| You've seen oil and acrylic paintings, you love the | | | | the years? Colored pencil manufacturing companies |
| glow of watercolor, but are you familiar with the | | | | have worked very hard in the past decade to |
| versatile and striking medium called colored pencil? | | | | development of a standard of lightfastness for many |
| Colored pencil works of art require no elaborate | | | | brands of colored pencils. Colored pencil now ranks |
| preparation and need only simple materials: pencils, | | | | high in longevity and this enables artists to choose |
| sharpeners, erasers and paper, to achieve some | | | | the highest quality products which is a valuable asset |
| wonderful and striking results of the artist's own | | | | for the collector of the art. The surface in which the |
| personal expression. This artistic medium can stand | | | | artwork is drawn on is important too. Archival |
| on its own as a drawing or simulate the look of a | | | | drawing papers and boards are made of fiber such as |
| painting rendered in another medium. It can be solid | | | | cotton or linen and are acid free, meaning that they |
| or airy depending on how the pencil is applied to the | | | | will not turn yellow in time. There are other materials |
| paper and whether it is a quick colorful sketch or an | | | | that will ensure the longevity of a colored pencil |
| elaborate illustration. Since colored pencil is a dry, | | | | piece. Spraying a UV resistant clear fixative over the |
| transparent medium, colors are mixed right on the | | | | finished drawing will ensure the longevity of the |
| paper by layering one color on top of another. The | | | | artwork as well as framing it under UV filtering glass. |
| more layers applied; the more luminous and vibrant | | | | Public awareness of archival and lightfast works will |
| the drawing will look as the colors are woven | | | | increase the value and profitability of the art.Inspired |
| together.The type of paper used will give a drawing | | | | and intrigued by this medium? Whether it is mixed, |
| certain characteristics too. A smooth surface will | | | | blended, layered or combined, many results can be |
| create a soft look and even, uninterrupted flow of | | | | achieved from photo-realism to abstract to illustration. |
| the pencil. Textured paper, which is paper with a | | | | Colored pencil can be used very skillfully to wow the |
| tooth or a grain, can give the drawing a completely | | | | viewer with a vibrant drawing or tranquil image.Born in |
| different look. The texture created by paper and | | | | Glastonbury, Connecticut, Kendra moved to Rhode |
| pencil as they mingle will enhance the artwork. Many | | | | Island with her family as a teen. She was immediately |
| artists work on colored paper which adds flecks of | | | | drawn to the beauty of the ocean and shoreline |
| color to the drawing as it shows through from the | | | | throughout the state. Currently she lives in |
| background. Thus, the drawing takes on a | | | | Portsmouth, just outside of Newport, with her |
| harmonious quality.Of course pencil isn't always used | | | | husband and three sons.A graduate of Massachusetts |
| by itself, it can be combined with other mediums | | | | College of Art with a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts, |
| such as watercolor, pastel or ink. The different types | | | | Kendra was first attracted to graphic design and |
| of mediums can enrich a drawing and provide it with | | | | worked at a newspaper and later a printing company |
| different qualities or characteristics as well as | | | | for several years. In 1996, Kendra chose to pursue |
| textures. Many artists use watercolor washes as | | | | her art full time and also to be home with her sons |
| backgrounds for their drawings or add touches of | | | | as they grew. She currently teaches watercolor and |
| paints or pastels to enrich an image. The waxy lead | | | | colored pencil classes at local art associations and |
| of colored pencils can also be dissolved with mineral | | | | continues to take art classes and workshops herself |
| spirits and brushed onto the paper creating a | | | | in order to grow as an artist. Her exhibits her works |
| paint-like quality very different from traditional | | | | in local art galleries as well as Lori J Online Art Gallery. |
| methods of drawing.What about lightfastness? Will | | | | To see pictures of her latest creations please Click |
| the colors be resistant to light and not fade through | | | | Here. |