The Heritage Fine Arts Guild Presents: Back to Childhood—Colored Pencils as a Useful Art Medium with Kelly Almer

The Heritage Fine Arts Guild Presents: Back to Childhood—Colored Pencils as a Useful Art Medium with Kelly Almer

The Heritage Fine Arts Guild invites artists and creatives of all levels to a hands-on colored pencil workshop led by local artist Kelly Almer. Participants will revisit this familiar tool and learn modern techniques for drawing, layering, and blending—whether using colored pencil on its own or alongside other media. Attendees will leave with practical skills, new ideas, and a fresh appreciation for an approachable, versatile medium.

Workshop Details:
📅 Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
⏰ Time: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
📍 Location: Ascension Lutheran Church, 1701 W Caley Ave, Littleton, CO
💲 Cost: $35 for Guild members | $75 for non-members
📝 Register: https://www.heritage-guild.com/workshopsevents.html. Payment serves as registration.

What you’ll learn: This informal, information-rich session covers drawing basics, colored pencil blending and layering, and technique demonstrations. Work alongside Kelly to create a small finished piece while picking up tips you can apply to future projects, including mixed-media work.

SUPPLIES (BRING WHAT YOU HAVE)
• Reference photos: a family member/friend, a flower, a fall still life (pumpkins/leaves), a storefront scene (glass/reflections), and a puppy/kitten (fur practice). If you don’t have these, Kelly will provide copies to follow along.
• Colored pencils: set of 12 or 24 (24 preferred). Suggested brands include Faber-Castell Polychromos, Prismacolor Premier, Crayola Signature Blend & Shade, Castle Arts Premium, Caran d’Ache Luminance, and Holbein.
• Eraser and drawing pencil: kneaded, Magic Rub, or white eraser; a standard #2 pencil (or drawing pencils).
• Paper: smooth white drawing paper (e.g., Strathmore Bristol Smooth, 100 lb; suggested pad size 9″ x 12″). Kelly will supply small sample sheets for practice.
• Pencil sharpener: hand-held is fine; an electric sharpener will be available to try.
• Optional: carbon paper for transferring images (or freehand drawing).

ARTIST BIO
Kelly Almer is a Littleton, CO artist who has been drawing since childhood. She returned to her artistic roots by focusing on colored pencil in November 2024, creating realistic animals, cityscapes, seasonal subjects, and local/international scenes. Her work has appeared in the “This is Colorado 2025” gallery exhibition (Sept/Oct 2025) and the Stanton Art Gallery HFAG members show (Nov 2025), and one piece was included in the “CP Magic” Showcase issue for 2025. She will be the featured cover and inside artist in the upcoming October 2026 issue, including a colored pencil tutorial and interview.
More on the 2025 “CP Magic! Colored Pencil Showcase” issue: CP Magic! Colored Pencil Showcase 2025 – Mixam.

She can be reached via email at: coffeeshopclassroom@gmail.com
Her Instagram account is: https://www.instagram.com/columbinewatercolors/

This workshop is made possible in part by funding from the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) and the Littleton Arts & Culture Grant. We are grateful for their continued support of the arts in our community.

Register now: Join Kelly Almer on Saturday, May 16, 2026 (9:00 AM–3:00 PM) in Littleton for a creative day of colored pencil techniques. Visit heritage-guild.com (Workshops/Events) to sign up; payment serves as registration.