The Colored Pencil Society of America is a nonprofit organization founded in 1990 by Vera Curnow exclusively dedicated to the promotion of artists working in colored pencil.  At that time, it was difficult for colored pencils to be recognized as a fine art medium.

With almost 2000 members worldwide, CPSA provides members with two annual exhibits, Explore This! a mixed media online exhibit and the International Exhibit in conjunction with the convention with seminars, workshops, and product information.

In addition, CPSA publishes a twice-yearly full-color magazine To the Point, a networking directory.

CPSA also supports district chapters across the United States.

CPSA is supported by Patrons and Sponsors including colored pencil manufacturers.

Recognizing that lightfastness is the single most important quality issue to colored pencil artists today, CPSA has been working in conjunction with the ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials), colored pencil manufacturers, and art conservators towards the development of a standard of lightfastness for colored pencils.

Test results are available to CPSA members, patrons, and sponsors.

Learn more about lightfastness testing.

Order a lightfastness workbook. (Remember you must be a CPSA member!)

Looking back by Jeffrey Smart Baisden, CPSA founding President of DC 113.

Organizational Meeting
CPSA District Chapter 113 – Gainesville, Florida, November 15, 1997. Suwannee River Regional Library.

Front L to R: Carolyn Purdy, Tracy Delegal, Carlynne Hershberger, Fran Dellaporta, Nell Moores.
Rear L to R:  Chris Flanagan, Carole law Trachy, Jeffrey Smart Baisden, Betsy Bergman, C.T. Baisden, Frances Gray, Janis Brothers, Caroline Aiello.

On several occasions, CPSA founder, Vera Curnow asked me about starting a CPSA district chapter in northern Florida.

There was an existing DC in Fort Lauderdale far to the south of our membership area. We already had CPSA members in Ocala, Tallahassee and Live Oak, a requirement for district chapter membership. In October, 1997 I sent out invitations for an organizational meeting in Live Oak. Referring to the CPSA Membership Directory, I sent to members within a reasonable driving distance.

Fifteen excited and potential colored pencil artists attended.

We chose a slate of officers, meeting schedule and chapter goals. I had consulted Bobbie Bradford from DC 202 in San Diego for guidance with our start-up. We were CPSA District Chapter 113 -?. We were asked to choose a known city as designation. We became CPSA DC 113 Gainesville, Florida.

Since November, 1997 we have grown in membership and area. We now have two significant centers of membership: Live Oak in the north and Tampa-Dunedin in the south. We have members in the Orlando area and down to and beyond Sarasota.

In 1998 we began annual weekend retreats, now twice a year, for uninterrupted drawing and fellowship. We have sponsored workshops with nationally recognized colored pencil artists, chapter exhibitions, and hosted two CPSA International Exhibitions in 2014 and 2022. Several of our members have held seats on the CPSA National Governing Board including Melissa Miller Nece as past president.