"Reflections of a Blood Orange" created with Luminance, Pablo and Polychromos colour pencils is a drawing that explores the intricate details of the natural world around us. The piece is 20" x 29", and incorporates lots of small details about the subject. I am fascinated by nature and what it presents to us and how we interact with it every day. The intention of my work is to allow each of us the opportunity to explore, in greater detail those natural elements and then slow down and look at the beauty in colour, line and form. It's amazing what we see when we look more closely and the opportunities presented to us. By the simple act of peeling an orange we are presented to a treat for the eyes, nose and taste. This work was inspired by that beauty and it is an honour to be given an opportunity, by the natural world, to draw such lovely subject matter.

Name:Rosemary Bennett

Bio:Originally from Victoria, British Columbia, I have resided in Southern Alberta since the 1970's. An avid interest in the landscape of Western Canada and the people, animals, and flowers that inhabit this landscape is expressed in my work. I love colour and vibrancy and use many mediums to express my work. I am also a stained glass artisan. I have recently been exploring the use of coloured pencils. I started drawing and painting at the age of two and have always had that as a creative outlet. A few years ago I had a hip replacement and bought coloured pencils because I thought maybe I could work with them while I recovered but that did not work out. A year later I took a coloured pencil workshop and carried on with them as a new medium to explore. I have traveled to Italy and France to paint and done two solo shows. I continue to be very active in the arts scene in Calgary.

Story:"Lily Time" is a 10 X 8 Coloured Pencil piece by Rosemary Bennett. This piece was mainly created with Prismacolor coloured Pencils. Since I have some old Laurentian and Canadiana colored pencils from many years ago, I did use them for background work as well as a few Artist Loft pencils. I blended the old with the newer pencils. The older pencils have less pigment than the newer versions but they still are wax based and can be blended in with heat. Some of the colours in the old coloured pencils are different and brighter than their modern cousins. The choice in modern coloured pencils is vast and wonderful though. This was my second painting using the newer coloured pencils as a medium. The inspiration for this piece comes from me being an avid gardener and I love lilies. The dreaded lily beetle descended on my gardens three years ago and has methodically decimated my lilies ever since. I loved to photograph and paint the lilies I had. Fortunately I have a lot of photography for reference material so I can paint them to enjoy frozen in time since the gardens no longer have many lilies left. I find having the gardens around my home to be a huge inspiration. Many other artists have joined me to paint the gardens in my yard so I am happy to provide them with some inspiration also.

Name:Sameeksha mehra

Bio:I sameeksha mehra .I am Student of 3rd year.I am studing Bachaleors in Finearts.

Story:My inspiration is my own teacher

Name:Joy Sawyer

Bio:I am 68 years of age, Art is therapy for me. This is a drawing I did of Harley, my Harlequin Macaw when I had to rehome him. The pencils I used were Prisma color Premier with odourless mineral spirits. I also use all kinds of water media which I have been learning for the past 3 years from tutorials on You Tube.

Story:Art is something I do.for myself. Everyone has different tastes so I chose to paint for my own well being and if others appreciate it in the process, that is a bonus.

Name:Valerie

Bio:I am a self taught artist who belongs to the Burks Falls Art and Crafts Club where I have honed my craft and received support from the club to the point of greatly improving my art.

Story:With Father's day coming up I decided to draw my husband and father to our children.

Name:Melissa LeMay

Bio:I am 34 years old, I am a self taught artist and still learning every day. It has been an amazing outlet for me, both physically and mentally

Story:This is a rose I drew on a blank greeting card it was done with Prismacolors and Polychromos, pencils. My inspiration for this was my Dad, through all my struggles in life he has always been a huge support and has always believed in me.

Name:Pat Perger

Bio:I have enjoyed putting pencil, crayon or a brush laden with paint to paper for as long as I can remember. It is a pastime that requires mindful concentration; a very relaxing and therapeutic time-out from all worries and cares. Expression in the visual arts can also serve to unite diverse, yet like minded individuals who choose to create and learn in a group setting. We are fortunate in Thunder Bay to have exceptional artists willing to share their expertise at our 55 Plus Senior’s Center. Graphite and oils were my early interests; then along came a passion for watercolours. Most recently I have discovered the joys of working with high quality coloured pencils, thanks to a very talented instructor at our center.

