Pets, Portraiture & Wildlife Art | Commissions & original art
  • Home
  • GALLERIES
    • Art in Acrylics
    • Art in Coloured pencils
    • Pet Art
    • Portraiture
    • Traditional Hearts
    • Wildlife Art
  • COMMISSIONS
    • COMMISSIONS >
      • Capturing great photos
    • Picture Framing
    • Q & A
  • Art News
  • SHOP
    • Original Art
    • Giclee Prints
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Gift Ideas
  • About
  • TUTORING
  • Contact

Double Collared Sunbird - Coloured pencils on Pastelbord

1/10/2019

0 Comments

 
It's been rather quiet on the art front in the studio over the last couple of weeks, not that I haven't done any art, I was away on holiday - but before I left, I actually did something that I had never done before, I actually packed a portrait in my suitcase to work on during the evenings, which actually turned out to be a god send as we were in a caravan without any internet connection for a WHOLE WEEK!!!! Can you even begin to imagine!! 

The subject chosen was a 'double collared Sunbird' - a stunning image captured by Scotch Macaskill, a photograher living in South Africa. Having purchased a few of the new Derwent Lightfast pencils, I needed a vibrant composition to try them out, this subject was the perfect choice!
Throwing my standard pencil routine in the bin, I decided to trial out some additional products that I hadn't previously thought of using with pencils because I'm a purist and so instead of paper, I used a 3mm canvas called Pastelbord by Ampersand (usually used for my Acrylic paintings) which has a coarse surface, and my latest purchase of the 'Zest-it pencil blend'. I wasn't even sure if all these products together would work very well, but once I got started I found that they did - I was really enjoying the creative process, so much so that I decided to take it down to Torquay with me. 
Picture
The 3rd night away, I set up my little studio in the small bedroom, plugging in the desk lamp I'd brought with me and the 4way adapter fell onto the floor, the switch bulbs all lighting up like a christmas tree which then knocked out ALL the electrics in the caravan!!! I was sat in darkness and heard my Dad, where seconds earlier he'd been watching the footy with my brother, shouting out "What's goo'in off!??"  We had to call the security guard out who knew nothing about electrics and had to phone a professional up for advice before grabbing a butter knife out the drawer to remove the screws on the electric box outside the caravan and finally flick the electric back on..Hoorahh!! I still managed to get some art done though, being extra careful not to let the adapter fall off the table again, you can see in the image above that there was little space to work - the rest of the evening went without a hiccup thankfully.

​Now I'm back in the studio, I am currently working on the Autumn newsletter for my www.stepbystepart.co.uk website and so time is limited for a while, however I had a spare frame that I thought I would store the portrait in until I get the chance to finish up which hopefully won't be too long.
Picture
0 Comments

2018 Art Workshops & New Articles at Step by Step Art website

8/3/2018

0 Comments

 

Latest Articles at my Step by Step Art website

For 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, mini tutorials and guest posts by other Artists such as Welsh Oil painter Chris Chalk who 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.
Winsor and Newton Galeria paint tubes, Indigo, green and red
derwent sharpener, Kum sharpener, metal double sharpener and derwent pastel pencil sharpener
Coloured pencils including WH smith, Rembrandt Polycolor, Caran dache Luminance, Prismacolor Premier, Faber castell polychromos, derwent coloursoft, Prismacolor Verithin, Derwent procolour, Berol Karisma ranges
derwent Procolour Coloured pencils
Bockingford hot pressed watercolour paper pad
faber castell PITT pastel pencils in a glass jar
Coloured sheets of paper
The Green Artist logo
Drawing of a tonal ball using derwent graphic pencils

Mini Tutorial Graphite Pencils - Blending & Erasing for Beginners

Looking to try Graphite Pencils as a new medium but not sure where to start or how to get the best out of them? Take a look at this Step by Step article on how to apply, blend and erase to create realistic graphite portraits.

