November 2020 Showcase - Colored Pencil Artwork

Below, the three artists featured in the November 2020 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.

Potable Autumn by Maryann DellaRocco
17 x 12 inches
Polychromos and Prismacolor on Stonehenge paper
(Artist's own photo)

Potable Autumn is the first distorted/abstract colored pencil artwork I ever created. It came about after my children tossed some berries and leaves on the table where I was having something to drink. I was intrigued by the way the light, glass, and liquid distorted the everyday objects on my table and began snapping photos.

Potable Autumn is created on Stonehenge paper using a grisaille method where I render the whole artwork in grayscale first then I apply colored pencil over top. When creating Potable Autumn I used both Polychromos and Prismacolor pencils. Potable Autumn gave way to a series based on the seasons as seen through seasonal drinks.

About Maryann DellaRocco:

Maryann DellaRocco holds signature status with the CPSA. Her works have been featured in Colored Pencil Treasures and Colored Pencil Hidden Treasures. She has also won a number of juror selected awards both locally and nationally. Now living in Ellicott City, MD, she continues to create her colored pencil pieces in her home studio.

See more at: https://www.maryanndellaroccofinearts.com/

Threadbare by Jacquelyn Taylor
16 x 20 inches
Prismacolor, Faber-Castell, Derwent pencils on ColourFix paper
(Artist's own photo)

While visiting my daughter in Connecticut over Thanksgiving weekend last year, she and I took a ride through the countryside. We found the old farm shed sitting on a hillside. It was battered and worn from many years of harsh New England weather. It looked lonely and forgotten sitting among the bare trees with nothing to protect it from the coming winter. It's sides were peeled back and falling down. The shed and its surroundings were clearly threadbare. I photographed it when the sun was low in the sky which enhanced the dark mood the shed and its surroundings projected. Its glory days may have been long gone but its quiet beauty, strength, and dignity were still there.

About Jacquelyn Taylor:

Jacquelyn was a serial doodler in her youth. She signed up for her first drawing class in 2016, shortly after retiring to Bradenton, Florida. In 2017, she took another class in colored pencil and found her passion. She is mostly inspired by the beauty found in old boats and structures such as the shed.

See more at: http://jacquelyntaylor.com

The Red Door by Carol E Maltby
18 x 12 inches
Colored pencil on Strathmore Plate Bristol Board
(Artist's own photo)

During the summer months I do many art shows. I usually return to certain ones every year. I get the same space so I'm familiar with the surroundings. I also get to be familiar with the patrons of the show, Many customers also come back year after year. I have the privilege of meeting many new people too. One year I had the pleasure of meeting Rachel Rubin Wolfe. She introduce herself and encouraged me to enter the Strokes of Genius competition, of which she was editor at the time.

This year I was at Allentown. Although I've been showing here for years I still watch the people and the buildings and surroundings. Across the street was this old brick building. Toward the afternoon a small boy wondered up and sat on the steps looking bored, probably waiting for his parents. I watched him for awhile then I decided to take some pictures of him. I always carry a camera with me wherever I go. After a few days I went through the pictures and settled on the one that I drew in colored pencil.

About Carol E Maltby:

Carol has been doing artwork all of her life. She started with pencil, pen, and ink. Being self-taught, books and demonstrations were her opportunity of learning new techniques. In later years, oil painting was her preference. Unfortunately she didn't have the time needed for her technique in doing painting, so she started colored pencil.

See more at: http://cemaltby.fineartstudioonline.com

These artworks were published in the November 2020 issue of COLOR Magazine.