Featured Artist Peggy Hicks

Artist Peggy Hicks shares a charming portfolio of human and animal portraits created in pencil and pastel. Visit her website to see more of her art.

 

 

I love pencil and all that you can create with a great set of pencils.

 

 

Growing up in a family of six in the Midway area of St. Paul, Minnesota, I never realized what a blessing those times were. I was taught a love of community, independence, different types of family, loyalty, loss and love. I think it also taught me to cling to my God-given gifts. I learned to love myself and open the door to my passion—drawing.

 

 

As an young artist, I felt that I could do whatever I wanted, anyway I wanted. I really miss that artist, but maturity has taught me much more. I remember when I first started drawing, I drew whatever I saw outside my bedroom—the front of the neighbor’s houses, duplexes and apartment building. But somehow it was not enough. I was always drawn to drawing peoples’ hands and fingers because they were so expressive to me. Eventually, I started to draw portraits because I wanted to captive the expressions I saw on their faces.

 

 

After graduating from high school, I went away to college and majored in Art. After finishing my first year, life intervened. I left school, got married and went to work. I had a varied career at the State of Minnesota, including as a full time Graphic Designer. After working for 36+ years and graduating Magna Cum Laude with two college degrees (one in Art and the other in Web Design and Interactive Media), I retired from the state. I then followed God’s call to return to my first love—art.

 

 

I still love pencil and I still get really excited to start a new drawing. I usually start a new creation working from a photo given as a commissioned piece or I grab an interesting photo image that I find in one of my online searches.

 

 

I am also a member of the Created to Thrive Christian Artist Mentoring Program (CTT), which has helped to me to grow in mind, body and spirit. It is teaching me how to be open to whatever God has for me to create. Following that lead, I am now also doing pastel portraits of people and pets. Most people love the color, but there is still an audience who love the clean lines and the stark beauty of a portrait story told in the black and white lines of a pencil portrait.

 

 

My new fun thing to do is to paint on fabric. I would love to create a line of hand painted clothing for future clients and customers who are excited about my work.

 

 

One of my favorite statements, from my CTT Mentor, Matt Tommey is, “It’s not what you create, but that you create is what pleases God.” And that I do believe. It’s what fuels me to create.

 

Peggy Hicks invites you to follow on Instagram and Facebook.

 

 

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