The Pencil Box - Featured Artists - September 2026

Moody Raven by Agata Siemiatkowska
21x30 cm, colored pencil on Drafting Film
Photo reference: Pixabay 

I created Moody Raven after being inspired by a crow fledgling that appeared at my front door. I cared for it while finding a wildlife rescue centre, where it was looked after before being released back into the wild. That experience deepened my admiration for corvids. I love ravens for their intelligence, curiosity, and fascinating personalities. With Moody Raven, I wanted to capture a sense of emotion and mystery while experimenting with a dramatic background to enhance the bird's presence and mood. The drawing reflects both my appreciation for these remarkable birds and a memorable encounter that has stayed with me.

Agata Siemiatkowska

Agata Siemiatkowska is a UK-based pencil artist specialising in lifelike pet and portrait drawings. A passionate animal lover and member of the Association of Animal Artists, she creates detailed, expressive artwork and supports animal welfare through her art.

Facebook: Agata Siemiatkowska Art 

Kooka’s in my Tuckeroo Tree by Colleen Butler
42 x 60cm, colored pencil on Grafix Drafting Film
Photo Reference: Christine Vella, Philshar Photography, Pixabay and my own tree 

My art studio has a wonderful view over our back paddock which has lots of native Australian trees including a Tuckeroo that sits closest to my window. We are often visited by our beautiful Kookaburras who love to sit within the branches and loudly proclaim their presence with their raucous laughter. I love hearing that sound which reminds me how much I love our wildlife and how lucky we are that we have such a diverse range of birds that visit our property. So what else was I to do with my two favourite things to draw - our native birds and flora - in one place and literally at my doorstep? Of course it was inevitable that I had to grab my pencils and start drawing. Sadly, my lack of photography skills and also the Kookaburra’s tendency to always fly away when I attempt to get close led me to find the type of reference photos elsewhere.

Colleen Butler

Colleen has also found drawing to be a nurturing, empowering and a therapeutic escape from the daunting realities of life. From picking up the pencil as a young girl, to escaping into her art in the present, it has become wholeheartedly ingrained in her and part of who I am.

Facebook: Colleen Butler - Pencil Artist




Forest Forager by Dana Wyatt
9x12 inches, colored pencil on Clairefontaine Pastelmat
Own photo reference 

My drawing, Forest Forager, is based on my love of nature, specifically the plants and animals native to my home state of Tennessee, in the United States. When drawing animals, such as this hungry chipmunk, I find it interesting to study the characteristics, habitat, and anatomy of the creature to determine the rest of the composition. That is what led me to place the chipmunk in the middle of a chokecherry tree. He is enjoying his meal while being a careful forager, avoiding the fruit's toxic pit.

Creating nature-inspired artwork for my home brings back fond childhood memories of walking through the woods near my childhood home and taking our annual family vacations to the Great Smoky Mountains in East Tennessee, where we enjoyed the scenery and observed the wildlife in the parks. Through my artwork, I enjoy bringing the feelings associated with those happy memories into my home, where I can appreciate them every day.

Dana Wyatt

Dana Bell Wyatt is a professional artist and art educator in the US state of Tennessee, with experience teaching in schools, through private instruction, and at art camps, sharing her expertise with students of all ages. As an artist, Wyatt enjoys creating original artwork and fine art prints.

Facebook: Dana Bell Wyatt Art

In The Garden by Julie Heath
10 x 12 inches, colored pencil on Pastelmat
Photo Reference: Hywel Jones 

This was a commissioned drawing for a friend. My favourite subject to draw has always been dogs but I normally just draw a head study. So there were two challenges on this drawing, the curly white fur on the dog and the different textures, light and shadows in this outdoor scene. This included grass, bushes and fencing. The garden scene was so different to a pet portrait and I learned a lot about different textures as I progressed with the drawing. I used mainly Polychromos and Karisma pencils - sadly Karisma are no longer manufactured but I have a good stock and use them often.

Julie Heath

Julie Heath is an animal artist living in North Wales. She retired several years ago from the UK Health Service and made art a new career, taking on commissions in coloured pencil, pastels and oils.