DEB SPENCE | 3RD PLACE
2025 DRAWINGS COMPETITION

Debra Spence is a pastelist living and working in New South Wales, Australia. Drawing animals and birds has been her passion since childhood, and she was never without a set of colored pencils at the ready for when inspiration presented itself. She strives to create detailed, realistic drawings, never satisfied with the finished product unless she has rendered it as true to life as possible.

Spence’s work has garnered numerous awards and has been included in many exhibitions. She spoke to us about her art.

Why have you chosen pastels as your primary medium?

Early on in my adult art journey, I bought a box of pastels and pastel pencils to experiment with, and soon discovered they allowed me to create very realistic drawings with many layers of soft fur and vibrant feathers.

Most of my drawings are created entirely with pastel pencils, but with some larger pieces, I use pastels for the background and pastel pencils for the details. Pastel pencils are similar to color pencils but with pure pastel pigment inside the pencil shell. I find they offer the precision of a pencil with the brilliant colors and soft layering qualities of pastel.

What inspired the work “Cutlery Drawer?”

My first spoon drawing, “Lucky Spoons” (2022), was a finalist in several art prizes, and received international attention. The reaction to this work made me realize that everyday items can create a sense of nostalgia that resonate powerfully with people. Every home has a drawer like this, full of mismatched cutlery and utensils. Some pieces may have been in the family for years, others are from blended households, relationships, or from places long forgotten.

Using only pastel pencils to create the different patterns, shapes, and patina of the metallic cutlery was an enticing and challenging project. I like to push the boundaries of what pencils can achieve and I hope that shows in this drawing.

When you use reference photos, do you recreate the image as is or make adjustments to composition and color?

Finding inspiration for a drawing can often take longer than creating the artwork itself. I spend many hours searching through reference photos for an image that first appeals to me aesthetically and then presents a creative challenge.

I have collaborated with some amazing photographers, and I am very grateful for their talent and generosity in allowing me to use their photos. A great photographer can capture a moment in time perfectly, and I am compelled to pay tribute to this talent by creating a drawing as realistic and accurate as possible.

The appeal for me is the composition — often a jumbled mix of shapes and colors — as well as the artistic challenge of creating the different textures with pencils.

What do you try to convey when you draw birds, insects, or mammals?

Drawing animals and birds is my first love and I enjoy the challenge and technical skill involved in creating a realistic image of a living creature on a piece of paper. Trying to accurately capture the emotion in an animal’s expression is my ultimate goal.

All images © Copyright Deb Spence, shared with permission