|
I want to share my recent art commissions with you. The portraits feature Mindy, a lovely Calico shorthair with one eye. A loving husband commissioned them as a special gift for his wife on their golden wedding anniversary, which is today. I am hoping that Maureen will cherish them.
I spent about seven weeks creating these paintings using GOLDEN heavy body acrylics on Ampersand Gessobord. I am very detail-oriented and used a sword liner to apply every strand of fur, from short hairs to long whiskers. I worked on both paintings intermittently in between other tasks.   The painting is 12" x 12" in size and was framed in the beautiful Windermere Bronze moulding. An acrylic painting is not framed behind glass, but a couple of protective layers were applied, to preserve it for many years to come.   This is the final painting of the second portrait of Mindy, which measures 12" x 16" and is painted with acrylic. Mindy's owner, Michael, provided me with numerous high-quality digital photos of Mindy. These photos were used as a reference for creating the portrait, ensuring that every detail and colour was accurately represented.  If you are interested in commissioning your own bespoke portrait, you can find out more on our COMMISSIONS page.  The completed paintings were carefully wrapped and packed with two certificates of authenticity and a sheet on how to care for acrylic paintings. I'm sure these paintings will be appreciated for many years to come.
Happy anniversary to Michael and Maureen
0 Comments
Fortunately, the weather has been great here in Newbiggin by the Sea. My partner John Graham and I have taken advantage of the warm, sunny days by going on bike rides along the coast. After being limited in our movements due to the Covid-19 lockdown for seven weeks, it felt amazing to enjoy the beauty of the Northumberland coastline again. I've included some photos from our bike ride and some recent artwork I've been working on. Lastly, I wanted to share that John spotted a rare bird in Newbiggin. Please keep reading to see what bird it was. Newbiggin in the sunLast week, John and I went for a bike ride along the coast. We took a break at Beacon's Point, a popular spot for birdwatchers known to have rare birds occasionally. We enjoyed the warm weather and took some time to relax on the cliff edge before moving on towards Lynemouth power station, hoping to spot some Flycatchers and Whinchats. We followed a path alongside the golf course covered in gorse bushes, providing an ideal bird nesting place.
'On the Easel' - Kingfisher in AcrylicsI have had some relaxing evenings in the studio recently. Having set my sights on completing some of my unfinished paintings, which have been sitting on the shelf for a while, I got the paints back out. The Kingfisher painting is a simple composition, making the final piece compelling. This bird overpowers its drab surroundings, so extra detail is optional. I created the wooden post using a mix of paint and texture gel, and the raindrops added at the end helped frame the bird perfectly. This 9" x 12" acrylic painting is available for sale, framed or unframed. You can see some framed examples below. Get in touch for details about purchasing this painting. Last year, John took this reference image used for this painting. The area around him was filled with open fields and small wooded areas, providing abundant wildlife. One morning, a Kingfisher landed on a wooden post and posed momentarily, allowing John to capture a few images before it flew away. 'On the Easel' - Bullfinch & Apple Blossom acrylic paintingI made this painting by combining two reference images - one of a Bullfinch and the other of apple blossoms. Near my home, there's a cycle path lined with apple blossom trees where I often spot Bullfinches. However, I couldn't capture a photo of the bird and the blossoms simultaneously. So, I used a Bullfinch image taken by John. The painting is 8" x 8" and made with acrylic. It is now available for sale, either framed or unframed. If you want to purchase this portrait, don't hesitate to contact me for more details. What a find!One morning, John was lucky to spot a beautiful European Bee-Eater flying over a nearby lake. Despite being far away, the Bee-Eater was easily recognizable due to its long beak and bright colours. While there have been reports of Bee-Eaters in other parts of the country, this was the first sighting of one in Newbiggin by the sea.  European Bee-Eater in Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland,UK Whilst in confinement, I plan to complete a 'few' pieces of art that have been hanging around the studio for a while. Over the weekend, I worked on a painting of myself with our old Labrador/Collie cross called Cindy. I am using the Ampersand Pastelbord which allows me to create smooth layers due to its texture. You can find more of my acrylic paintings in my online art gallery
Bespoke commissions are available to book. Latest Articles at my Step by Step Art websiteFor those who do not know, I have a dedicated website for artists with free articles covering different mediums and art products. I have just completed 8 new articles for my Step by Step Art website which can be viewed by clicking on any of the image links below. These cover coloured pencils, acrylic paints, graphite pencils & pastels as well as art accessories, papers and mini tutorials plus guest posts by other artists such as Welsh oil painter Chris Chalk. In his article, he offers advice on which 3 products you will need to start out with oils. Each article will open a new tab to the Step by Step Art website. Mini Tutorial Graphite Pencils - Blending & Erasing for Beginners
Please feel free to share this article or any of the articles and Workshops over at the Step by Step Art website by clicking on any of the 'social' buttons.
