CP Magic Magazine July 2026 takes a trip out west with western artist, Kathryn Kastner. But my in-depth interview with her and her tutorial is only the beginning.
Let’s take a closer look at what’s inside.
About CP Magic July 2026
A No-Tech Way to Match Colors
Drawing Paper Review: Clairefontaine Pastelmat
Getting Started with Just a Few Colors
40 pages
Prefer print? Get it here.
Featured Artist: Kathryn Kastner
Interview
Oklahoma artist Kathryn Kastner joins us for a chat about her art journey. Like many other colored pencil artists, the foundation of Kathryn’s work is the life she knew growing up and which she now lives. However, Kathryn is unique in her depiction of life in the West, a subject that is more typically featured in oils or watercolor. She also does oil painting her portrayals of the ranching life, but the focus for our chat is her work with colored pencils.
Tutorial
Kathryn’s tutorial features a ranch horse with wind-blown mane and a high desert background, drawn on sanded pastel paper. If you’ve never used this surface before, this is the perfect time to try it. She uses Caran d’Ache colored pencils and pastel pencils, but includes a suggested list of colors for those who want to do the project only in colored pencils.
Also in CP Magic July 2026
A No-Tech Way to Match Colors
by Carrie L. Lewis
With all the raving about AI and modern technology, my first topic for July is a no-tech way to match colors. While it’s written for those who prefer low- or no-tech, this is also a good, basic principle for all artists to master, and will help even those who use all those high-tech apps and tools.
Drawing Paper Review: Clairefontaine Pastelmat
by Carrie L. Lewis
The drawing paper review for this month is Clairefontaine Pastelmat. The review includes tips for layering and blending color on this unique surface, as well as a small demo sample.
Getting Started With Just a Few Colors
by Carrie L. Lewis
Are you new to colored pencils and finding those full sets of pencils a bit pricey? This article is for you. Carrie offers a few suggestions for selecting colors, including one sure-fire way to get all the colors you need to make a start at a price that’s right.
Resource Page
The resource page goes back to this website, with some currently available paid resources.
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