Oh wow, I have been reading your stories! It is so uplifting to hear from those of you who have kept creating even though the hardest of times... So much love to you all!!!

That was inspiring and it actually made me quite emotional. I have gone through art school as a young girl, even moved on to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts when I finished that but chose the wrong discipline (fashion). So after a year there I dropped out. Got married, became a mum, got divorced and always had a full time job. On and off I would do some painting or sketching but that was put aside completely 12 years ago when I started making and selling jewelry. Closed my shop 6 months ago and started working on a 4/5 schedule. Now, my 'free' day is Friday and I have baptised it 'crafty Friday'. At 62 I rediscovered the joy of creating with color pencils. I am always watching KZfaq videos and have been getting new supplies (much new stuff to discover). My ex husband gave me a 72 Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor set back in the nineties which I never used. In my old stash I found Polychromos, Derwent and Karisma pencils and I started a drawing. And now I'm hooked. A big thank you to all you artists out there who make time to make these inspiring videos.

Thank you for sharing your journey and story with us, and allowing us to share ours with you. I grew up as a vocalist and musician and became a nurse in my early adulthood while still performing music and drawing as well as raising my children. At 30 I was hit by a drunk driver and have lived in pain unable to work ever since. I had stitched and crocheted since a very young age thanks to my grandma, and that kept me sane while at home raising my kids and Eskies(my service animals) following the accident but I could no longer draw. Last year I started diamond painting and started my KZfaq which helped me learn to regain more control of the the shaking and jerking that my hands tend to do. Then this February while a dear girl was visiting us I was sick and unable to sit up much so I asked my son for a piece of drawing paper and pulled out my graphite pencils. The friend loved what I drew and ordered me paper and colored pencil and commissioned my to draw all 5 of her dogs individually. Now here I am at almost 50 years old adding to my supplies once in awhile when finances permit and drawing dogs and other animals daily for a few clients and sometimes just to see if I can draw the next animal too.

I really enjoyed hearing about how you got into pencil colouring and am really glad you shared. I've always been interested in art. I'd happily spend whole afternoons drawing as a young girl and would have been in my element if every lesson at school had been art. However, I didn't believe I was good enough to take it further and nobody suggested I should, so began many years of working jobs that never really felt quite right but I've never been without a pack of pencils for when an arty moment would seize me. A couple of years ago I stopped working to help my husband recover from cancer op and picked up my pencils/pastels now and again for some 'me time'. Like many people in the last year of Covid restrictions not just here in uk but everywhere, I turned to art & tried acrylic paints for the first time with mixed results, epoxy resin seascapes also with mixed results but all of it great fun none-the-less. Then a few days ago I found your video of 'the pear'. I bought some oms, followed your tutorial and wow! So pleased with the result! I'm enjoying looking through your other work (doing the rose tomorrow) and shall be trying many more for sure. You come across as a lovely person with great warmth and I'm really glad I found you on KZfaq. Stay safe over there.

Love this story so much. Living through ISO lockdowns of varying degrees since the end of March this year has provided the opportunity to reconnect with my creative side. Much like your story. I had studied art for a little while after leaving high school but then life got in the way. I parked it for just over 25 years. Because of ISO I was invited by a friend to join a weekly online drawing class via zoom. Although I have been with my husband now for almost 20 years, he never knew I could draw like I am drawing now. An artist in my group who exhibits her paintings in galleries is now trying to encourage the group to have a student exhibition at a gallery. She is also teaching us ways to start making some money from our works. I joined the group in April and have produced pieces I would never have imagined. It’s been so amazing to reconnect to what I have always loved now that I have more time to draw with kids being older and extra time due to lockdown. I now have friends telling me how much they love my work and recently one of my pieces on social media was reposted by an Artists Society page in my state. So it was great to hear your story as it mirrored so much of what has happened to me this year. If it hadn’t have been for ISO I may not have reconnected with it. I am also loving discovering all the materials that are now available that I didn’t know about all those years ago, like solvent and mono erasers. Thanks for your post.

I really loved your story; actually I loved it as much as your art piece. Here’s what I know about creating art: anyone, and I mean anyone can learn to do art. I enjoyed it as a kid, and my skills were “OK“. Later I just didn’t have time for it, and it certainly wasn’t a priority. A few years ago a friend invited me to go to one of those “wine in art“ events. That was when I started using acrylics. From acrylics I tried watercolor pencil, and then watercolors. Earlier this year I discover a love of colored pencil. I’ve done some of the best work ever with this medium. I’ve decided to also try pastels, and will be digging into that right after the holidays. My friends say I’m talented. (Hey, they’re friends; they have to say that!) But I know I don’t have that natural talent some artist have. It’s really about being passionate enough about something to keep trying, practicing, and learning to see things in a new way. I hope others use this time of “being stuck at home“ to learn a new passion for art. I know it can be frustrating at first, but keep trying. It’s amazing what you can do.

This had me in tears---what a wonderfully inspirational story this is. It resonates so much with me as I'm sure it will many others although our journey to art may be vastly different. I found my way back to art after many years and am finding it not only feels like I'm finally doing what I was always meant to do but it also is a great stress reliever for dealing with tough times as foster parents. New sub and can't wait to check out your other videos! Thanks for inspiring others!

