Janet Pantry

I have enjoyed drawing since Primary School days.  Having dipped in and out of sketching since then, it is only over the past year or so that I have had the time to focus more fully on my art.  My preference is dry media, such as pastel and pencil, and after coming across a few excellent websites devoted to coloured pencil art, I decided to give this medium more concentrated attention.  I am reluctant to pigeon-hole my style of working as I feel that this is still developing, however a realistic approach, occasionally veering towards Impressionism, would probably be a fair description.

My work includes landscapes, seascapes, flowers and some portraits and I’m busy learning new techniques, experimenting with different pencils and papers and trying out new compositions.  My favourite pencils are Derwent Coloursoft, Lyra and Prismacolor and I work mainly on coloured mount card, smooth cartridge or pastel papers.  Having exhibited and sold a few pictures locally, and having recently had a picture accepted for a national exhibition has given me encouragement. 

I love drawing cats as they are such beautiful, elegant creatures and cat portraits undertaken for family and friends have been well received.  Landscapes and seascapes are also a particular interest – I like to sketch on location in the Beds/Herts area and when I can get to the coast, take photographs and then work up the final piece back indoors.  I am quite demanding of myself, however, and many of my final renditions end up in the bin!  Undeterred, I intend to soldier on and develop my skills through further practice in ‘plein air’ work.  I am aiming to get away from simply reproducing photographs and move towards producing coloured pencil drawings which are realistic, yet fresh and lively interpretations of the subject.

Currently, my artwork can be seen in my gallery on www.myartsspace.co.uk .

Email: janet.pantry[at]btinternet.com