The Pencil Box - Featured Artists - August 2026

Cool Shades by Clare Hobson
19.5 × 15 inches, colored pencil on Opus Watermedia
Photo used with permission: Wife and grandmother of the subjects in drawing 

Four years ago, I was asked to create this custom portrait, and even then I knew it would ask more of me technically than I was ready to give at the time. Skin tones, subtle shading, and the delicate transitions needed in a human portrait were all areas where I recognized I still had a lot to learn. Rather than rush into it before I was prepared, I chose to keep studying, practicing, and building my skills through all kinds of small but important techniques over the years. That time and effort gave me the confidence to finally bring this portrait to life on paper. I’m really pleased with how it turned out, and it confirmed something I suspected all along: sometimes the best thing an artist can do is wait, learn, and grow before taking on the work that truly stretches them.


Clare Hobson

When she draws people, Clare isn’t just capturing features—she’s revealing presence, emotion, and connection. Her portraits aim to feel deeply personal, offering the viewer a quiet sense of recognition, warmth, and stillness.

Facebook: Clare.Hobson.Artist

Summer Fresh by Jackie Edwards
14 x 11.5 cm, coloured pencil on Pastelmat
Photo Reference: Pixabay

I wanted to try Pastelmat for the first time, but wanted something bright and eye-catching to hang in my kitchen. This picture just said 'summer' to me. I loved the soft roundness of the tomatoes and the vibrant colour against the dark background. You can almost feel the weight and taste of each one and smell that lovely greenhouse smell they have. The water droplets really bring this picture to life. I loved the shape of the stalks and the contrast of colour. As soon as I started I was hooked and loved every minute of putting down the many layers to create a life-like drawing.

Jackie Edwards

Jackie Edwards is a self-taught artist who became obsessed with coloured pencil art five years ago. She has quietly worked on her drawings, including commissions by word of mouth. She lives in a Staffordshire village and gave up her job due to health reasons. She now focuses on her art and commissions.

Facebook: Jackie Edwards Art and Commissions 




Bertie Bassett by Lisa Moseley
8 x 10 inches, coloured pencil on Bristol Vellum 300
Photo used with permission: Ian Holland

Bertie is such a wonderful dog with a huge character. He belongs to my uncle, and for his 60th birthday I was commissioned to create a coloured pencil picture of Bertie to present to him. It was so much fun capturing those wonderful droopy eyes and long ears that Basset Hounds are most famous for. Bertie is one of my favourite pieces so far and took me over 20 hours to create. The ears were my favourite part to draw, using lots of rich oranges, reds, and then browns to create depth and shadows, followed by the slice tool to create final details.


Lisa Moseley

Lisa is a florist from the UK and, although she spent a lot of time drawing as a child, she didn't pick up her pencils again until the age of 41, when she drew a picture of her own dog in coloured pencil and discovered she had a flair for it, which was followed by requests from family and friends for drawings.




Hey, Wait For Me! By Lori Loré
10.5 x 13.5 inches, colored pencil on Dur-a-lar film
Own photo reference

My reference photo was taken in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand, a charming port town with neighborhoods established in the late 1800s and early 1900s. For well over a century, a stone mail post has stood by the gate of one particular home. Peering from behind the post is a figure of an excited young lad. Unaware that he is forever captive in stone, his hopeful gaze is saying, “Hey, wait for me!”. To envision a dreamscape where the inanimate is alive and eager for a companion, the composition gives consideration to placing the viewer in the scene. The landscape stretches beyond the reference photo, and the horizon line is lowered to the eye level of a child. My grandson models as the boy. A complementary color scheme of orange and blue hues is chosen to call attention to the lad’s hopeful grin and his warm skin tones. The picket fence leads to a sunny destination and greener pastures. Monochromatic blue colors evoke calm, engage the imagination, and fade into the dream.

Lori Loré

Lori Loré studied fine art, earned a M.S. in Systems Engineering, and returned to art in 2021. She believes the fine art of colored pencil is an engineering skill, applying the system of value and color. Lori lives in Vancouver, WA, and teaches painting in colored pencil courses to adults new to art.