Painting with colored pencils is a passion and a dream come true. I retired from a career in pediatric occupational therapy in 2005. When I graduated from Western Michigan University with my BS I made a promise to myself that one day I would pursue the development of my art skills with portraiture as my goal. There just never seemed enough time to study. When my nest emptied in the mid 1990s I found practice time. My first goal was to one day no longer be embarrassed to show my work. In those early days to practice I did graphite portraits of my little OT clients and gave them to their parents. The next step was to learn how to use color that would be pleasing to the eye. That day has arrived. Welcome to my web site!

Gretchen Evans Parker, cpsa

Paintings in Colored Pencil and Watercolors

My paintings slowly emerge as I layer color layer upon color layer. To achieve deep rich colors I mix many different hues directly on the paper as I build the form. Most portraits are created with up to 30 layers of color. As you can imagine each work takes many weeks to complete. The resulting color is fabulous! I take pride in my near photorealism. I get lost in detail. More recent works have included sanded pastel board or paper as supports. I have started adding watercolor under paintings to some of the animals and landscapes I have done

After working on my first goal for almost a decade my second one was to become a signature member of the Colored Pencil Society in America. To earn signature status in CPSA a member must be juried into their annual exhibition three times in five years. Competition includes 600-700 entrants and only about 100 paintings are juried into the coveted spots. I was juried out the first time I entered and, demoralized, I didn't try again for four years. What a thrill to get juried into the 2004 International CPSA show in Chicago and see my painting hanging there! I am still amazed that my art has been deemed good enough! I earned my signature status in CPSA in 2007 having been juried in the next two years as well! (www.cpsa.org) I have also won top honors in the professional divisions of both the SC State Fair and Crooked Creek Art League.

2008 has also ushered in my first one woman show at the Continental Insurance Co. Gallery in Columbia SC.

My art career is taking a new turn as I begin to teach since I started using colored pencil in 2001. I gave my first class on board the cruise ship Vision of the Sea in May of 2008 with Ann Kullberg and Nicole Caulfield. The following summer I began teaching in my home town.

My second career has taken me places I could have never dreamed of going. The surprises have been fun. It just goes to show you are never too old to learn.

Gretchen Evans Parker, OTR/ret., CPSA

 

~ Common places never become tiresome; It is we who become tired when we cease to be curious and appreciative. ~ Norman Rockwell