Last year (2017), I started receiving Christmas orders as early as September, which kept me busy throughout the season. From mid-October onwards, I worked 10-12 hours a day, creating a schedule list for each day to ensure that all the portraits were completed on time. Some orders were from overseas, and I had to make sure that any frames ordered were received well in advance as framers tend to be very busy during the festive season. My goal was to finish all the orders a week before I travelled to my hometown of Chesterfield, but I worked late into the night before my journey. Fortunately, everything went smoothly, and the person who commissioned it met me at the train station in Chesterfield to collect the portrait of Star the Chow Chow. The painting had travelled with me for six hours on a bus, coach, and train inside my suitcase. The lady who commissioned the painting gave me a lovely bunch of flowers. I was delighted to see the recipients' positive comments on Christmas day after receiving their beloved pets' portrait. Click on any of the images to visit the progress pages. I've completed all the Christmas commissions and took a well-deserved break to recharge. Now, I'm back in the studio, creating new articles and planning exciting art workshops for 2018 on my Step by Step Art website. There are numerous tasks to accomplish behind the scenes. If you're interested in booking a personalized commission or are an artist searching for helpful articles, mini-tutorials, and a chance to attend a 1-day art workshop with me, click on the links below to visit my website. Here's hoping 2018 is a wonderful year for you! Karen Hi All! It's been a while since I've updated my news page. I've been swamped with work here in the studio. In August, I wrapped up my last art workshop of the year. Today, I'd like to share some of my latest acrylic paintings with you.  I have a list of paintings I need to start and some to finish. I recently added more shelves to my studio to accommodate all my portraits. I like to work on multiple pieces simultaneously and switch between different mediums, which works best for me. Currently, I have many paintings at various stages of completion, with more nearing the end than just starting. I want to share a couple of recent uncompleted works that I have been working on recently. Amethyst Sunbird on Red Hot PokerI recently discovered Scotch Macaskill's Reference photos website, which has reignited my passion for bird art. Scotch, an amateur photographer based in South Africa, captures stunning photos of the country's wildlife during his safaris using whatever camera he has available. I have collected many reference images from the photographer's website because he has some stunning wildlife portraits.Check out one of my latest works, a male Amethyst Sunbird feeding on a Red Hot Poker flower (also known as a Torch Lily). Haze the Black LabradorJohn and I love to take our four dogs for a stroll on the weekends. Seeing them frolicking in the local lake is always fun—an excellent opportunity to get some fantastic pictures of them. I've decided to convert some of my photos to paintings. With four cherished reference photos, I've already completed a portrait of our Springer Spaniel, Casper. My primary objective is to craft a vibrant representation of our beloved Labrador, Haze. The slideshow below showcases the evolution of this painting in four distinct stages. When it comes to creating my art, I always begin by carefully crafting the background first. This sets the tone and provides a foundation for the main subject to come to life. Once the background is just right, I shift my focus to the subject, ensuring that I perfect the fine detail and that the overall composition is balanced. This methodical approach has proven highly effective in producing captivating pieces that stand out.
