International Artist October - November 2018/ No.123

From day one, this magazine has embraced all forms of creative expression. And even today we divide the magazine by mediums. We’ve done drawings, oil paintings, pastel, acrylic, whatever artists are choosing to work in these days we follow through with useful and applicable information on that subject. One medium that has always fascinated us, though, is colored pencils. And now you will be able to find it in every issue of the magazine. We’ve been working with the nearly 2,000 members of the Colored Pencil Society of America, and in this issue we have an article highlighting the winners of their 26th annual International Exhibition. We are also including a demonstration article by Jesse Lane. Lane is a past Grand Prize winner in the International Artist challenges and he’s a current…

Grand Prize is a four-page editorial feature in American Art Collector magazine Beauty in Nature Cher Anderson says her wildlife artwork can be described as “an interpretation of what I see filtered by the emotion of the moment.” She paints realistically with the aim of rendering the creatures and environments as accurately as possible. She will analyze her paintings by reviewing and correcting the elements that are critical to the composition. Anderson elaborates, “I think it is important to represent my subject accurately in its environment. Seasons change, plumage, fur and the colors surrounding the animals, and it is very easy to make a mistake by placing an animal in the wrong surroundings with the wrong coat for the season. Birds go through plumage changes not only during the seasons,…

Second Prize is a two-page editorial feature in American Art Collector magazine My Inspiration I spotted this blue heron while cycling around Stanley Park in Vancouver during a vacation. I was amazed at all of the waterlilies in this small lake and I stopped to take some pictures. Then I noticed the heron, and I snapped two quick pictures and we continued on our ride. Later I realized that one of the photos showed the blue heron having captured a large tadpole. I am often inspired by nature and how a simple day-to-day act can be beautiful. In this instance, the challenge of painting the blue heron among the waterlilies was double the fun! My Design Strategy I knew right from the start of this painting that I would set…

Third Prize is a one-page editorial feature in American Art Collector magazine My Inspiration From the time I was young, I had always dreamed of going to Africa. In 2002 and 2005 I was able to make that dream come true, and it was 100 times more than I had expected. I had painted all kinds of wildlife, but after Africa, I knew I had to concentrate my efforts on African wildlife. The big cats of Africa are beyond compare, and to me the leopard stands out. It’s not big like the lion and not fast like the cheetah, but its beauty and actions set it apart. The leopard is usually seen in trees during the day, waiting for prey or sleeping. I love painting leopards, always trying to show…

Finalist My Inspiration The Great Dividing Range along the north coast of New South Wales, Australia, is one of my favourite places to escape to in pursuit of all those authentic backgrounds and props for my wildlife artworks. As you stop to take in the natural beauty along the back roads in the ranges, your senses come alive to the colour and earthy smells that you’re immersed in. Taking time to sit and walk very quietly along hidden tracks always reveals little pockets of beautiful colour and light or opens up to vistas of distant mountain ranges and deep misty valleys. Such a vista revealed itself to inspire me to produce Hidden Paradise. Australian king parrots inhabit these mountain hideaways along with a myriad of other birds and animals all…

Finalist My Inspiration This painting was inspired by a great egret wading in water at the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island, Florida. The stark contrast of the soft white feathers against the dark gnarled wood fascinated me. Since my inspiration comes from nature I am always surrounded by things I want to paint. Nature’s beauty lies in the intricacies and minute details that are often missed or overlooked. I understand the fruits of concentration and reverence. There is always a creative energy that wants to express itself through me. As an artist I understand the crucial role of surrendering to the work, to its possibilities. My Design Strategy My work is about visual intimacy and results from intense observation: a process of immersion that involves my contemplation and…