The Pencil Box - Featured Artists - March 2025

Sky by Clare Oliffe
8x10 inches, colored pencil on Drafting Film

This is a memorial portrait of my beloved cat, Sky. She was such a gentle soul and was the greatest companion. Her fur was incredibly soft and had the most beautiful array of colours. It was a challenge emotionally and artistically to capture her, but I am so pleased I have this to remember her by. It was always incredibly difficult to get Sky to look at the camera when I took photos of her. I had one rare special photo where she had gazed at the camera for a long while. Little did I know that only a few months later she would pass away, too young, from an illness. Maybe she knew and gave me that opportunity?

CLARE OLIFFE:

Clare is a self-taught artist specialising in pet portraits. Originally painting in acrylic, she discovered coloured pencils in September 2022 and has advanced her work with tuition from Bonny Snowdon. Clare is now a full-time artist creating portraits on a commission basis.

Facebook: Clare Oliffe Artist



A Migraine of Stripes by Helen Theron
8.3x11.7 inches, colored pencil on Drafting Film

This piece was begun as a means to bring order to a chaotic mind. Part exercise in mindfulness, part escape from the busy world. Being able to create order in black and white, with a hint of those grey areas in life, and the color that fills them too, was immeasurably calming and grounding. Working on it, I realised that even though there was calm and order to the stripes, that there was also chaos, disorder, and asymmetry too. Very much like the real world, a blend of all of those things, balanced precariously on the edge of a knife! From my time in the veterinary field, there is a saying that goes "when you hear hoofbeats, think horses” and that means one should always think of the common reason you might be seeing symptoms. In this case, I wanted to hear the extraordinary, the rare, the unexpected... not the horses. Completing this piece, I heard them, I smelled the dust, I felt their excitement and stress and I am hoping that the viewer can feel it too or at least sense it. This piece is the first of my “Collective Noun” Series, a blend of my love for language and animals.

HELEN THERON:

Helen Theron is an artist based in New Zealand. She is most well known for her work celebrating the purebred dog, and it's connection to human history and advancement. Her work always features animals strongly and mostly utilises drafting film in a nod to working on the “blueprints” for her concepts.

Facebook: Helen Theron Fine Arts - Pet & Wildlife Artist 




Touch-Me-Not by Joan Gemme
5x5 inches, colored pencil on Double-sided Grafix drafting film

This drawing of a poison dart frog (Oophaga histrionica) “Bahia Solano”) was done as a present to my son, who shares my fascination with these tiny and poisonous amphibians of Central and South America. They truly are amazing creatures—nature's way of combining beauty with a warning, although interestingly, some of the brightest-colored frogs are only mimics and are not toxic. I liked the frog’s position in this reference photo as if it paused mid-stride—perhaps it spotted an insect for a meal? The poison dart frog’s vibrant colors and intricate patterns were exciting challenges to capture on drafting film, and creating this drawing also gave me time to solemnly reflect on the biodiversity and beauty lost as tropical rainforest habitats disappear.

JOAN GEMME:

Joan lives in Western Massachusetts and, after a career in graphic arts, enjoys time rendering the beauty of nature in watercolor and colored pencils. Through her artwork, she captures the unique traits of animals and their remarkable adaptations, deepening her connection to the natural world.




Koki's Day Out by Tammy Mouncey
12” x 9.5”, colored pencil on Clairefontaine Pastelmat

Being a Diva may be a challenge, but Koki will never admit to it! She's an elderly but still quite sassy little terrier mix.  As a much beloved companion, emotional support provider and comedic relief who is always the center of attention, she charms everyone she meets. Years ago, when she was up for adoption in a local animal shelter, she chose her desired family by barking specifically at them, not stopping till they noticed her.  In time, she returned the favor of saving her life by giving her "mom" a reason to continue her fight against cancer after the death of her husband of nearly sixty years.  Happily, she is now in complete remission. This portrait captures Koki enjoying the radiant Arizona sunshine while on an outing with "mom" in the convertible. I chose to highlight her fun personality by eliminating the background and letting the car window be a perfect focal point for her adorable face.

TAMMY MOUNCEY:

Tammy rekindled her passion for drawing after a 25-year hiatus.  Having previously worked with colored pencil while taking drawing classes in college, she now works exclusively in the medium, specializing in bespoke animal portraits.

Facebook: Tammy Mouncey Fine Artist