Artist Inspiration: CJ Hendry and Her Works in Coloured Pencil

Last fall, in search of inspiration, I came across a video of an artist creating the most incredible pencil crayon drawing I had ever seen. When I realized that the image was not a photograph but a drawing, I immediately looked up the artist and visited her website. It was like the metaphor about a kid in a candy store; I was truly amazed! Her name is Catherine Jenna Hendry (CJ Hendry), and she is a contemporary Australian artist known for her hyper-realistic, large-scale drawings. CJ Hendry was born in 1988 and began creating art as a hobby. This hobby eventually transformed her life. In 2014, she made her first sale, which was a depiction of a pair of boots made by the Australian footwear company R.M. Williams; it sold for $10,000. Since then, her artworks have reportedly earned her millions. Below are just a few of my favourite works by CJ Hendry.

After coming across CJ, I was immediately inspired to try out pencil crayon drawing. I created my first pencil crayon piece titled “Marry Me?” in my university drawing class. I had never worked with pencil crayons before; however, I had watched so many videos of CJ Hendry drawing that the pencil crayons seemed to take over! I spent about 25 hours on the drawing, and I loved the entire process. I spent the remainder of my semester in my drawing class creating two more pencil crayon works: “Hand in Hand” and “Mustang”. I had found my new favourite medium and I have been hooked ever since! I continue to create large and small-scale pencil crayon works, for commission and personal enjoyment.

Finding inspiration in the work of other artists is a crucial part of artistic development and discovering your personal style. No artist creates in complete solitude; art is a continuous conversation that spans various cultures and time periods. By examining how others approach elements like line, colour, composition, and themes, you can acquire new skills and enhance your artistic practice.

Moreover, other artists can provide a significant source of inspiration; seeing what they have achieved may remind you of why you are passionate about creating art. However, it is essential to remember that drawing inspiration from others does not mean replicating their work. Inspiration involves engaging with their ideas and expanding upon them in your own unique way. In an interview with Elsa Åkesson, CJ Hendry stated that “If you try to replicate what someone else has done, you will end up failing. You need to listen to the type of person you are, see what strengths and weaknesses you have and figure out what’s best for you and what would work for you from there.” Looking to others for inspiration is not just beneficial; it is a vital part of the journey to becoming an artist.