Thank you for taking the time to view my post. If you found it interesting, please feel free to like it or leave a comment below. The latest articles available at www.stepbystepart.co.ukI have some great news: I've created an art-focused website catering to beginners and experienced artists. You can visit www.stepbystepart.co.uk to read the latest articles and explore my art workshops and tutoring. Recently, I uploaded four new articles that might interest you - especially if you enjoy working with coloured pencils. However, if you prefer graphite or watercolours, there's something for you too! You can learn about tonal paper and how it can enhance your work, try the tonal layering exercise with your pencils, and even explore the benefits of HP watercolour papers. These resources will be helpful in your artistic pursuits.
New articles coming soon to Step by Step ArtUnfortunately, I could not send out the Winter Newsletter due to being occupied with commission work in December. However, I am thrilled to announce that I will release four new articles at the start of May. These articles will provide valuable insights on soft pastels, specifically Unison pastels, and a step-by-step guide for those new to pastel art on creating a tonal sky. Additionally, there will be two "Starting Out" articles. The first, written by Welsh Artist Chris Chalk, will focus on the three essential items necessary to begin your oil painting journey. The second, written by myself, will offer guidance on starting with coloured pencils. If you want to receive the Step by Step Art newsletter, you can find more information about it here. Keep yourself informed by subscribing today to get the latest updates.
1 Day Art Workshops in Chesterfield, DerbyshireI will be hosting unique 1-day workshops beginning in May that will teach participants how to create complex artwork using coloured pencils, graphite pencils, or acrylic paints. There are still a few spots left for those who want to attend one of the four workshops. As always; I will provide frequent demonstrations and personal assistance throughout the day. Attendees will also receive a comprehensive booklet with step-by-step instructions and images to guide them. It's important to note that each workshop only allows a maximum of 10 participants to ensure individual attention and support. DETAILS HAVE BEEN REMOVED AS THE WORKSHOPS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED Why not check out our current art workshops If someone might enjoy reading this article, please share it on Twitter or click the 'Like' button on Facebook. If you have any questions about any part of this post or would like to leave a comment, please get in touch, and I will respond as soon as possible.
Karen M Berisford
to the Jaguar itself, applying every single hair individually with a very fine brush. This fur layering process will probably take around 3 layers to get the right balance of tone and level of detail that I like to add into my work and I
break up the intensity of the application by switching to different sections of the painting throughout, it also avoids paint waste as Acrylics can dry quickly so I ensure I place smaller amounts in the paint palette that will be used up before starting with a different range of tones for the next section. There is a lot of small detail on this painting and so it will take a good few hours to complete but I think you'll agree it is a beautiful subject! 
|
 |  |
The final drawing was added in at a later date.
 |  |
 |  |
If you have your own idea for a piece of art that you would like to commission me to create in coloured pencils or acrylics, you can drop me an E-mail direct at: karenmberisfordart@gmail.com, drop me a message via my CONTACT FORM or request a quote on the BOOKING/QUOTE FORM. Here is another bespoke commission that was requested for a Wedding Day, and laterly, a gift for a 1 year wedding anniversary gift.
 | Buddy the Springer Spaniel - 11" x 14"Buddy's portrait was created using 5 different photographs. The body taken from this photo, the head from another, the tail from a third, the background from a fourth and some of the background flowers from a fifth image, all cut and pasted together to create the mock up of the reference image. Doing this can throw a whole lot of problems into the mix as different images can have different lighting, luckily I was able to ensure the correct balance as I was provided with lots of great quality photos that i could pull detail from. As you would suspect the grass took the longest as each blade of grass was applied individually and this was done in 3 layers so individually repeated 3 times! |
 The base layer - Very messy but important |  The final completed painting |
"I'm sitting looking at Buddy in pride of place on the wall, photo attached! It is absolutely lovely and it had the desired effect on Steve when he unwrapped - there were tears!! Everyone that has seen it has said how amazing it is with the amount of fine detail and so Buddy. If I manage to get a decent photo of Buddy next to it I will send it on! Thank you once again, it is lovely to have a painting of Buddy forever."