Inspiring, thank you Cassandra🙏 Beautiful drawing😍

That really touched me , it actually brought tears to my eyes , i felt your story i have been in similar helpless situations , thank you for sharing and your artwork is beautiful

Oh wow! I relate so much to your story,... well, the beginning of it. I've been a "grayscale" artist for so long that I've developed a real respect for anything to do with color. I too feared that I had to colormatch everything perfectly on the first try, and my brain doesn't work that way. I see color, and then I see the shadows and highlights, but not as one thing if that makes sense...?! Anyway, when I learned about layering and glazing, color seemed less daunting. 😅 I'm still new to it all, but it's fun to incorporate color in my studies now. 😊 Thanks for sharing your story and the beautiful drawing! 💙

Nice to see a fellow Australian.

Oh wow! I am 74 years old, have been retired for 17. My children are all grown up with their own families and we have been hands on helping to look after grandchildren. I started painting again first with acrylics, then pastel pencils, followed by watercolours, gouache, back to pastels (bought heaps of pan pastels) and now looking at coloured pencils over the pastel backgrounds. I still have a set of 72 Derwent Artists coloured pencils from my school days!!! but now thinking of going out to buy some Polychromos - are they easier to work with than the Derwent? My biggest problem though is getting over the guilt to sit down and draw when there are still dishes in the sink, beds unmade, dog to walk etc - blah, blah, blah. You are amazing! 5 children and you still find time! My husband is very supportive. He is always saying to leave the housework but I cannot relax if the place is not tidy. Then by the time I have done all I need to ( want to) I am often too tired to draw. I know, I’m my own worst enemy. I will keep trying. All the best, you are an inspiration.

This is a most inspiring true life story!Thank you so much for sharing it. You had me in tears a few times. This isn't just about art exploration, it is about living life, and setting priorities, and we all get led astray from our own true desires at times.

Thank you!

Thanks for the insperatiomal jumpstart.

Beautiful Falcone painting and words of wisdom coming from someone who’s been there done that. ❤️❤️❤️

You are a brilliant story teller. If you haven't already, you should write that down and try submitting it to magazines. It's a great tale of necessity as the mother of invention.

Thank you so much Cassandra you are truly inspirational!

I have just recently found your channel. I absolutely love your work!

In January 2020 I bought a set of 120 coloured pencils and a couple of Canson 220 pads as kind of a new years art project. Then all this virus stuff happened and my set of pencils went for a fun trip around the globe then got lost in transit. At the end of February I considered them lost for good...so I went online and purchased another set of 120 pencils. Well, by mid March BOTH coloured pencil sets arrived on my doorstep and I though 'omg - what have I done' - turns out - it was the BEST thing ever because soon after they arrived Australia went further into restrictions ...and while it took a little while to adjust to some initial days of boredom I have had the glorious time (and materials) to really dive in to this medium. It's saved my sanity for sure - my new routine is drawing daily and I'm completely obsessed!!! That's my silver lining :)

This was wonderful. It is motivational as well. I've been trying this KZfaq thing for almost a year. This encouraged me to reflect on my past and analyze my expectations for the future.🙏🏻

Gyr falcons are my favourite bird. 😊 The weather has been very sunny here and that kills my motivation, but I've got all my blue supplies ready and waiting for the first rainy day. 😊

Man I'm sooo inspired. 😍😍😍😍

How totally inspiring! I am so happy for you to have received family support for your talents, so that you can share your amazing visual and creative gifts with your audience. I am beginning to feel ready for my next adventure by keeping white truy white! Thank you!

What a wonderful and inspiring story! I waste too much time watching youtube and not enough painting and drawing although I do have good art supplies.

Love the drawing ... and your story is so inspiring!! I have been hoovering up quite a lot of the colouring pencils techniques on KZfaq over the last few months too !!

Great to hear how you got started Cassandra!! Sometimes we just fall into things completely blind to where it will go. The falcon piece is gorgeous! The patterning is delightful. TFS!!

Love that story Cassandra. You were so lucky to have alot of support as a child. I wish I would have had that. I craved to have someone notice my art. Love this falcon. Hope you are staying safe at home and I Hope to see more of your beautiful art ! Take care 💗

beautiful

Love it. Same here , I had to buy my polychromo pencils two or three at a time

Good to see you. Stay safe and healthy down under. ❤️❤️❤️

A beautiful piece Cassandra. From one Aussie to another, thanks mate! (-: Marion

Thanks for the story and encouragement!

That’s a very inspirational story. And a beautiful drawing

The best motivational video I've ever seen, thank you for that. I will be sharing it & hopefully you will gain more subscribers.

Amazing drawing love it detail shade colors detail look feather realistic keep going amazing work 😍😄👍

Thank you so much for such an inspirational video you are a special person xx

I loved loved loved your story! thank you so much for sharing :)

Wow this so amazing drawing love it detail look realistic keep going amazing work 😱😍😄👍

Do you have a patreon tutorial library?

audio should be fixed, it is too low

I would rather hear about what you are doing while drawing .