The Pencil Box - Featured Artists - December 2025

Majestic by Andrea Hares
8x10.75 inches, colored pencil on mounting board
Photo ref: Mark Luther

There are so many wonderful images shared for artists to use with permission on social media. Although I love beautiful scenes and flowers, I am drawn to nature and wildlife images that convey character and personality.  The gorilla in this photo to me, portrays authority and a sense of strength, clearly in a position to oversee his territory.  His commanding presence and expression conveys that he is allowing the photographer time to capture him on his wooden throne.  Although the photographer took this image in the gorilla's natural lush forest habitat, due to the majestic pose, I wanted attention to be just on him. Ensuring that the detail of the tree was captured and made relevant but, not the main focus.

Andrea Hares:

Andrea lives in Greater Manchester, England.  She has always loved art and has had the opportunity to invest her time in it since retirement.  She started to work with pencil crayons just over a year ago, loves detail and the ability to create realistic work.




Cleo – The Adopted Cat by Anette Rudbeck
29x35 cm, colored pencil on Bristol Vellum
Photo ref: Andreas Rudbeck

When my nephew Andreas decided to propose to the love of his life, I knew I had to draw a portrait of their very special cat, Cleo. Cleo — “the adopted cat,” as her Instagram profile says — is not just a pet but a conscious and heartfelt choice. Both Diana and Andreas live with multiple sclerosis, yet they embrace life with courage and joy. Cleo, the little shy cat everyone at the shelter had almost given up on, was the one they chose deliberately — and, in her own way, she chose them too. Now Cleo is theirs, loving them unconditionally and forsaking everyone else.

Anette Rudbeck:

Anette Rudbeck, a Danish graphic designer, has always been drawn to realistic graphite art. After decades away from drawing, she returned seeking color. Following a long struggle with watercolor, she discovered professional colored pencils — a rare medium in Denmark’s art tradition.




Weathered & Worn by Richard Mulroy
9 1/2 X 12 1/2 inches, colored pencil on Canson Mi-Teintes

My wife and I are avid lighthouse fans and this piece Weathered & Worn is an old building and buoys we discovered during one of our weekend drives on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. The building has stood for years, the old turquoise paint weathered and peeling and the buoys worn from the salty sea. We love these old buildings and often wonder what stories can these old buoys tell us and what adventures did they have? The contrast of the vivid turquoise paint versus the weathered building drew me to recreate this scene in colored pencil.

Richard Mulroy:

Richard Mulroy is a colored pencil artist who has grown up in Atlantic Canada. Living in the Halifax area for the past 30 yrs. Only minutes to the shoreline and less than an hour from the famous Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse, the ocean and its buildings have always been Richard’s preferred subjects.

Facebook: Atlantic Colored Pencil Art




Candy Hearts by Victoria Twomey
18x24 inches, colored pencil on Strathmore 400 Multimedia

This drawing is part of my current series that strives to create images that evoke emotions, tell a story, and make a positive contribution in a troubled world. The idea for the subject was sparked by hearing Sade singing the song titled "Please Send Me Someone to Love." I was struck by the thought that the prayer doesn't ask for someone to love her, but for someone that she can love. The subject of my drawing is open to real, meaningful love. I used darker colors for the background so the subject would pop – especially her eyes. The flowers add to her femininity, while the candy hearts are playful and cheerful.

Victoria Twomey:

Victoria Twomey is an award-winning artist and poet. She works predominantly in colored pencil as the medium offers the precision and detail she prefers. She often uses acrylic markers to make details pop. Her subjects are usually woman, flowers and birds.

Facebook: Victoria Twomey Fine Art