Esther
 | Dudley the Springer Spaniel - 9" x 12" in AcrylicsThis was a lovely composition but a tiny photo meaning that it pixelated when zooming in and the detail was lost in the face, especially around the eyes. The Commissionee loved the composition so much that I decided to see what I could do and asked if she could send some close up photos of Dudley taken in a less sunny environment and using all the photos together, I elaborated on the background/foreground somewhat and toned down the colouration on his head whilst still keeping the favoured stance. This was a challenge but I really loved the composition too and was happy with the final painting. |
 Loose undertones preparing for the layering |  The final painting |
"Just wanted to let you know that mum loves her portrait and we all cried our eyes out when we first saw it. What you've done is so special and we couldn't have asked for a better painting to remember him by. It captures his brilliant personality so well. I'll definitely be recommending you to my spaniel loving friends!
Picture of framed painting to follow soon!
Andrea xx."
 | The customer only had a few photos of Kita, having recently lost her, and I was limited to flash photos. The reference image was a good pose, but as flash distorts colour and detail, I had to research the breed and add a little artistic licence. The image was also slightly out of focus, but I found that I was able to apply a lot of detail by overworking the fur, and the final portrait was far more detailed than I thought possible. The final painting was framed in a black moulding called ASHGATE, which accentuated the light tones in Kita's fur. |
 |  |
"Hi Karen, I just wanted you to know that I absolutely love my painting of Kita. Thank you so much, you have done the most amazing portrait of him. He was my best friend and my little boy and the painting has been hung in the living room so we can all admire him everyday! Thank you again xx"
 | Diarmid E-mailed me a great photo of himself, his girlfriend Max and their little French Bulldog Kyla stood in front of the famous red phone box from the film 'Local Hero' when they visited Pennan in Aberdeenshire. As the phone box only covered half the background and the other half would add nothing to the composition it was decided to leave the background out completely and simply write 'Pennan' in the corner of the portrait. As mobile phone images tend to 'flatten' detail, the fineness of the Coloured pencils brought back the sharpness of detail and I really enjoyed creating this portrait - I always love a challenge! |
 Working on the undertones and building up the tonal layers |  The final portrait treated with an application of UV fixative |
"Hi Karen , Hope you had a lovely Christmas. Wanted to drop you a note to say that Max absolutely loved the portrait! She couldn't believe how well you'd captured the detail from the photo and was thrilled to pieces! We've already recommended you to friends and family and am sure we'll use your amazing skills again in the the future. Have a great New Year!! Diarmid"
 | This portrait was the last drawing I completed for Christmas and depicts 2 Bearded Collie's called Pyppa (L) & William (R) completed in Coloured pencils. I had taken some photos of them both a year earlier but as William (R) is a rather nervous little boy, I struggled to get any close ups of him. trying to distinguish between them after a year was a challenge too! I was provided with a few great quality photos which I could also use to add in their eyes a little more too. |
 |  |
"Thank you so much for my beautiful portrait, you've really excelled yourself this time, its amazing!"