Story:Coloured pencils lend themselves well to just about any subject matter. I am drawn to botanical compositions and wildlife portraits, but would also like to give landscapes a try in this medium. I decided to submit my “Red Fox” portrait to share with fellow coloured pencil enthusiasts. The beautiful texture of fur is such a challenge to translate onto paper! I used FC Polychromos as well as Lyra Rembrandt Coloured Pencils on Stonehenge for this painting. I’m really looking forward to seeing all of the entries in this wonderful medium that is earning its place in the art world.

Name:Julie Odermatt

Bio:I’m a self taught artist who lives in Campbell River on beautiful Vancouver Island in British Columbia. I discovered pastels and pastel pencils last summer and I immediately fell in love with this medium. I recently started with coloured pencils this year. Because of my love of nature and animals I have been focusing on creating pet portraits and wildlife art. I have just been invited to have my latest pastel piece shown in the gallery section of the July issue of Colored Pencil Magazine which is very exciting for me.

Story:Since I was a child I have always had a passion and love for art. Art is just a part of who I am, and it has always been there for me through the good times and the bad. Art heals my soul. I have loved every minute of creating art , but I have never truly felt like an “Artist”, until now. Since discovering pastels I have discovered a new passion and appreciation for the arts. This piece has truly insprired me to pursue a career in art. It has given me hope and has truly made me feel like I can do this. The inspiration for this piece came during the first days of spring when the song birds would sing their beautiful songs to me in the early morning hours. This is the first in my ‘Songs of Spring” birds series and It represents new beginnings. Which is how I feel about my art. This piece is ‘Songs of Spring’ ~ Nuthatch 12x18 Stabilo Carbothellos, Faber Castell Pitt pencils, A little Pan Pastel and Rembrandt pastel to soften some of the background.

Name:Ruby Allan

Bio:I currently reside in Fredericton NB, a province in which I have spent years finessing my craft and exploring my art. Mostly self taught I have worked in a number of mediums including oils, acrylics and more recently has revisited my love for painting through coloured pencils.

Story:Through my art I aim to capture the beauty of seemingly ordinary objects and places. I find inspiration in my surroundings and I am constantly searching for a new perspective with my subject matter. This piece, which is one of a series, I titled "Tiddles the Turtle" named after my grandson's favorite toy.. When I observe a subject with such beautiful colours , I just know I have to paint it ! One evening I was watching a TV series of underwater creatures, and I was immediately inspired. Motivated by the colour and shapes submerged at the bottom of the sea, I hope that the viewer will embrace the hidden beauty this great world of ours has to offer. Tiddles is 9 "x 12" , coloured with Fabercastell Polychromos, and Caran d'Ache Pablos, The surface is Duralar matte film. I hope you enjoy Tiddles as much as I enjoyed painting him...

Name:Jeannette Sirois

Bio:I work with colour pencils on a full time basis and love working with this medium. I decided to started using colour pencils full time in 2013 and find that although it requires a lot of patience, it can do remarkable things. It's great to share this to people looking at colour pencil art as most people have little knowledge of the skills needed to work with this medium. I also teach drawing and colour pencil art in my studio, animal and fur, birds and botanical subjects are my favourite and I love sharing my knowledge about colour pencil art making. It has created an amazing opportunity to meet some remarkable people along the way.

Story:"Reflections of a Blood Orange" created with Luminance, Pablo and Polychromos colour pencils is a drawing that explores the intricate details of the natural world around us. The piece is 20" x 29", and incorporates lots of small details about the subject. I am fascinated by nature and what it presents to us and how we interact with it every day. The intention of my work is to allow each of us the opportunity to explore, in greater detail those natural elements and then slow down and look at the beauty in colour, line and form. It's amazing what we see when we look more closely and the opportunities presented to us. By the simple act of peeling an orange we are presented to a treat for the eyes, nose and taste. This work was inspired by that beauty and it is an honour to be given an opportunity, by the natural world, to draw such lovely subject matter.