The Pencil Box - Featured Artists - February 2022
Corresponding with the art gallery that is featured each month in Ann Kullberg's COLOR Magazine, The Pencil Box blog series will give artists a bit more space to share insight and inspiration about their colored pencil art. Make sure to check out FB group links at the bottom of this post. Call for entry is posted every month in participating Facebook groups - join in the fun and your artwork could be featured, too!
Peek-a-Boo by Debbie St John
11x18 inches Prismacolor on Strathmore Illustration board
Friends of mine have a large amount of land west of Oklahoma City. They recently put a pond on this land not far from their house. Some random cattails and water lilies were planted in this pond which started to bloom this last summer. Daniel Pugh took numerous pictures of the pond with the lilies, but this one captured my artistic heart. It reminded me of the Monet water lily paintings, so I decided to draw it. This was the first time that I have drawn a piece with mostly plants and water. To achieve the water appearance, I used the Prismacolor and a Derwent burnisher to blend the colors and remove most of the strokes of the pencil, The lilies were done the same way, to achieve a peaceful piece. I learned a lot doing it. Doing a peaceful drawing helped me learn as I drew, which I am always wanting to do.
About Debbie St John:
Debbie King St John was born in Kansas but has been an Oklahoma resident for over 50 years. She enjoyed art throughout her younger years, but after failing her 8th grade art class (didn't like impressionist modern art), she set her artistic endeavors aside for 20 years. After entering her first art show, the judge gave her 1st place in the amateur division, he told her he never wanted to see her as an amateur again. Since then, she has won numerous ribbons in art shows, was the 1998 Oklahoma Ducks Unlimited Sponsor Print Artist, won numerous Best of Shows, and recently was chosen for both the Cats & Dogs and Primary Colors online exhibits. She enjoys doing wildlife and pet portraits utilizing her Derwent colored pencils as her mainstay but continues to apply other brands as she learns more about them.
See more at: www.facebook.com/wildlifebydstjohn
Garnet by Jody Leamen
11"x14", Colored pencil on Grafix double matte .005
Garnet is an English cocker spaniel. He is the baby of the family and goes everywhere with his owners. His muzzle is like velvet and his eyes have a beautiful kindness seen in the sweetest of dogs. Along with his Black curly fur, he was an ideal fella to draw. I chose this particular image because this exhibits his character, the serious face and lying down with legs out to the sides, is a typical Garnet pose.
About Jody Leamen:
Jody Leamen began her coloured pencil journey in April 2020 while looking for a way to decompress from the day and has never looked back. She is now a part-time coloured pencil artist focusing on wild animal and pet portraits including horses. She is a 2021 Sketch for survival conservation collection artist and part of a lovely drawing community. Jody is married, with a son and surrounds herself with animals and art. Her early life passion for horses and animals made it clear, these are elements she would never be without. She is owned by a horse, a dog and 3 cats.
See more at: www.instagram.com/jody.leamen.art
Kayeleigh by Linda Lucas Hardy
10 x 15 inches, Colored pencil on UArt, 800 grain sandpaper
Those eyes! I caught a glimpse of Kayeleigh as she was leaving Walmart with her family. Since I was going in, I had to make a lightening quick decision, should I follow, or let a once in a lifetime opportunity pass me by. Obviously, I followed. After a brief introduction I explained who I was by way of my web page and said that I would love to do a portrait of Kayeleigh, but I was not after a commission. Phone numbers were exchanged and a couple of weeks later Kayeleigh and her mother met me at a local park. Once she understood, after a little bit of direction, that I wanted candid photos rather than posed photos, she relaxed, had fun and became a perfect model.
About Linda Lucas Hardy:
In 2000, at age 53, Linda came to the realization, get serious about art now, or never. Even though it felt awkward she began to refer to herself as a professional artist. The only thing she knew to do was enter competitions. National and International recognition followed. Since then, her work has been published in dozens of books and magazines.
See more at: www.lindalucashardy.com
To the Point by Sandra Pryor
210mm x 297mm, Colored pencil on Derwent Sketch paper
Meet Max, my Assistance (Service) Dog. My drawing aims to capture the wisdom and thoughtfulness portrayed in his intent expression; always eager, willing to help and ready to get straight to the point of his next task. His favourite tasks (he thinks games) are loading and unloading the washing machine, shopping, and searching for named items such as keys, phone and slippers. I have a unique bond with Max, and indeed a special connection with all of the subjects I draw. I believe that this emotional connection allows me to capture that ‘something special’, that intangible element, in all of my artwork. I have used many purple and violet tones to create depth to his face, and various ochres for the highlighted areas. I love to use a wide range of colours in my artwork to recreate a realistic effect. Max is a German Short-haired Pointer and is “To the Point” in both name and in nature.
About Sandra Pryor:
Sandra is a disabled artist from the Lake District, England and is inspired by, and has a deep passion for, the majestic power, beauty and vulnerability of wildlife and nature. Feeling a connection to the subjects drawn and capturing their expressions and emotions provides therapeutic distraction from the challenges of living with chronic illness.
See more at: www.artistsandra.co.uk
These artworks are published in the FEBRUARY 2022 issue of COLOR Magazine.
FEATURED ARTWORKS FROM OUR FACEBOOK PARTNER GROUPS
Comments (1)
de Belles découvertes, et de bons travaux !!…Bravo à TOUTES & TOUS;.
Annie OLLIE - Dec 21, 2021