Karen's 1 day Art Workshops 2018 - From £42.00pp

My 1 Day Art Workshops are now available to book. There are 2 Coloured Pencil Workshops, a Graphite pencil Workshop and an Acrylic Paints Workshop all of which will be run over 2 weekends, the first in May and the second in August. Prices start from £42.00 per person or you can book a weekend Workshop together with prices starting from £80.00. Art Kits can be loaned or purchased and there are 10 places available on each Workshop.  If you are looking to learn how to create highly detailed Art, these Workshops are ideal. Get in touch or click on any of the images below to find out more about the Workshop of interest.
Golden Eagle photo for a coloured pencil workshop in chesterfield, derbyshire, uk
African Elephant photo for a graphite pencil art workshop in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK
Black Labrador photo for a coloured pencil workshop in chesterfield, derbyshire, uk
Wild Rabbit photo for a Acrylic paints workshop in chesterfield, derbyshire, uk
Find out more about our 1 Day Art Workshops
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.
0 Comments

Currently on the Easel....Mr & Mrs Barn Owl at Cresswell, Northumberland

7/3/2017

0 Comments

 
I was approached by a returning customer from the USA to create a Coloured pencil portrait of a Barn Owl and offered to create a few mock ups of compositions before I began as I always do. As a lover of photography I have a large photo reference library of various animals and birds including Barn Owls and so put together 5 different compositions one of which was the 2 Owls on the wall which became the basis of the portrait. The second stage was creating a few mock ups of the Owls within different backgrounds and finally, with the Owls and background in place the last collection of mock ups made were with various walls for the Owls to stand on which were in focus and added interest to the final composition. Many of my Wildlife portraits are created this way.
Early progress of a Coloured pencil portrait of Barn Owls on a wall
The first stages
Progress of a Coloured pencil Barn Owl on tan Ursus paper
Mr Owl so far
I chose a tan toned paper to work on which matches the warm tones of the Barn owls as well as giving strength in colour to the lighter tones such as the whites. The tonal background will be created using Derwent's Coloursoft range pencils which are soft and blend well for great effect and the Owls & the wall will be created using the caran Dache Luminance pencils which are ideal for very fine detail and strength of colour. A base layer of tones and loose detail is first applied to the whole of the portrait before I then apply the stronger & finer details to completion.
Coloured pencil Barn Owl head portrait in progress
Loose details of the male Owls face
Drawing moss on a wall within a Barn Owl portrait created with Coloured pencils
The moss - a good 3 hours in....

The Barn Owl at Cresswell, Northumberland (UK)

This portrait is based on actual Barn Owl territory at Cresswell in Northumberland (UK). It is a 40 minute cycle ride from where I live along the beautiful coastal route of Lynemouth through to Cresswell pond, this place regularly has Photographers set up waiting for this little guy to make an appearance. Sitting in the undergrowth of the wide open field which connects to a lagoon where you can regularly see Avocets, Oystercatchers & even Otters on the rare occasion, is an area overlooking the coast and is ideal for field mice and voles. I wait patiently as I see him in the distance, flying silently and hovering on numerous occasions, not at all phased by the long line of photographers with their huge cameras on tripods waiting to get some great photos themselves. There is something breathtaking about seeing such a Bird in the Wild and feeling honoured that this Owl continues it's daily journey passing close by whilst I click the rapid fire button on my camera. Here are some of those photos.
0 Comments

Bespoke Commissions - Looking for a specific piece of Art by me? Read on...

5/2/2017

0 Comments

 
Most people visiting my website would understandably think that I only take on Pet & portrait Commissions but I actually create various Commissions if someone is looking for something specific.  The 3 images below were created using an editing program to cut and paste various sections of other photographs to create the one 'mock up' which becomes the reference photo for the portrait. As a huge fan of photography, I have collected thousands of photographs of various animals, birds & subjects that can be used for a bespoke portrait whenever requested.
2 Barn Owls sat on a wall in Cresswell, Northumberland
​The Barn Owls were taken on 2 separate occasions at the Butterfly House in Sheffield, the background was taken in Cresswell, Northumberland which actually has a Barn owl flying through the middle of the image (see the back of the left Owls head) and the wall was taken on different day at Woodhorn church in Northumberland. They were all roughly 'stuck' together to create a single 
​composition and the Artwork, which will be completed in Coloured pencils for a returning customer from the US, will be created by balancing out incorrect lighting and generally offering a more appealing and balanced background. This is currently in progress and a link to the progress page will be applied to the image when available if you wish to see it come together.
The Sumatran Tiger was also created in Coloured pencils for a returning customer who allowed me to create my own composition. The Tiger image was taken at a Zoo of which you can still see the bars, the water, rocks in the foreground and the tree branches at the top left of the image were all cut from individual images to create the one composition. You can see the final Artwork by clicking on the image.
Sumatran Tiger in green water and surrounded by greenery
Girl with green hair image edited using Picmonkey
The Green girl was created purely for a competition entry for the USA Colored pencil Magazine. You could pull any section from the image itself and create your own composition, for this I uploaded it into Picmonkey and literally played around with different tones, overlays and applications until I came up with the final reference image, click the image to view the progress page.
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, fill in my CONTACT FORM or BOOKING/QUOTE FORM or even give me a call on: 07854 677416 with your own idea. Here is another bespoke Commission that was requested for a Wedding Day and another for a very special portrait that captured the moments of a romantic Engagement
0 Comments

