The Pencil Box - Featured Artists - January 2026

Ugly by Millie Simbeck
16 x 13 inches, colored pencil on Pastelmat
Photo ref: Pudge & Jackie Meyer

I loved creating the feel of atmosphere and rust on this old Jeep truck. Her owners named her Ugly, but to me, it's the most beautiful kind of subject to draw. Like me, she is retired and aging gracefully. I'm always looking for the old, dilapidated subjects that had a useful past and purpose, which Ugly had. She saw many years of strolling through the country back roads and plowing her way out of a jam now and then. What a golden, rusty treasure she is! I had the pleasure of taking my own reference photos of this jeep truck to use along with the owner's photos. As she sits today, parked under a tree, aging and rusting to perfection.

Millie Simbeck:

Millie Simbeck is a self-taught artist that has always enjoying creating the old dilapidated subjects and rusty equipment. She started colored pencil in 2019, loving the control of the pencils and the possibility of blending them to give a smoother appearance, if desired.

Facebook: Art by Millie Simbeck 

Nevermore by Monica Wiles
7x10 inches, colored pencil on Drafting Film

This piece began as a request from my daughter, who’s a high school English teacher and loves Edgar Allan Poe. She asked if I would create something with a raven theme, and I was instantly drawn to the idea. Having adopted several birds over the years, I’ve developed a deep appreciation for their intelligence, mystery, and quiet beauty, so the raven felt like a natural next step for me. I wanted to bring together realism and symbolism, using the raven’s dark elegance and the fragile stillness of a skull to create something haunting yet beautiful. This piece quickly has become one of my favorite-colored pencil creations, which reminds me how much I love exploring emotion and story through my art, especially when birds are involved.

Monica Wiles:

Virginia artist Monica Wiles creates realistic colored pencil art inspired by her love of birds and animals. She loves how pencils allow her to capture exceptional detail with emotional depth, revealing beauty and meaning in every subject.

Facebook: Monica Wiles Art

Quiet Strength by Nisha Fernandez
6x8 inches, colored pencil on Pastelmat
Photo ref: Mark Luther Photos

After drawing many portraits and animals, I began seeking deeper meaning in my art. The mandrill emerged from that shift—a study of quiet strength and resilience in both form and spirit. Through vibrant yet restrained strokes and gentle layers of coloured pencils, I was able to capture the texture of the fur and the warm tones of light that fall across the subject, effectively conveying hope against the sombre background. This artwork is special to me because it is a visual reflection of finding stillness in God’s presence, even in life’s untamed or uncertain places.

Nisha Fernandez:

Nisha, from Australia, rediscovered her love for art during the COVID-19 years. Drawn to coloured pencils for their blend of precision and softness, her creative escape soon became a deeply expressive and joyful part of her life.

Cookie & Crumble by Samantha Newman
29x41cm, colored pencil on Pastelmat
Photo ref: Amanda Wetherill

This piece portrays two brother Labradors, captured in a moment that radiates their deep bond and joyful companionship. Through their loving expressions and relaxed closeness, I wanted to convey the pure sense of togetherness they share, a love that is both playful and loyal. Their happiness is not just reflected in their connection to each other, but also in the warmth they bring to everyone around them. It was even more special for me to create this piece, as these two are the brothers of our own much-loved Labradors. Creating it was a joy, I poured my love for animals into every detail, aiming to capture not just their likeness but their personalities. There’s something deeply fulfilling about creating with love and bringing the soul of these beings to life on paper.

Samantha Newman:

Samantha is an artist based in Devon, UK, with a deep love for animals and a passion for capturing their beauty and spirit through her art. Drawing animals has always brought her joy, she is especially drawn to expressing their personalities through the smallest details, most of all, their eyes.