Author
Karen M Berisford
Categories
All
1950's Clothing
1956 Vintage Montclair
1 Day Art Workshops
2 Day Art Workshop
Acrylic Artist
Acrylic Art On Gessobord
Acrylic Art On Pastelbord
Acrylic Paint Article
Acrylic Paints
Acrylic Pet Artist
Acrylic Pet Painter
Acrylic Pet Portraits
Alaskan Husky Drawing
Alaskan Husky In Coloured Pencils
American Kestrel
Amethyst Sunbird
Amethyst Sunbird In Acrylics
Ampersand Bords
Ampersand Pastelbord
Amur Leopard
Amur Leopard Giclee Print
Articles For Artists
Art Workshops In Chesterfield
Art Workshops In Northumberland
Avocet
Baby Boxer Dog Painting
Bakewell Frame
Barn Owl
Barn Owl Photography
Battaleur
Bearded Collie Pet Portrait
Bearded Collies
Bee-eater
Bespoke Art Commissions
Bespoke Pet Portrait
Big Cat Art
Big Cat Artwork
Big Cat Giclee Prints
Big Cat Paintings
Big Cats In Coloured Pencils
Bird Art In Acrylics
Bird Art In Coloured Pencils
Bird Art Workshops
Bird Of Prey Experience
Black Cocker Spaniel
Black Colourfix
Black Daschund
Black Labrador
Black Labrador Art
Black Labrador Painting
Black Newfoundland
Black Newfoundland Dog Drawing
Black Rhino Art Workshop
Black Rhino Graphite Pencils Workshop
Black Watch Soldier 1940
Black Watch Soldier In Coloured Pencils
Black & White Shorthaired Cat In Acrylic Paints
Bockingford HP Watercolour Paper
Boxer Dog Pet Art
Boxer Dog Pet Artist
Boxer Dog Pup
Boxer Dog Puppy
Boxer Dog Show
Boxer Rescue
Brindle Boxer Dog
Brown Labrador Art
Bullfinch
Bullfinch Painting
Calico Acrylic Painting
Calico Cat
Caracara
Caran Dache Luminance Pencils
Caran D'Ache Neopastel
Caran Dache Neopastel
Cat Artist
Cat Paintings
Cat Paintings In Acrylic
Cherry Blossom
Chesterfield Art Workshops
Chesterfield Pet Artist
Chocolate Labrador
Chocolate Labrador In Coloured Pencils
Chocolate Labrador Pet Portraiture
Chow Chow
Chow Chow Painting
Christmas 2018
Christmas For The Dogs
Clairfontaine Pastelmat
Cocker Spaniel In Acrylics
Cocker Spaniel Pencil Portrait
Colored Pencil Art
Colored Pencil Magazine
Coloured Paper Article
Coloured Pencil Art
Coloured Pencil Article
Coloured Pencil Artist
Coloured Pencil Commissions
Coloured Pencils
Coloured Pencils Artwork
Coloured Pencils UK Art Workshops
Coloured Pencil Workshop
Colourfix
Common Sandpiper
Competitions
Cresswell Pond
Curlews
David Beckham Pencil Portrait
Derbyshire Pet Artist
Derwent Chromaflow
Derwent Coloured Pencils
Derwent Coloursoft
Derwent Coloursoft Pencils
Derwent Coloursoft Pencils Article
Derwent Graphic Pencils
Derwent Graphitint
Derwent Inktense Pencils
Derwent Lightfast
Derwent Pencils
Derwent Procolour Pencils
Detailed Art
Detailed Art Commissions
Dog Art
Dog Artist
Dog Drawing Commissions
Dog Paintings
Dog Portraits In Acrylics
Dog Portraits In Coloured Pencils
Dog Show Judging
Domestic Cat In Acrylics
Double Collared Sunbird
Druridge Pools
Eider Duck
Faber Castell PITT Pastel Pencils
Faber Castell Polychromos Pencils
Fawn Boxer Dog
Fine Art
Fisher400
Frames For Acrylic Paintings
Framing Service Bespoke Portraits
Framing Service Bespoke Portraits
Framing Service - Bespoke Portraits
Free Art Tutorials
French Bulldog In Coloured Pencils
Fulmar
Galeria Acrylic Paint Article
Galeria Black Lava Texture Gel
Gessobord
Giclee Prints
GOLDEN Acrylics
Golden Eagle
GOLDEN Heavy Body Acrylics
GOLDEN Heavy Gel Medium
Graphite Art Workshop In Derbyshire
Graphite Pencil Article
Graphite Pencil Art Workshops
Graphite Pencils
Graphite Pencil Workshop UK
Graphite Portrait
Grapite Pencil Tutorial
Green Haired Forest Nymph
Green Shoes
Grey Heron
Grey Pastelbord
Gyr Falcon
Hadrian's Wall
Harris Hawk
Human Portrait Art
Human Portrait Drawing
