Drawing Frogs with Colored Pencils – Finding Joy in Small Moments

Drawing Frogs with Colored Pencils – Finding Joy in Small Moments

This semester, my students and I are exploring frogs as our main theme in colored pencil drawing. Frogs may seem like a simple subject, but they are full of charm and expression—playful, mysterious, sometimes even comical. By observing and drawing them, students not only practice careful observation but also learn how to bring out personality and life in their artwork.

One of the greatest benefits of drawing frogs is how naturally they fit into vibrant, colorful environments. Their bright eyes, flexible poses, and delicate skin textures give students endless opportunities to experiment with color blending, shading, and layering. Colored pencil, with its ability to produce both soft gradients and sharp detail, is the perfect medium for capturing the gleam in a frog’s eye, the smoothness of its skin, and the lush greens of the leaves that surround it.

Colored pencil art has its own special meaning. Unlike faster mediums, it requires patience—each layer is slowly built up, one stroke at a time. This process teaches students to slow down, to notice subtle details, and to appreciate the value of perseverance. In a world that often demands speed, drawing in colored pencil allows us to pause and stay present in the creative moment.

We plan to complete ten frog drawings this year. Just as we did last year, these works will be collected and transformed into a calendar. It’s always amazing to see how individual drawings come together as a complete set, turning into a functional artwork that can be appreciated every day of the year. For those who are curious, here is a look at last year’s calendar project:

https://www.annakoh.com/blog/energy-and-curiosity-from-12-cats

https://www.annakoh.com/blog/2025-new-calendar-have-a-great-year

It’s hard to believe that more than half of the year has already passed. But through drawing, I find myself more grounded in today, more appreciative of each quiet moment with my students. Art gives us a way to stop time, even briefly, and to celebrate the beauty of now. For that, I am grateful.

Discover the joy of drawing frogs with colored pencils. See how students explore texture, color, and patience through art, and how their works come together in a yearly calendar project.