“Nature in Colored Pencil” by The Colored Pencil Society of America opens at the Nature Art Gallery Friday, June 3
For immediate release ‐ May 27, 2016
Contact: Emelia Cowans, 919.707.9837. Images available upon request
RALEIGH — The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ Nature Art Gallery presents “Nature in Colored Pencil,” artwork by the Colored Pencil Society of America (CPSA), featuring several local artists, Friday, June 3 through Sunday, July 31. A reception for the artists will be held on Saturday, June 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. inside the Gallery.
Fine art colored pencils are relatively new to the art world, having been introduced in the 1920s, considering that other art materials, such as oils and watercolors, have been used continually in Western art for centuries. Colored pencils are a semi-transparent medium and luminous, vibrant colors can be created by layering. The pigments used in artist-grade pencils resist fading, so paintings and drawings done in colored pencil on archival papers or art boards can be handed down from generation to generation.
The nonprofit CPSA was founded in 1990 by Vera Curnow and represents almost 2,000 members worldwide who work with the versatile medium. It supports 20 district chapters throughout the United States. The Raleigh-Durham chapter, based in Cary, North Carolina, meets bimonthly and serves its members by providing opportunities for education, workshops, networking, and art exhibitions showcasing the fine art of colored pencil. Many chapter members also teach regional classes in colored pencil to the public.
The Nature Art Gallery is located on the top floor of the Museum Store, (1st floor, main building). Hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 4:45 p.m. All exhibited art is for sale. For more information about the Nature Art Gallery, call 919.707.9854.
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (11 W. Jones St. and 121 W. Jones St.) in downtown Raleigh, is the state’s most visited cultural attraction. It is an active research institution that engages visitors of every age and stage of learning in the wonders of science and the natural world, drawing them into the intriguing fields of study that are critical to the future of North Carolina. Hours: Mon.- Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sun., noon-5 p.m. Admission is free. Visit the Museum on the Web at www.naturalsciences.org. Emlyn Koster, PhD, Director; Susan Kluttz, Secretary, N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources; Pat McCrory, Governor.
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state’s natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. Led by Secretary Susan Kluttz, NCDNCR’s mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state’s history, conserving the state’s natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development. NCDNCR includes 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, two science museums, three aquariums and Jennette’s Pier, 39 state parks and recreation areas, the N.C. Zoo, the nation’s first state-supported Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, State Preservation Office and the Office of State Archaeology, along with the Division of Land and Water Stewardship. For more information, please call (919) 807-7300 or visit www.ncdcr.gov.