Close Up Interview with Founder of Australian Coloured Pencils Network Belinda Lindhardt

Tell us a little about Australian Coloured Pencils Network  and your role?

The Australian Coloured Pencils Network is an online community for Australian Coloured Pencil Artists. Via our network our aim is to promote and raise awareness of coloured pencil art in Australia and provide resources and exposure for Australian coloured pencil artists and all coloured pencil art in the Australian and Worldwide art community.
I started the ACPN when I couldn’t find any other Australian coloured pencil artists and gradually grew the site from a blog to what it is today. I do all the tasks connected with the ACPN such as administration, marketing, technical updates etc.

What are the five words that people who know you would use to describe ACPN?

A wonderful online community of artists.

2012 ACPN Calendar

Tell us about ACPN and what you can do to help the colour pencil artists?

ACPN a place where artists can find resources and discuss coloured pencils with other likeminded artists.  Generally  artists are spread out all over Australia and on the site we can come together and  they can find out about suppliers, equipment and techniques from other artists as well as from the articles on the website. We also run 2 exhibitions a year to help promote cp art and individual artists work. Through our sponsors S&S creativity Unlimited (www.creativityunlimited.com.au) we are able to offer fantastic prizes at our exhibitions – which we hope to take into a real life exhibition one day.  Artists can upload their artwork for help or critique in our forums. We also hold a “Featured Member” article once a month and a monthly newsletter for listings of coloured pencil workshops and exhibitions in local areas and to keep up to day with industry and member news. Our directory contains links to artists websites as well as suppliers and other places of interest to Australian Coloured Pencil Artists which we endeavour to help promote all of our artists via our network.

What was the purpose on starting ACPN and how has the concept come about?

The ACPN came about after,  I as an coloured pencil artist, wanted to connect with other Australian Coloured Pencil artists (there were fantastic artists online but they were all located in the UK or US) so it meant difficulty in talking with them about art due to timezone differences.  Art Supplies in Australia are also different or difficult to come than over there and  I also wanted to be able to one day visit an exhibition which contained works by other cp artists.
So I started a blog with the hope that somehow someone would find me and to be able to share all my findings with other artists who were looking for find out about creating art with coloured pencils.
 Founder of ACPN
Belinda Lindhardt

What are the most common issues that relate to artists who come to see you?

Wanting to find out more information about art materials and techniques for those just starting out, as well as professional cp artist who wish to help grow the cp art community in Australia.  Everyone just loves pencils and wants to talk with others who do too!!!

Tell us more about your service offer?

People can become subscribe to become a member for $14.95inc GST for 1 year’s access to the website which allows them access to special members articles, members newsletter, members gallery and access to the forum to talk with other members.
This fees helps with all the running costs for the website and time involved in keeping it maintained and without which there would be no website.
As part of their membership are also able enter into our exhibitions, and have their website (if they have one) promoted on our site, and have the option of participating in group projects or become a featured member in our newsletters / website.

What advice can you offer to new and existing artists who would like to promote  their name and their art work?

Artists wishing to become a featured member on our site or newsletter I invite you to please become and member and support our community at:
http://www.colouredpencils.com.au/register/and ask about becoming a featured member.
If you wish you may submit your website on our directory at: (only websites relating to art and/or coloured pencils are accepted) http://www.colouredpencils.com.au/directory/
If you are a professional artist and are holding an exhibition or workshop in colouredpencils we would love to hear from you and get your information out to our members who would love to hear from you.  Please email sharppoint@colouredpencils.com.au

Do you have a book that you would like to recommend?

No we do have though a group project that we participated in at the end of this year where you can view our 2012 ACPN group calendar you can view/buy this calendar at: http://www.colouredpencils.com.au/featured/2012-acpn-calendar/
 Or you may view our recent 2011 Online Exhibition at:

Where do we find your services? (list office, links websites & contact personnel)

Contact is: Belinda Lindhardt
Vinh Van Lam
the authorVinh Van Lam
Vinh Van Lam, co-founder of ArtSHINE, is a visionary art coach and entrepreneur with a passion for fostering creativity. With a diverse background in art and business, he brings a unique perspective to empower emerging artists, enabling them to thrive in the dynamic art industry through the innovative platform of ArtSHINE.

1 Comment

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.