Adults, too, can make art with colored pencils

by Tiney Ricciardi

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An exhibition in Richardson shows off the rare medium.

RICHARDSON — Prior to the last 25 years, colored pencil was not considered a distinguished fine art medium. In fact, some art enthusiasts could still argue that it is not. That baffles Yvonne Hyatt.

As president of the Colored Pencil Society of America Dallas branch, and also an artist, Hyatt believes the medium is just as sophisticated as oils or pastels. The goal of the society’s latest exhibition at the Forrest and Virginia Green Mezzanine Gallery, located in the Charles W. Eisemann Center in Richardson, is to prove that adults, too, can play with colored pencils.

“[The medium] is getting more popular as time goes on,” Hyatt said. “We are promoting this as a fine art exhibit because it comes across as fine art.”

The local CPSA exhibit, which lacks a formal name, is comprised of 30 pieces done by both professionals and amateurs of the Dallas chapter. The drawings are aligned modestly on the one gallery wall on the second floor of the Eisemann Center so as to greet visitors as they walk up the staircase.

To the unsuspecting eye, many of the works come off as paintings full of vibrant colors and stark contours. However, upon further inspection, other pieces have too much texture to be oil or watercolor. Hyatt said that because colored pencil is a dry medium, its versatility is boundless. “Quiet Elegance” by Phyllis Bronder (pictured to the right), for example, embraces the delicacy of its medium by using a great amount of shading and leaving some spots almost transparent, as though the canvas is actively participating in the picture. Compare that to Lisa Mills’ "Reflections on Heavy Metal" (pictured below) in which the colors are starkly bold and the sharpness is vivid. The two pieces are very different.

Hyatt said colored pencil artists are also able to achieve an innate sense of realism because they “can more easily attack the details in a drawing than in other mediums.”

Though widespread acceptance of colored pencil works as fine art has yet to hit the mainstream, it is accepted in arts culture. Susan Morrow Holden, who holds two Master's degrees in art, judged the exhibition at the Eisemann Center for awards in both professional and non-professional categories. Holden said in her juror’s statement that creating works of art in colored pencil is difficult because of the inherent danger of having a "crayon" quality or becoming overworked and waxy.

Mills’ “Reflections on Heavy Metal” won best in the professional category while “Innocence” by Helen Bailey won first place. Hyatt’s “Days Gone Bye” won best in the non-professional category while “Comfort Under the Poinciana” by Steve Gilbert won first place. Irma Murray’s “Why Not Apples?” was awarded both best in show and the people’s choice. This drawing specifically is unique because of its balance of soft matte colors and realistic texture. The viewer can practically feel the peach fuzz from outside the frame. This ability to engage passersby so effectively is what Holden said makes this exhibition special.

“The ‘touch’ of the artist's hand that creates awe in a work of art was the most compelling factor in the top winners,” Holden said.

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