Last Updated on April 11, 2023 by Dee
There’s something about the way colored pencils create color that just feels so right to artists. Maybe it’s the versatility of the medium or the wide range of colors available, but there are some truly talented artists out there who use colored pencils to create stunning pieces of art.
If you’re an artist looking for some inspiration, or if you’re just curious to see what colored pencil art can look like, then follow these 14 top colored pencil artists on Instagram. You won’t be disappointed!
14 Colored Pencil Artists to follow on Instagram…
Andrew Read
Andrew Read is an international, UK-based artist who creates incredibly lifelike portraits and other artwork in colored pencil. His pieces have an incredible level of detail, and his use of color is truly masterful.
Vreni Sittler
Vreni is a German artist with a truly unique and distinctive style. She often uses muted colors to create incredibly evocative pieces that often explore the nature of memory and time.
Leontine Van Vliet
Leontine is a professional pencil artist based in the Netherlands. She is both a popular pet portrait artist and an art teacher who helps creative people draw their favorite animals in a photo-realistic style.
Her own art is hyper-realistic and she often uses bright colors against whimsical backgrounds. Her superb style is sure to delight anyone who sees it.
Ali Gilbert
Ali Gilbert is a nature and wildlife illustrator living in Colorado. She creates magical art inspired by her walks through the city and nature. You can also see from her work that she is influenced by Tolkein and Greek Mythology.
Check out more of her work on Balsamandblueberry.com
Irina Kryuchkova
Irina Kryuchkova is a Latvian artist who specializes in drawing animals. Her work is incredibly lifelike, and she often uses vibrant colors to bring her pieces to life. She has a truly unique perspective on the relationships between people and animals, and her artwork beautifully captures that.
Cynthia Knox
Cynthia Knox is one of my favorite artists. She’s an award-winning artist who has authored 15 art instructional books and teaches workshops throughout the United States, internationally, on cruises, and online with Craftsy.com and Ann Kullberg. Cynthia is currently working on a new series of instructional books and videos.
She’s a Signature Member of the Colored Pencil Society of America and a contributor to numerous art magazines and publications. Her passion is showing students how to draw with colored pencils
Claire Milligan
Claire Milligan is an artist who specializes in colored pencil drawings of birds, wildlife, nature and pet portraits. Her work is highly detailed and realistic, and she draws inspiration from the beautiful natural world around us. If you’re a fan of realism and want to see more of Claire’s work, be sure to give her a follow!
Sarah Becktel
Sarah Becktel produces artwork that is incredibly detailed yet mystical. Her art and animal portraits are inspired by animal ecology and natural history.
Ann Swan
If you’re looking for some talented artists to follow on Instagram, Ann Swan is a great choice. She’s a leading botanical artist working in both pencil and colored pencils, and her work is always vibrant and detailed.
She’s won four Gold Medals from the Royal Horticultural Society, and her work is represented in some prestigious collections. Swan is also an enthusiastic teacher, running regular workshops all over the world.
Her book ‘Botanical Painting with Coloured Pencils’ is a leader in its field.
Gale Blair
Gale Blair is an artist who loves to work in a variety of different media. Her abstracted colored pencil art is magical and other-worldly.
Hannah Sarfraz
Instagram is a great place to find talented artists, and these 17 colored pencil artists are definitely worth following. Hannah Sarfraz is a Seattle-based artist who creates hyper-realistic art with incredible detail and patience.
One of her most notable series is of couture scarves draped around the necks of burning man attendees or stuck in the nozzles of beer bottles to create Molotov cocktails. Her juxtaposition of high fashion and casual objects is particularly interesting in such a literal art form. Her next piece in this scarf series will be a couture scarf with a pattern on a vintage gas mask.
Samantha Gallagher
Samantha Gallagher is an illustrator and mural artist who produces exquisite artwork of insects and vibrant non-scientific art.
Vlad Yashin
Vlad Yashin is a self-taught photorealist painter from Moscow, Russia, known for his unusual fan-related artworks of celebrities, Netflix TV series, contemporary YouTube superstars, and provocative paintings since 2016.
Vlade Yashin’s prolific drawing career incorporates a wide range of cultural, literary, and philosophical allusions, from the Old and New Masters to Russian symbolism, Mikhail Lermontov’s poetry, and Franz Kafka’s work. His hyperrealistic canvases are visually encapsulating a variety of cultural allusions – from the Old and New
Preethi Swamy
Preethi is a writer and artist who resides in Queens, New York. Preethi created Garden Slug Productions as a way to record her creative development, with a special interest in nature and whimsy. She has rediscovered nature and art as a method to stay balanced during these tumultuous times.
Why colored pencils are underrated
Colored pencils are underrated. A lot of people view them as a rudimentary tool for children, and not as a legitimate medium for artists. This is primarily because colored pencils are often seen as less versatile than other mediums, such as oils or watercolors.
However, this perception is changing, as more and more artists are beginning to recognize the unique potential of colored pencils.
One of the main advantages of colored pencils is that they are relatively inexpensive and easy to obtain. They are also non-toxic, which makes them a safe choice for children and beginners.
Additionally, colored pencils can be used to create a wide variety of textures and effects, making them a versatile medium for both still lifes and landscapes.
Colored pencils are a fabulous medium to work and I recommend you test them out and create some of your own whimsical art.
[Check out my List of the Best Colored Pencils for Artists]
Tips to get started with colored pencil for beginners
1. Experiment with a variety of pencils – different brands, colors, and lead thicknesses.
2. Use light pressure for the initial layers to create the basic color and shape of your subject.
3. Add more layers and darker colors for greater depth and intensity.
4. Use a blending stump or brush to smooth out the surface and create a cohesive look.
5. Apply a fixative to protect your work from smudging.
6. Practice, practice, practice! The more you experiment, the better you’ll become at using this versatile medium.
Conclusion
These 14 colored pencil artists are sure to inspire you with their amazing pieces. From realistic drawings of animals and people to landscapes and cityscapes, there is something for everyone on this list.
With such a wide variety of styles and colors to be found in their artwork, there is sure to be at least one artist on this list that will inspire you. Be sure to follow them on Instagram for regular updates, and don’t forget to share your favorite pieces with us in the comments below!
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