Walter Foster Publishing Blog 

Cynthia Knox has been drawing with graphite pencils since she was teenager and learned to draw from pencil drawing books by fellow Walter Foster artist, Gene Franks. “My favorite projects were the kitten and the foal—both of those pieces, I still have,” says Cynthia. This early drawing experience led Cynthia initially to portrait commissions of people and animals, which she found very rewarding.

 “It was less than 10 years ago that I began experimenting with colored pencils. I found them to be an easy, affordable medium that could yield extraordinary color and detail,” says Cynthia. Though colored pencils may be her passion now, she still likes to return to her simple 2B pencils every now and then.

With early instruction in drawing—and later, in colored pencil—from Walter Foster publications, it was a natural progression for Cynthia to want to become a Walter Foster artist. She published Flowers in Colored Pencil in 2011 and Colored Pencil Basics, newly released this summer.

While Cynthia’s florals succeed in juried competitions, currently she is most passionate about drawing and painting horses. “I live in Saratoga, New York, and when the summer track season heats up, there is a great deal of interest in all things horses,” says Cynthia.

Like most artists, Cynthia finds inspiration and encouragement from fellow artists. “Lee Hammond taught me excellent techniques for both graphite and colored pencils. She led two workshops in my town and gave me the courage to move into colored pencils.” Other artists who have influenced Cynthia in her art journey are Barbara Edidin and Ann Kullberg.

In addition to such wonderful friends and peers, Cynthia’s support system is grounded in her husband, Jeff, their two daughters, and her parents. “They would always applaud everything I did, no matter how amateur it was,” Cynthia says. Cynthia has worked with a life coach for several years, who has spurred her to higher levels in her career. With her encouragement and critique, Cynthia has had a website designed, won awards, taught art classes, judged art shows for a school and an artists’ society, been featured in monthly and hardcover publications, and completed two books with Walter Foster Publishing. "I am truly grateful for the people in my life,” says Cynthia.

Working with such a vibrant medium, it is no wonder that color inspires Cynthia. “Nothing creates a mood like color and light in a painting,” says Cynthia. She points out that colored pencil artists call their works “paintings” because they apply layers upon layers. “The saturation of color, the blending, and the burnishing effects achieved with intense pressure often lead to a painterly look similar to that of oils,” says Cynthia.

Colored pencil can be an intimidating medium for beginning artists, and Cynthia shares that lots of practice has led her to confidence. “When I began using colored pencils, I was nervous because they are not easy to erase. In fact, they really don’t erase well at all. How would I correct my mistakes?” For Cynthia, this was a major obstacle in continuing to explore the medium. However, she learned that there are plenty of ways to work with mistakes. You can learn some of her tips in both of her books with Walter Foster.

To stay motivated and inspired, Cynthia finds joy increating new compositions with her camera, as well as in the affirmation of family and friends when she completes a new piece. When she’s not creating, Cynthia attends a small church with her family, where they have been involved in Bible studies, church events, leadership issues, and a new building on a beautiful piece of land. “Relationships with these friends, a committed marriage of 25 years to my husband Jeff, and the joy and pride we take in our two daughters all inspire and motivate me to live each day to its fullest. Did I mention that we have four great dogs as well?”

For those artists just starting out, Cynthia encourages practice and drawing, drawing, and more drawing. “It’s important to nail down those drawing skills before engaging in any other medium,” says Cynthia, pointing out that composition, perspective, and general layout must make sense to someone viewing your art. “Once those drawing skills are in place, bring in some color, and just keep making art as often and consistently as possible. Most importantly, don’t give up when you’re discouraged. Push through that, and persevere. You will be pleased with the journey and delighted with the rewards at the end of it.”

To learn more about Cynthia and view more of her beautifulart, please visit www.cynthiaknox.com.

Artwork and author photo Copyright © Cynthia Knox.

Walter Foster artist William Powell has been drawing and painting for what seems like forever. “I was a sign painter in New York in 1948, painting on the sides of buildings,” Bill says of his start as a professional artist.

Bill’s artistic career took an exciting turn in the 60s when he started working with The Aerospace Corporation, a federally funded research and development organization (FFRDC) originally established by Congress. The Aerospace Corporation conducts research and development for organizations such as the U.S Air Force, NASA, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“Both my wife (Bev) and I were proud to be a part of this fine organization. We loved our work and mission. We both worked on many programs including man in space; space vehicle programs such as Atlas, Nike, Titan, Athena, Sidewinder, Minuteman; national security; and much more. It was exciting work.”

Bill joined the art department in the San Bernardino Division in 1961 and eventually became the lead graphic artist, working directly with engineers, scientists, doctors and civilian professionals to create visual concepts of theoretical projects. Bill’s team created artists' concepts in the form of visual graphic illustrations of everything from space vehicles to three-dimensional models, many of which were presented to Congress for additional funding and program approval. His illustrations won several awards from TIMA (Technical Illustrators and Management Association).

When The Aerospace Corporation moved its facilities in 1971, Bill and his wife chose not to move with the company. Bill took the plunge to become a full-time freelance artist and illustrator, a move fully supported by his wife. “I have the dearest wife,” Bill says. “She has always supported me and believed in me.”

Bill didn’t always plan to teach art. But one day a teacher friend asked him to substitute teach his art class while he was in the hospital. “I told him, ‘I can’t teach.’ But I did it anyway,” says Bill. When Bill’s friend ended up not coming back to teach, Bill decided to stay. He had 300 students and a waiting list of 400.

“In one of my classes, a student had a Walter Foster book, and I noticed that the section on color was wrong,” Bill recalls. He wrote to Walter Foster himself, just to let him know. “He asked me what I would do differently, and after I told him he invited me to come down and talk about it more.” Bill published Understanding Color with Walter Foster in 1976 and has authored or contributed to more than 32 publications since, including his newest release 1500 Color Mixing Recipes for Oil, Acrylic & Watercolor.

Recognized as one of America’s foremost colorists, Bill says that color is a personal experience.

“I’ve always told students to think of color as visual flavor. A cook can stand in the kitchen and recognize the different flavors and spices and know how they work together and go together. A painter can do the same thing with tubes of paints.”

Though an accomplished artist, Bill never even took a formal painting lesson. When he went to New York to become a cartoonist, he took page layout classes and an anatomy course. “I figured if I could draw the body I could draw anything,” says Bill, who later went to Europe to study the masters at the Louvre. “Studying the work of the masters was so inspiring,” Bill says.“I started my first painting when I was in England. I learned to paint all the mediums on my own.”

Bill’s experience as an artist and instructor includes oil, watercolor, acrylic, gouache, colored pencil, and pastel, with subjects ranging from landscapes and seascapes to still life, portraiture, and wildlife. “I love all the mediums,” says Bill, “but I’ve always leaned towards oil. I don’t think any other medium has the depth of color that oil has.”

Art, while a hobby for some, is Bill’s profession. So what does this artist do in his free time? “My hobby is geology. I have several thousand crystal collections. In the 1950s I used to go out to the desert and wander.” He even discovered an amethyst deposit once.

With years of experience, practice, and technique under his belt, Bill has some helpful advice for new artists:

“Don’t try and make it perfect from the beginning. Practice, practice, practice. It gets easier as you practice. It’s a step-by-step process. Don’t rush and try to create a Rembrandt on your first painting. Learn your colors. Learn what they do when you mix them together. Above all, learn to draw. Be very patient with yourself.”

You can learn more about Bill or see his work at http://www.williampowell-artist.com. Clickhere to see all of Bill’s current publications with Walter Foster.