2025 Explore This! 21 Awards

It is an honor to serve as juror for the Colored Pencil Society of America’s Explore This! 21 online exhibition. The body of work was impressive, showcasing this artform’s incredible versatility and possibilities. It was evident that all the artists put great time, care, and thought into their artwork. 

In selecting works for the exhibition and awards, I looked for pieces that went beyond preconceived ideas of colored pencil art while demonstrating good technical skills, originality, creativity, and conceptual thinking.

Thanks to the zoom in function, I was able to appreciate the finest details and unique line qualities as well as the full picture. The emotional resonance and impact of work was important as well. Some works captured an expression, a moment, in a way that moved me with each view. They showed an aspect of the subject’s spirit whether through hyper-realism or in their own expressive style.

Others had a delicious mix of subtle color shifts and overlays, the plays of warms and cools were so beautiful. Rich and delicately colored swaths of different artworks lived on in my mind creating a deeper appreciation for the environment around me. Exquisitely rendered subjects from the natural world, honest portraits, suggested narratives, and vibrant abstractions populated my imagination for weeks while contemplating submissions.

I want to extend my congratulations to all the artists who submitted work, as well as those whose pieces were selected for the online exhibition and awards. Your dedication and passion for colored pencils shine through, and I look forward to seeing how the medium will continue to evolve and inspire in the years to come. I encourage all of you to continue exploring new ideas and communicating your stories, the world needs your unique voice and artistic vision!