Teresa Pennington is a self-taught colored pencil artist who often spends as much as four months on one drawing.
Pennington has been commissioned by the Biltmore Estate and has completed four series of drawings capturing the grandeur of the house and gardens. Other scenes she has captured include Grandfather Mountain, Cold Mountain, and Mabry Mill, one of the most photographed features on the Blue Ridge Parkway (mile marker 176).
She records the large and small, with a tender regard for the details of chickadees and hummingbirds, as well as orchids and fruit.
Pennington has forged a formidable reputation working in colored pencil. Renowned for her luminous color and sensitive line, Pennington’s mastery of the colored pencil has made her a household name in Western North Carolina.
Rapid River Magazine: Thank you for taking the time for this interview. When did you discover your love of colored pencils, and are they your preferred medium to work with?
Teresa Pennington: Being self-taught, I tried other mediums, but fell in love with colored pencils after receiving a set of Prismacolors for Christmas. That was 30 years ago. It is my perfect medium and suits my personality and style. Everything I do is colored pencil only. There are no solvents or water used.
RR: Many artists have a message, a deeper meaning they wish to express – what is your message to us all?
TP: I believe this is what I was born to do. God has blessed me in so many ways and I try to honor Him with my work. Rendering the natural beauty of our region is my first love.
When I am looking out at a sweeping vista of the Blue Ridge Mountains I feel like I am standing on God’s shoulders. It is a glimpse of eternity. To be able to make a living transferring that splendor to paper is more than anyone could ever hope for in this life.
RR: Where does your inspiration come from when making art, and what is it about your subjects that inspire you?
TP: Have you ever looked at a small flower up close? Looking through a magnifying glass at the tiny veins and reproductive parts in the Pink Lady’s Slippers and observing the bees and butterflies as they pollinate the myriad species we have in this area inspires me to illustrate every tiny detail. But I am also inspired by the majestic grandeur of the Biltmore House and Estate. That same attention to detail is also expressed through the drawings I have done for them of the intricate architectural designs of the house and gardens.
RR: How has your style developed and changed over time?
TP: My work started out small. As I gained confidence my drawings became larger, bolder and warmer in color. I spend more time in research for scientific accuracy. After my mother passed away I started drawing a small Lady’s Slipper in all of my pieces in her memory. She was my biggest fan and it was her favorite flower. I miss her encouragement.
RR: Typically how long does it take for you to finish a drawing from inspiration to framing?
TP: That is a tough question to answer because the sizes of my pieces vary so much. In general, I spend anywhere from several days to four months. The drawings of Biltmore are the most time consuming. I was commissioned to do a series of overlook drawings of the Blue Ridge Parkway to celebrate the 75th anniversary. There were four of them and each one took four months to complete not counting the time I spent on the parkway photographing.
RR: Are you currently working on any new projects or series you would care to share with us?
TP: The drawing on the cover is a new piece and is a departure from my typical work. It is entitled “Forest Realm” and came completely from my imagination. When I was a little girl I loved to play in the woods around our house by myself. I would make people out of twigs and build little houses for them out of stones.
The little flowers and the people I made became magically real to me. I had so much fun drawing the fairies and tiny little creatures in this piece. I believe in angels so why not fairies?
I will celebrate 30 years in business in 2015 and I will be doing an anniversary series. Interestingly enough, it is also the anniversary of the national park system. That is the only hint I will give you as to its subject matter.
TPennington Art Gallery
15 N. Main Street in Waynesville
(828) 452-9284
www.tpennington.com