Taught by John Middick – LIVE and in-person in Lewisville, NC
A 2-day Workshop
(Friday & Saturday)
October 16 (5:30-8pm) & October 17 (9am-4pm)
Two ways to participate in this workshop:
- On-line via Zoom, or
- In-person Watch Party! at Mary Alice Warren Community Center, Lewisville, NC
There’s something magical about drawing children—the soft features, the spark in their eyes, the sense of wonder they carry. Capturing that spirit in colored pencil can feel tricky, but with the proper guidance, it becomes one of the most rewarding subjects you’ll ever take on.
In this two-day workshop, John Middick will walk you through a complete approach to creating a child’s portrait, step by step. You’ll discover what sets children’s faces apart, how to see proportions with fresh eyes, and how to bring a young personality forward with small, thoughtful choices.
Friday is all about building a strong foundation. John will show you how to find the likeness, understand the differences between child and adult features, and choose which details will help—not hinder—your realism. You’ll also learn John’s 20 practical “portrait rules,” time-tested tools that make the drawing process clearer, smoother, and far more enjoyable.
Saturday shifts into bringing the portrait to life. You’ll explore soft, luminous skin tones, how to match colors accurately, and how to use layering, dry-brush blending, and controlled solvent work to create depth without losing the gentle qualities of a child’s face.
By the end, you’ll walk away with a portrait in progress, a full process you can use again and again, and the confidence to capture those fleeting expressions that make childhood so special. If you’ve ever wanted to elevate your portrait work—or simply celebrate the wonder and innocence of children—this is a workshop you won’t want to miss.
This workshop will be offered live online via Zoom. A video of the workshop will be sent to all registered a couple days following the completion of the workshop.
**Cancellation/Refund Policy: Since a video recording of this workshop will be available for all who register, there will be no refunds for cancellations or no-shows
Join our Watch Party! If you are local to Lewisville, NC, and would like to participate in this Zoomed workshop with a group of other colored pencil artists, then register to attend our Watch Party! The party will be held at Mary Alice Warren Community Center in Lewisville at the same time as the workshop. Fun, food, and fellowship while learning….What could be better?!?
About John:
Born in 1971 and raised among the wheat and cotton fields of southwest Oklahoma, John Middick developed a love for drawing early on—sketching cattle, horses, and the rural landscapes of his childhood. Surrounded by nature and farm life, he honed his skills in graphite, laying the foundation for what would later become a celebrated art career.
After spending twenty years in the IT industry, John transitioned into a full-time career as an artist and instructor. Now based in the Midwest, he’s best known for his emotionally resonant and technically precise colored pencil portraits. While his early work focused on animals and landscapes, his artistic passion now centers around the human face—capturing personality, mood, and story through layered realism.
John’s signature technique involves blending oil- and wax-based colored pencils with solvent and dry brush methods to achieve a painterly, mixed media effect. His approach often incorporates PanPastel, watercolor, graphite, and other media—creating rich, nuanced surfaces that push the boundaries of traditional colored pencil work.
In 2015, John launched the Sharpened Artist Podcast—now the longest-running podcast dedicated to colored pencil as a fine art medium—where he shares process insights and interviews leading voices in the art world. He is also a Signature Member of the Colored Pencil Society of America. Through his private online community, which comprises over 800 artists, and his extensive course library, John has taught thousands of students worldwide.
John’s work has been featured in Color Magazine, Colored Pencil Magazine, CP Magic, and Strokes of Genius, and recognized with numerous juried awards. Last year, he was named a semi-finalist in the Art Renewal Center’s 17th ARC Salon, and his piece was included in the Lunar Codex project—sending contemporary artworks to the Moon as part of a historic archival time capsule.
He has also served as a juror and show judge for national and international exhibitions, including Inside the Lines 5 hosted by the United Kingdom Colored Pencil Society and the 2020 UART Premium Sanded Pastel Paper Competition.
He now works and teaches from his studio in Cincinnati, Ohio, continuing to create and inspire others through his art, teaching, and dedication to the colored pencil community.