Christmas Commissions

4/1/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
2015 Commissions & Artworks all completed in Coloured pencils

Belated Wishes for 2016

It has been a very busy Christmas for Commissions and I am so behind, this poster I created to wish everyone a Happy Christmas is now rather out of date! I do hope everyone had a good break over the festive period and all good wishes to each and everyone of you for this New Year! 

This poster shows all my Artworks I created in 2015 - some commissioned and others for an article in the Colored pencil Magazine in June.
Below are the Christmas commissions that were all completed and received as gifts for the special day -  if you wish to see how they came together, please click on any of the images.  If you are thinking of booking your own Commission with me and wish to know more, you can visit my COMMISSIONS page which explains the very simple process.
Picture

'The Girls'

20" x 16" in Coloured pencils
Picture

'Cyrus'

10" x 12" in Coloured pencils
Picture

'Tia'

10" x 12" in Coloured pencils
Picture

'Casey'

12" x 10" in Coloured pencils
0 Comments

USA's Coloured Pencil Magazine - June's featured Artist 

29/5/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
I was approached by the editor of America's Colored pencil Magazine to be their featured Artist in the June issue (2015), this is a wonderful magazine for Coloured pencil enthusiasts and I was honoured! 
Most of my Artwork included in the magazine was created especially for this purpose and as such, some pieces of Art have never been seen before. The cover image was actually the completed recce piece of a Coloured pencil Workshop that I ran last year in Chesterfield and completed only for use in the Magazine. If you would like to purchase a copy you can do so in 2 ways - via a Printed copy (1 - 2 weeks delivery) or download the digital copy right away - prices are as follows:

Printed copy       $5.99       £3.87*            Delivery (1 - 2 weeks)    £2.96*
Digital copy        $2.99       £1.93*


*prices may vary due to exchange rate

0 Comments
    artist Karen M Berisford in her studio and her coloured pencil drawing of a Rottweiler

    Author

    Karen M Berisford

    Find us on Facebook image logo
    Follow Me on Instagram logo image
    FreeIndex logo
    Review us on FreeIndex

