, I was very lucky that it all went well in the end, but I would definitely recommend to other artists that they always agree with their clients about which reference image is to be used to produce commissioned artwork.
About Alan Watters:
Alan Watters lives in Wiltshire in the UK and got back into fine art after retiring from a long career in technical and graphic design seven years ago. He originally discovered his talent for drawing when he was bored in class at school and started drawing little caricatures of his teachers and classmates which his friends seemed to like.
See more at www.alansfineart.com
Lion's Lookout by Karen Chapman
14.2 x 11.8 inches
Polychromos, Luminance, Pablo and Derwent Lightfast colored pencils on drafting film. (Reference photo by Felix M Dorn, Unsplash.)
I have always been passionate about nature and wildlife, and while searching for reference photos for my wildlife drawings on Unsplash I came across a fabulous photo by Felix M Dorn of this amazing lion, and was immediately captivated by it. I loved the lion’s stance, surveying her surroundings on the savannah, and I was mesmerized by the intensity of her eyes. I knew I had to draw this stunning lion. I’ve seen many lions in wildlife parks and zoos, but never yet had the opportunity to see them in the wild. Drawing this lion made me feel closer to nature and wildlife. Hopefully one day I’ll get the chance to see these incredible animals in the wild and take my own photos of these amazing animals.
About Karen Chapman:
Karen Chapman is a self-taught artist living in Cornwall. She has painted local landscapes and seascapes for more than 30 years. In 2020 she rekindled her early love of drawing, discovering the stunning colors and the detail achievable with colored pencil. Although she still loves to paint, she has begun a new chapter in her art career creating wildlife art.
See more at www.facebook.com/karenincornwallart/
Moonlit Taste by Monica Wiles
13 x 100 inches
Polychromos, Luminance and Derwent Drawing colored pencils on drafting film. (Reference photo from Unsplash.)
Living in Virginia, encounters with wild deer are part of everyday life. They move quietly through wooded edges, fields, and even neighborhood yards, carrying a calm presence that always feels a little magical. Wanting to capture that quiet majesty, I began searching for a reference photo that reflected the same gentle moments I often witness in nature.
The image that inspired Moonlit Taste immediately resonated with me. The deer’s upward reach as it nibbles ivy combined with the soft light on its face captured a fleeting moment of stillness. It felt like one of those rare pauses in nature when everything becomes calm and quietly beautiful.
This piece allowed me to explore the depth and richness that layering can achieve. I focused on building the contrast between the darker woodland tones and the soft glow of light touching the deer’s face, while carefully rendering the textures of the fur and the delicate softness of the velvety antlers.
What makes this piece special to me is the sense of peace it holds. Deer are incredibly graceful creatures, and their beauty often appears in the simplest, most unguarded moments. With Moonlit Taste, I hoped to capture that fleeting stillness and share a small reminder of the quiet wonder that exists in the natural world.
About Monica Wiles:
Monica Wiles is a Virginia-based colored pencil artist known for her realistic animal portraits. Though she works professionally as an engineer, art has always been her true passion. She began focusing on colored pencil in 2023, discovering a connection to the medium and its ability to capture details along with the quiet spirit of the subjects.
See more at www.facebook.com/artfur.wiles/
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