About Us

Upcoming Events

Visitors & Members:

We  offer both online and in-person options for many of our  meetings and events! 

Monthly Meetings

Join us in person or online via zoom the first Saturday morning of each month, 10am-12pm CST

Visitors Welcome!!!

Workshops

Check out our events page for upcoming workshops and learning events!

“Home” by Wendy McMahan

Who we Are

We are  part of the Colored Pencil Society of America (CPSA), which is a national non-profit organization.  We are one of many district chapters across the US,  located in Memphis, TN.   As fellow colored pencil artists,  we strive to promote colored pencils as a fine art medium. 

Whether you are just beginning, a professional artist or anywhere in between, you are welcome to come and join our group!  We meet on a monthly basis to fellowship and learn  together.  

We  offer both online and in-person options for many of our  meetings and events!  For more information  regarding our chapter, please contact us via email or social media! We would love to meet you and share our love of colored pencils with you! 

"Afternoon Companion" by Carla Sexton, CPSA

Our Board

“Color pencil artistry is a new adventure for me. When a friend invited me to visit the group a couple of years ago, I had no idea how sophisticated it could be.  It has been a great learning experience and lots of fun. Previously, I was interested in iconography. I enjoy the age old process of grinding pigment and mixing the tempura from scratch. For a while I even had the chickens that lay the eggs for the base of egg tempura.
I love living in the woods with my dogs, who are often bad, and an untidy calico cat named Ms Kitty who tolerates that I live with her.
All my cats have been calico.
All have been named Ms Kitty.”
image0

Wendy McMahan

President

“As a newbie to the art world, I love exploring materials, CP techniques and possibilities.
If I’m not making color swatches, you’ll find me working on my PhD in Music, Health & Society or playing cello for my dog, Monty.”

Mexi Bell,Mom,Me (1)

Paulanne Townsend

Vice-President & Exhibitions

“Color pencil artistry is a new adventure for me. When a friend invited me to visit the group a couple of years ago, I had no idea how sophisticated it could be.  It has been a great learning experience and lots of fun. Previously, I was interested in iconography. I enjoy the age old process of grinding pigment and mixing the tempura from scratch. For a while I even had the chickens that lay the eggs for the base of egg tempura.
I love living in the woods with my dogs, who are often bad, and an untidy calico cat named Ms Kitty who tolerates that I live with her.
All my cats have been calico.
All have been named Ms Kitty.”
diANNE

Diane Cambron

Librarian & Treasurer

 

"I spent most of my career as an accountant, and did not have time to do much besides work. I’ve always enjoyed drawing, but never worked at it seriously until a few years ago when I stopped working fulltime. I’m still learning different techniques and experimenting with various styles. Here I am with my covid pod – husband, Dave, and granddaughter, Lina. "

2 middle headshot

Paco Martin

Workshop Chair

Paco has been passionate about colored pencils since he was a child. Initially self-taught, he found formal training through the lessons of Sarita Muñiz. Captivated in college by pastels and oil paints, Paco realized these mediums could also help him improve his colored pencil technique. In the years since, Paco continued exploring materials, striving to perfect his technique, experimenting, trying out different brands of pencils and paper, facing bigger artistic challenges every time. Little by little, Paco realized that he could reach as much realism as he wanted using colored pencils. CP became his language as an artist. His work became meticulous, even obsessive, carefully observing the world around. He experimented with shapes, volumes, textures, and composition, trying to recreate the harmonious beauty of small objects of everyday life, which are a form of art for Paco.

42D999D1-7F57-4290-B3D8-BB9F426350D1

Ally McNatt

Website & Social Media

“I had only been drawing with colored pencils for about a month when the stars aligned I was invited to the annual exhibition this chapter presented in 2016. I was in awe of all the amazing art, and shortly thereafter officially joined the chapter and haven’t looked back since! I’ve been using colored pencils for about 5 years now, and love them so much! When I’m not creating art, I’m dabbling with music, obsessing over my dogs, and working as a full time pediatric nurse!”

lois fb picture

Lois Guthridge

Member coordinator

"I've been doing art in some form or another since I started high school (back in the cave man days)--first oil painting, then water color, and finally (my favorite medium) colored pencil! A friend of mine told me about the local CPSA chapter in 1998--and that's when I joined. The group provides inspiration, enthusiasm and education--both in meetings and in workshops provided. I worked at a variety of companies before I last worked for 15 years at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. I retired in 2019 and moved to Grayslake, Illinois in 2020."