Color Pencil Abstracts

My colored pencil sketch book has reached the half way mark and my latest doodle was done using color pencils my Mum bought me when I started secondary school. I was 11 so that is literally decades ago, lets not go into precise numbers here! This was also in the UK so they are colour rather than color pencils.

A beautiful box of 12 Derwent colour pencils that would probably be consider an antique now. The pencils were thoroughly used but cared for and it has got me thinking.

derwent 12 coloured pencils

As Miss Chicago was going through school, each year we would be presented with a list of supplies, 24 HB 2 Pencils, a box of crayon, 12 colored pencils, 3 glue sticks…you get the drift. Shopping for that list filled me with dread, it was pure hell. Quite often the supplies were pooled in the class at the beginning of the year so no kid was accountable for looking after their stuff and at the end of the year what happened to it all? Was every yellow pencil spent, sharpened down to a stump? I think not. Nothing ever came home and I guess they were just chucked out. Abandoned because they were not shiny and new.

So much for Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Decades later and those beautiful pencils from my school days still work as well. Inspired by the short and sweet Chicago growing season I doodled a flower abstract.

purple flowers abstract
purple flowers abstract

And lets do a little recap of a few pages of my sketch book

I don’t know what all these weird patterns say about the state of my brain but I do know I am in a happy zone when I create them, making use of my vintage art supplies and not rushing out to buy junk from Michael’s or Joanns!

I also have a collection of watercolor abstracts if you are interested…these are equally as odd!

Enjoy!

Love from

Creative in Chicago

XX

13 thoughts on “Color Pencil Abstracts

  1. Hello, I stumbled onto your page when scrolling through pinterest looking for colored pencil drawings. Yours are colorful and pretty yet simple and not overwhelming to do. I’ll definitely try to make ones as well. Thankyou!

  2. I also randomly came across page, and I’m glad I did! This has really given me some confidence to actually put my pencil to paper and create a drawing that I have always doubted I could do. So thank you and I’m looking forward to some more creations from you!

  3. I just happened to come across this via Pinterest, and love them ! I would NOT however, classify any of these as “doodles” !! These are absolutely works of art !!! I particularly like the flower petals (great colours) and the purple “bubbles” – they remind me of grapes. Definitely images that I can use to practice. Thanks so much

  4. These are so lovely – I definitely would not consider them doodles. Do you tend to sketch them in an outline first or is it all just really free hand and a go with the flow process? I’m intrigued and would love to practice so – just as a sort of color therapy for myself. My son has often commented on my doodles when I am on the phone etc. , he obviously feels they are much better than I think they are LOL .
    Thank you for sharing <3

    1. Hi Deb,
      I create the basic shape then it is just freehand all the way. They are really very therapeutic to do, I just sort of zone out. The most irritating thing is sharpening my pencils!
      Break out your pencils and have a go!
      Zoe

  5. The purple flowers are so pretty. Would you ever consider making a tutorial, video or pictures, anytime soon on that drawing? Can you also share any inspirations you have for drawing? Your work is amazing!

    1. Gosh thank you so much for your kind words. I think it would be fun to do a time lapse video of a piece but to be honest to mostly do these drawings slobbed out on the sofa in front of the telly!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *