The best way to describe my experience at the 19th Annual CPSA Convention and Exhibition in Dallas, Texas, is by sharing some of the special moments that I was able to capture with my camera. Enjoy!

Exhibition View

This year the exhibition was held at the beautiful Charles W. Eisemann Center in Richardson, Texas. It will be showing until July 31st.

My Artwork "Social Network", Top Left

This is a close-up of the area where "Social Network" is displayed in the gallery. I'm thrilled to report that my artwork received "The Seattle Washington District Chapter Award for Exceptional Merit" from Juror Bob Malenfant, director of the South West Gallery in Dallas. For a list of all awards please visit the CPSA website at this link.

Debbi Friedman with her "Counterpoint in Green"

Kendra Ferreira with her "Sea Foam"

Debbi Friedman and Kendra Ferreira are two of my favorite artists who like to draw stones and rocks as I do. You can see how uniquely beautiful their interpretations of the same subject are.

CJ Worlein with her Artwork "The Sisters"

Barbara Rogers with her "Misty"

CJ Worlein's portrait "The Sisters" won the Cippy Best of Show Award. Barbara Rogers' beautiful "Misty" was one of my favorite landscapes in the show.

Christi Tompkins with her Son, Nathan

The most touching moment at the artist reception was when I was introduced to Nathan, a 10 year old boy who liked my artwork and wanted to meet me. He was there with his mom, artist Christi Tompkins.  There's nothing more rewarding as an artist than to be able to inspire somebody, especially a young person. It was great meeting you, Nathan!

Award Banquet

Here is a group of us, all dressed up at the Award Banquet. From left: Dianna Soisson, Debbi Friedman, Lynda Schumacher, Elizabeth Patterson, Kendra Ferreira and moi.

Trade Show

The Convention Trade Show was a great success. I enjoyed demonstrating the Icarus Drawing Board and chatting with many artists who were curious about it or wanted to try it.

The Colored Pencil Society Silent Auction is a very popular convention event. This year it began on Wednesday, July 28,  in the hospitality suite and ended on Thursday evening during the membership meeting. The piece that I donated, True Colors, came in as the third contender for the highest bids in the auction. Elizabeth Patterson and Cecile Baird took first and second place respectively.

The awards banquet was particularly meaningful since the Colored Pencil Society was celebrating its Twenty Year Anniversary. Vera Curnow, CPSA founder, gave a memorable talk and introduced a slide show of the history of the Colored Pencil Society. Kay Schmidt, CPSA president, and Paula Parks, CPSA exhibition director, presided over the awards ceremony. My artwork "The Lightness of Being" received one of the top awards, the $1,000 Sanford Prismacolor Award for Exceptional Merit. Best of Show went to "Grapes in a Basket" by Shinji Harada.

Signature status is given to active members who have been accepted into the International show 3 times within 10 years. This was my third time in four years and therefore I gladly received my signature which entitles me to use the initials "CPSA" after my name.

Following is my last set of pictures from the CPSA convention in Santa Clara.

Here are the pictures from my workshop "Wax and Heat, A Match Made in Heaven". I had 67 attendees split in two days, July 29 and July 30. This was an introduction to the Icarus technique and my first time as an instructor at a Colored Pencil Society Convention. It was a great experience from every point of view.

This year the Colored Pencil Society of America held its 18th Annual International Exhibition at the Art Museum of Los Gatos near San Francisco. Janet Bishop, the curator of painting and sculpture of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, selected 122 pieces to appear in the museum exhibit which will run until August 20th.

The 2010 CPSA Convention was an unforgettable experience. Here are the highlights:

• My workshop "Wax and Heat, A Match Made in Heaven" went very well
• The 67 workshop attendees were an incredible group - attentive, responsive, enthusiastic, and now my friends
• All the Icarus Drawing Boards sold out and more
• The exhibition at The Art Museum of Los Gatos was outstanding
• The CPSA sponsors and corporate members were incredibly generous with all of us - nobody went home empty handed
• The Award Banquet was truly memorable especially for the slide show that chronicled the twenty year history of the Colored Pencil Society
• I received my Signature pin - yay!
• My artwork "The Lightness of Being" was honored with the Sanford Prismacolor Award for Exceptional Merit
• Last but certainly not least was the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make new ones

I have so many great pictures and memories to share but I'm staring at a mountain of boxes blocking the light of my studio window. They are waiting for me to unpack them; all my art supplies and tools have to go back into their proper place as soon as possible or I will not get any sleep tonight. I'll post again soon.

July 29, 2010 - Ester's Workshop at the CPSA Convention

I'm so looking forward to the 18th Annual Colored Pencil Society Convention in Santa Clara next week. I can't wait to personally welcome all of you who signed up for my workshop on July 29th and 30th. Whether or not you are already familiar with the Icarus Drawing Board, this workshop will give you plenty to assimilate. I promise you that while you will work hard, you will also have fun experimenting with new and original colored pencil applications.

One of the highlights of the CPSA Convention is the International Exhibition that this year is at the Los Gatos Art Museum. It is always inspiring to take a close look at some of the best colored pencil artwork in the world.

Hope to see you there!

Los Gatos Art Museum Home Page

Happy Fourth of July! I hope you are all celebrating Independence Day with your family and friends.

The 2010 Colored Pencil Society Silent Auction images have been posted online for everybody to preview. This is a show of  "Small Works of Great Magnitude" that will give convention attendees an opportunity to purchase original colored pencil art. My piece "True Colors" is one of the 36 donated artworks. I can't wait to bid on some of my favorites.

CPSA Silent Auction

The Colored Pencil Society of America has announced the names of the two workshop teachers for the 18th Annual International Convention and Exhibition in Santa Clara, California. I'm thrilled to be  one of them. Here is the announcement:

"We have two talented instructors for our workshops on Thursday and Friday of Convention Week. Allan Servoss, CPSA will be stretching our minds and drawing skills with his workshop entitled "Beyond Technique: Drawing from the Heart and Mind. Ester Roi, inventor of the Icarus Drawing Board, will demonstrate and instruct class attendees to "unleash the potentials of wax-based colored pencils" using heat with her workshop "Wax and Heat, A Match Made in Heaven." We will also have a Saturday outing to practice drawing in plein air under the tutelage of Melissa Miller Nece, CPSA. These events provide a great experience for sharing and learning with other artists."

Please check the CPSA blog for more information on the 18th Annual International Convention and Exhibition and their website for the complete Prospectus.

The Colored Pencil Society has released the names of the 2009 Silent Auction top bids. I'm thrilled that my piece "Midnight Journey" is among them. The five artworks are shown in the photo below.

Silent Auction Top Bids

From July 30th to August 1st, I will be in Atlanta, GA, for the 17th Annual Convention of the Colored Pencil Society of America . I will be available for free demonstrations of the Icarus Technique. For more information, please check out the CPSA convention website.

Member to Member Fundraiser