October 2026 Showcase - Colored Pencil Artwork
The three artists featured in the October 2026 issue of COLOR Magazine Showcase share the stories behind their beautiful artwork here in our blog.
Golden Theoby Andrea Hieke
10 x 8 inches
Faber-Castell Polychromos, Derwent Lightfast, and Luminance Pablo colored pencils on Pastelmat. (Artist's own reference photo.)
Art is a gift. And sometimes, a trade. Let me explain. Our neighbor is a gifted cake decorator. This spring, we were thrilled to host a baby shower for our son and his wife. We agreed to swap one of her large gourmet cakes for a portrait of her goldendoodle puppy, Theo. Her cake was amazing — the theme of the baby shower was “Every Dog Needs a Baby.” Can you tell that we are all dog lovers? Originally, the portrait was going to be Theo’s head and neck only. I was fortunate enough to visit his house and take some photographs. The filtered morning light coming through the windows was perfect. Trying to capture Theo as he was jumping on and off his favorite wicker chair, excited by treats and his favorite people, made our photo shoot so much fun! When it came time to draw him, I just couldn’t walk away from the variety of textures and colors we had captured. Yes, the wicker was a bit of a challenge. It isn’t the symmetry of a fabric or pattern that I find difficult; it’s the deliberate variations required for a realistic rendering that force me to slow down and focus. The title was chosen because of a popular book that includes portraits. A happy portrait deserves a name that brings joy. It’s also a reminder to fully celebrate those special moments in our lives.
About Linda Metzger:
Linda is a self-taught artist based in Central Florida. After a knee injury ended her physical therapy career, she returned to the art she loved years ago and began using colored pencils in 2022. She specializes in realistic pet portraits because of her love for animals. Her work has been recognized and published in the U.S. and internationally.
See more at www.lindaspetportraits.com
Where Time Rests by Pauline Stuart
29 x 18 inches
Faber-Castell Polychromos, Caran d’Ache Pablo and Luminance, plus Derwent Lightfast colored pencils on Pastelmat. (Artist's own reference photo.)
The inspiration for this piece came from my love for dogs, mountains, and solitude. My happy place is walking the more remote fells near my home with my whippet, so I wanted to capture this special moment demonstrating the deep and enduring bond between man and dog, with the misty mountains in the background enhancing the atmosphere of calm and stillness. The title “Where Time Rests” implies that in this simple act of love and loyalty, time seems to pause, highlighting the comfort and peace found in such a bond. I used my favorite surface, Pastelmat, which enabled me to create the different textures in the drawing: the woolen tweed jacket, the polished walking stick, and the short, smooth-haired hound.
About Pauline Stuart:
Pauline, who describes herself as a hobby artist, took up drawing in retirement. She lives in the beautiful Lake District in England where she finds endless inspiration in the mountains, lakes, and wildlife that surround her home.
See more at www.facebook/p/Pauline-Ruth-Art.com
Waxwings by Ruby Fuller
11 x 17 inches
Caran d’Ache Luminance and Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils on Strathmore Bristol Smooth 300 series. (Artist's own reference photo.)
Seeing and photographing a rare flock of migrating wax wings for the first time near my home was such a joy. It was inevitable that they would end up on the drawing board. The drawing was composed from three of my photos and some imagination for the connecting background. My first attempt at using such a smooth surface was a huge challenge. By the third bird at the bottom I had a better understanding of the pencils and paper and achieved a smoother result by using a much lighter touch and more Luminance than Polychromos pencils. It was a huge learning curve, and I was delighted with the end result. The drawing now has a good home in Spain, but I still feel a bit sad that I no longer have it.
About Ruby Fuller:
Born in Whitstable and a daughter in an armed forces family, Ruby traveled and lived in many places. Toys were cumbersome to pack, but there was always room for colored pencils and paper. From a very early age, art was Ruby’s best friend. She learned to use colored pencils by trial and error, experimenting, and having fun. They are now her favored medium.
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