Jack Russell In Coloured Pencils
Jack Russell Pet Portrait
Jaguar In Acrylics
Japanese Akita
Japanese Akita Acrylic Painting
Karen M Berisford Art Workshops
Karen M Berisford Framing Service
Karisma Pencils
Kestrel
Kingfisher
Kingfisher Painting
Labrador Art
Labrador Drawing
Labrador In Coloured Pencils
Labrador Oil Pastel
Labrador Painting
Labrador Pet Art
Labrador Pet Portrait
Labrador Photography
Labrador Retriever
Lapwing
Legion Stonehenge Paper
Lemur In Graphite Art Workshop
Linnet
Little Egret
Little Owl
Long Haired Daschund Painting
Mackerel Tabby Cat
Mackerel Tabby In Coloured Pencils
Marilyn Monroe
May'Vo Art
Mercury Montclair
Mercury Montclair 2-door
Mercury Montclair Hardtop
Mint Green Shoes
Montclair Two Tone
Moorhen
NAYBR
Neopastel
Newbiggin Bird Rarities
Newbiggin Birds
Newbiggin By The Sea
Newbiggin By The Sea Artist
Newbiggin Coloured Pencil Art Workshops
Newfoundland Dog
Newfoundland Pet Portrait
Nikon D80
Northern Inuit Art Workshop
Northumberland
Northumberland Art
Northumberland Artist
Northumberland Birds
Northumberland Landscape
Northumberland Pet Artist
Northumberland Photography
Northumberland Wildlife
Nottingham Dog Show
Notts & Yorkshire Boxer Rescue
Oil Pastel Drawers
Oil Pastel Painting
Oil Pastel Pet Art
Oil Pastels
Oil Pastels Article
Oystercatcher
Padley Gorge
Padley Gorge In Autumn
Pastelbord
Pastelmat Paper
Pastel Portrait
Peak District
Pencil Portraits
Pet Art Commissions
Pet Art In Pencils
Pet Artist
Pet Drawing
Pet Painting
Pet Paintings
Pet Portrait Artist
Pet Portrait Competition 2012
Pheasant
Photography
Pied Wagtail
Polychromos Pencils
Poppy Fields
Poppy Fields Soft Pastels
Portrait Artist
Presents For Dogs
Prismacolor Pencils
Prismacolor Premier
Realistic Art
Red Fox Labrador
Red Fox Labrador Drawing
Red Squirrel Painting
Reed Bunting
Reed Warbler
Ringed Plover
Ring Tailed Lemur Art Workshop
Ring Tailed Lemur In Graphite Pencils
Robin Hood Tree
Saa
Saltergate Silver Frame
Sandwich Terns
Scotch Macaskill
Sennelier Oil Pastels
Sharpening Pencils Article
Shorthair Cat
Shorthaired Cat Acrylic Painting
Shorthaired Cat In Acrylics
Skies Tutorial With Soft Pastels
Snow Leopard
Snow Leopard Art Workshop
Snow Leopard Eye Tutorial
Soft Pastels
Soft Pastels Tutorial
South African Bird Art
Springer Spaniel Art
Springer Spaniel In Acrylics
Springer Spaniel Painting
Starling
Starting Out With Coloured Pencils
Starting Out With Oil Paints
Step By Step Art
Step By Step Art Tutorial
Step By Step Art Tutorials
Stonechat
Sumatran Tiger
Sumatran Tiger Art Workshop
Sumatran Tiger Giclee Print
Sunbird Painting
Sunbird Paintings
Swallow
Sycamore Gap Hadrian's Wall
Sycamore Gap Northumberland
Sycamore Gap Tree
Sycamore Tree
Tonal Layering With Coloured Pencils
Tree Sparrow
Tufted Ducks
Uk Art Workshops
Ukcps
Unison Pastels Article
Ursus Paper Article
Vegan Art Products
Wheatear
Whinchat
White Boxer Dog
White Boxer Pup
Whitethroat
Whitethroat On Gorse
WHsmith Coloured Pencils
Wildlife Art Workshops
Wild Rabbits
Willow Warbler
Wynyard Hall
Wynyard Hall In Graphite Pencils
Yellowhammer
Yellow Labrador
Yellow Labrador Art
Yellow Labrador Painting
Zest-it Pencil Blend
Archives
August 2023
July 2023
April 2023
February 2023
August 2022
May 2022
March 2022
May 2020
April 2020
October 2019
September 2019
December 2018
March 2018
January 2018
September 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
December 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
July 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
October 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
July 2013
June 2013
March 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
May 2012
March 2012
