There’s a lot of studio news for February 2025, so let’s get started.
Studio News for February 2025
CP Magic! News
The March issue of CP Magic! features Becky Eileen and her wonderful, light-filled work. She has had an interesting and challenging life as an artist, and I’m sure that her comments will resonate with many readers.
Kim Vlahovich shares a tutorial describing how he used colored pencils to decorate a wood box in which he wants to store his art brushes. It’s a great way to make wonderful gifts, and Kim generously included several theme ideas for those who want to make their own unique wood boxes.
Read more about this issue or buy your copy here.
Other CP Magic! News
The third annual CP Magic! Colored Pencil Art Showcase published in mid-February. This “extra” edition highlights the best colored pencil artwork of 2024 from artists all around the world.
Artists at all levels contributed to this wonderful collection, and artwork features a wide range of styles and subjects. No matter what your favorite subjects or drawing style, you’ll love this publication. So if you haven’t seen it yet, take a look today. You can get it in digital format or print here.
By the way, the five-year retrospective also published in February. It has received rave reviews in print and digital, so if you haven’t purchased your copy yet, you can do so here.
Future Issues
The May issue is the landscape issue. If you have a question you’d like to ask landscape artists, let me know. We’re already collecting information, so your questions are welcome.
The August issue is now designated as the pet and animal issue. It will deal with cats and dogs and furry things, and I’m already in the process of contacting pet portrait and animal artists to participate. I’m looking forward to this special edition and hope you are, too.
Other Publishing News
I started work on my next tutorial. This one is a landscape featuring an old red barn. No publication date has been set, yet, but my goal is mid-March.
Artwork
Due to a number issues ranging from a fan going bad in my main laptop to a brief but tiring bout with a cold, I didn’t get much artwork finished in February.
But I did “make a deal with myself” that I hope will help me be more productive in drawing. Basically, during the week, I work on artwork that’s business-related. Artwork to illustrate articles, posts, and newsletters, for tutorials, and for clients.
On Saturday, I set all that aside and work on fun stuff for myself.
I made that deal in mid-month and it worked well each of the last two Saturdays of the month. Flint Hills Haze V3 made progress after weeks of neglect.
I especially like the layered clouds, but with that bright blue in the sky, I may need to change the title. The haze seems to be lifting with each layer of color!
I also completed seven ACEOs, including some fun experimenting with the colors pink and purple. That was the February challenge for the ACEO Group: Create anything with the colors pink and/or purple. My best experiments combined both colors.
Following are two of my February ACEOs. The first one is my challenge piece for the ACEO group. The second is for the open category.
Current Works in Progress
Horse Portrait
All work on the horse portrait focused on the second round of color glazing with Faber-Castell Polychromos pencils. Bit by bit, it’s coming together in a very pleasing way. I am especially pleased with the eye, the textures and color variations in the neck and cheek, and the background.
I had hoped to have the second round of color glazing finished in February, but the interruptions I mentioned above (computer and cold) interrupted the process. The portrait isn’t yet ready for the final phase (detailing), but it’s close. Very close.
I have to say that the “deal” I made with myself and mentioned above has helped advance work on this piece, as well as on Flint Hills Haze V3. It’s been a lot easier to devote time to this portrait during the week when I know I can have fun on the weekend.
A personal mind game? Maybe, but it’s working!
Drawing Time for the Month
The goal for drawing time in February was 20 hours. I reached 21 hours and 20 minutes. That total surprised me, since there were some days when I had no time to draw, as well as days when I just didn’t feel up to drawing.
But all those minutes add up!
Looking to the Future
As I write these words at the end of February several things are taking up space in the back of my mind. Of course, there is planning for and working on future issues of the magazine, including the landscape and pet issues I mentioned above.
But I’m also thinking about new tutorials. I sent the negatives to four old photographs to a professional developer to be scanned into digital files. Is there a tutorial or two among them? I certainly hope so. I can tell you that they all are sky photos and three of them are very exciting cloud images.
That’s the Studio News for February 2025
Here’s hoping to a productive March. I hope you’ll join me as often as you can here on the blog, via the newsletter and magazine.
In the meantime, keep drawing!
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