Congratulations, you made it to 2021! It has been a rough year for everyone, and we are so thankful to those who have stuck it out with us and helped us get to our 11th year in print. We will continue to focus on providing you with content, inspiration, contests, and monthly workshops.
Because we love seeing you grow as an artist, we asked you to share your Past & Present artwork, and you showed us some great before-and-afters including one from Barb Sotiropoulos who details how she recreated a childhood art piece.
With a new year comes a chance to set new goals. Sema Martin helps you decide what those targets should be and how you can keep on track all year long.
This January launches with featured artist Svetlana Cameron, an amazingly talented portrait artist. She has traveled the world to study the masters and incorporates many of their techniques while developing her own style. Enjoy her article and the lovely soft faces that fill her gallery.
For portraits with a little more grit, we turn to Ivan Sempere to demonstrate how he creates facial hair that is incredibly realistic. Next, the Book of the Month, The Art of Figure Drawing for Beginners by Gecko Keck, will help you render bodies, with an excerpt on using mannequins to achieve it. Subscribers are automatically entered to win this book!
Also in this issue, is a colorful workshop of a lovebird pair by Martine Venis-Heethaar. She will walk you through the steps needed to create these feathered friends.
After 108 Monthly Art Challenges, we are announcing some changes. We will continue to partner with Jerry’s Artarama to create three exciting new challenges this year with even bigger prizes and more winners. For the first challenge, we are asking you to create a brand new self-portrait in colored pencils. To get you started, I am giving you some of my best tips on taking a selfie to help you create a winning piece from your own stellar photo reference. Check out the article and challenge page in this issue, then visit www.coloredpencilmag.com/challenge for more details on how to enter.
Did you complete all 12 of the 2020 Monthly Art Challenges by their deadlines? If yes, be sure to submit your Name, Address, Email, and Flickr URL to contact@coloredpencilmag.com with “ALL 12” in the subject line by 2/1/21 to claim your 1-year digital subscription.
Last, the 2021 Look Book is now available! Get your free download of this updated colored pencil directory. You can also purchase the print version with no markup. Visit www.coloredpencilmag.com/lookbook for more.
We at COLORED PENCIL Magazine wish you a Happy Artistic New Year!
Sally Robertson
Editor-in-Chief
sally@coloredpencilmag.com
Thank you to this month’s sponsors:
Blick Art Materials | Crescent Cardboard Company, L.L.C
Jerry’s Artarama | Quarto Publishing