JESSE LANE | 1ST PLACE, 2024 DRAWINGS COMPETITION
1st Place Winning Entry, 2024 Drawings Competition
Jesse Lane, Adrenaline, colored pencil
Jesse Lane
Texas-based artist Jesse Lane has made a name for himself with realistic portraits, rendered in colored pencil. His work has won national and international awards and has been featured in many publications. A signature member of the Colored Pencil Society of America, Lane spoke to us about his work and his compelling personal story.
Jesse Lane, Undercurrents, colored pencil
What inspired you to become an artist?
As a kid with dyslexia, I was bad at most things and didn't excel at anything. My frustrations lead me to pursue art — I wanted something that didn't make me feel like a failure. At first, I didn't think I could improve, but I felt desperate enough to try anything. It was the first time in my life I had a goal.
I pushed myself and saw small, but consistent, progress with each drawing, and I began to feel like I had a place in this world. To me, that was a great treasure, even more than the art I made.
Eventually, I thought of myself as an artist. I didn't think I was heading toward an art career though, I just felt I was a kid with some colored pencils searching to find himself.
In the beginning, there was a lot I couldn't control — how much talent I had or my dyslexia — but I could control how hard I worked and how much enthusiasm I had for drawing. In a way, art saved my life.
Jesse Lane, Left: Manifest, colored pencil. Right: Pause, colored pencil.
What made you choose colored pencils as your medium of choice?
Colored pencil is a medium gaining recognition as it is being redefined in the hands of hyper-realists. It lends itself to precision, control, and realism. It's a very slow medium and each piece takes months to complete, but it can create a strong depth of color. A pencil's fine point makes every mark intentional. No area of a piece can be passed over quickly, and I savor each passage as an integral chapter in a larger story.
Adrenaline is a self-portrait about accepting what I can't control, which can lead to a sense of renewal. The figure is leaning into crashing water with his arms outstretched, creating a sort of peace and comfort amid chaos.
