Yvette St Pierre
Meet Yvette St. Pierre (aka Evie), an artist with a passion for colored pencil…
That’s me, but even though I’ve always loved art, I didn’t start out to be an artist. In fact, colored pencil is relatively new to me. My New Hampshire high school did not offer art, and even though my college offered an excellent art program, I didn’t think it was intended for me.
Over the years my happy place was always when I was either planning or executing crafts and original designs for Halloween costumes, children’s bedroom décor, parties, and even carved and painted signage to hang over our mailbox.
Finally, when I’d had two of my three babies I decided to try my hand at oil painting and enrolled in a local class. Loved it! At about the two year mark, we participated in a local art show and my piece sold, but then I stopped painting to become an aerobic dance instructor. Life with three kids, a move across the country, hygiene school, and later a career got so busy that I kept promising myself to get back to painting “in my sixties”.
Fast forward to 6 1/2 years ago. Retired now, oil painting was no longer a viable option because my condo is tiny. What could I do? My friend Paula Parks, CPSA, CPX, introduced me to Sheila Theodoratos, CPSA, CPX, who became my teacher of colored pencil and later a friend and mentor. From the first pencil stroke, I knew it was for me. I love that it is portable, blend-able, and involves small pointy instruments. As a retired Dental Hygienist, this detailed, precise art medium had my name written all over it!
Recently I have begun to explore watercolor, but colored pencil is still my first love. Various workshops, art retreats and studio time have allowed me to grow as an artist and I have been fortunate to win a couple of “Honorable Mentions” in our local chapter. My studio art buddies are always happy to share their knowledge. For instance, that is how I learned working both sides of Grafix film can result in much more depth of color while allowing the highlights to really pop.
My husband and I have been blessed to travel the US and have experienced so many amazing sights. I am always drawn to natural scenes that speak to me in an almost spiritual way. Colored pencil has given me the opportunity to explore how best to depict and share what I have witnessed.
The name of this piece is Journey. The river portrayed is an allegory for the wonder, challenges, highs and lows that define our human experience.
Sometime the journey through life is smooth and direct, other times it is winding and rocky. Some turns are unexpected and chaotic, but through it all, the focus is all about the journey itself, the perservering in our own transformation. Done on Grafix matte film, mostly Derwent Lightfast pencils and some Prismacolor. I took the photo while on a hike in Eastern WA