    Categories

    All
    1 Day Art Workshops
    1 Day Art Workshops
    Acrylic Artist
    Acrylic Art On Gessobord
    Acrylic Art On Pastelbord
    Acrylic Paint Article
    Acrylic Paints
    Acrylic Pet Painter
    Acrylic Pet Portraits
    African Elephant Art Workshop
    Alaskan Husky Drawing
    Alaskan Husky In Coloured Pencils
    American Kestrel
    Amethyst Sunbird
    Amethyst Sunbird In Acrylics
    Ampersand Bords
    Ampersand Pastebord
    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
    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 Art Workshop
    Black Labrador Painting
    Black Newfoundland
    Black Newfoundland Dog Drawing
    Black Watch Soldier 1940
    Black Watch Soldier In Coloured Pencils
    Black & White Shorthaired Cat In Acrylic Paints
    Bockingford HP Watercolour Paper
    Border Collie Art
    Boxer Dog Pet Art
    Boxer Dog Pet Artist
    Boxer Dog Pup
    Boxer Dog Puppy
    Boxer Dog Show
    Boxer Rescue
    Brindle Boxer Dog
    British Robin
    Brown Labrador Art
    Bullfinch
    Bullfinch Painting
    Caracara
    Caran Dache Luminance Pencils
    Cat Artist
    Cat Paintings
    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 Magazine
    Coloured Paper Article
    Coloured Pencil Art
    Coloured Pencil Article
    Coloured Pencil Artist
    Coloured Pencils
    Coloured Pencils Artwork
    Coloured Pencils UK Art Workshops
    Coloured Pencil Workshop
    Colourfix
    Common Sandpiper
    Competitions
    Cresswell Pond
    Curlews
    Dachshund Acrylic Painting
    Dachshund Art
    David Beckham Pencil Portrait
    Derbyshire Pet Artist
    Derwent Coloursoft
    Derwent Coloursoft Pencils
    Derwent Coloursoft Pencils Article
    Derwent Graphic Pencils
    Derwent Graphitint
    Derwent Inktense Pencils
    Derwent Lightfast
    Derwent Procolour Pencils
    Detailed Art
    Detailed Art Commissions
    Dog Art
    Dog Artist
    Dog Paintings
    Dog Portraits In Acrylics
    Dog Portraits In Coloured Pencils
    Dog Show Judging
    Double Collared Sunbird
    Druridge Pools
    Eider Duck
    Elephant Art Workshop UK
    Faber Castell PITT Pastel Pencils
    Faber Castell Polychromos Pencils
    Fawn Boxer Dog
    Fine Art
    Frames For Acrylic Paintings
    Framing Service Bespoke Portraits
    Framing Service Bespoke Portraits
    Framing Service - Bespoke Portraits
    French Bulldog In Coloured Pencils
    Fulmar
    Galeria Acrylic Paint Article
    Galeria Black Lava Texture Gel
    German Shorthaired Pointer
    Gessobord
    Giclee Prints
    GOLDEN Acrylics
    GOLDEN Acrylics Molding Paste
    Golden Eagle
    Golden Eagle Art Workshop
    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
    Grey Heron
    Gyr Falcon
    Harris Hawk
    Hibiscus Flower Painting
    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 Painting
    Labrador Photography
    Labrador Retriever
    Lapwing
    Legion Stonehenge Paper
    Lemur In Graphite Art Workshop
    Linnet
    Little Egret
    Little Owl
    Long Eared Owl
    Long Haired Dachshund Art
    Long Haired Daschund Painting
    Mackerel Tabby Cat
    Mackerel Tabby In Coloured Pencils
    Marilyn Monroe
    May'Vo Art
    Moorhen
    NAYBR
    Newbiggin Bird Rarities
    Newbiggin Birds
    Newbiggin By The Sea
    Newbiggin By The Sea Art Workshops
    Newbiggin Coloured Pencil Art Workshops
    Newfoundland Dog
    Newfoundland Pet Portrait
    Nikon D80
    Northern Inuit Art Workshop
    Northumberland
    Northumberland Artist
    Northumberland Birds
    Northumberland Pet Artist
    Northumberland Photography
    Northumberland Wildlife
    Nottingham Dog Show
    Notts & Yorkshire Boxer Rescue
    Oystercatcher
    Padley Gorge
    Padley Gorge In Autumn
    Peak District
    Pencil Portraits
    Pet Artist
    Pet Drawing
    Pet Painting
    Pet Paintings
    Pet Portrait Art Workshop
    Pet Portrait Competition 2012
    Pheasant
    Photography
    Pied Wagtail
    Polychromos Pencils
    Pomeranian Dog Portrait
    Portrait Artist
    Presents For Dogs
    Prismacolor Pencils
    Realistic Art
    Red Squirrel Art Workshop
    Red Squirrel Painting
    Reed Bunting
    Reed Warbler
    Ringed Plover
    Ring Tailed Lemur Art Workshop
    Ring Tailed Lemur In Graphite Pencils
    Saa
    Saltergate Silver Frame
    Sandwich Terns
    Sharpening Pencils Article
    Shetland Sheepdog
    Skies Tutorial With Soft Pastels
    Snow Leopard
    Snow Leopard Art Workshop
    Snow Leopard Eye 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 Giclee Print
    Sunbird Painting
    Sunbird Paintings
    Swallow
    Tonal Layering With Coloured Pencils
    Tree Sparrow
    Tufted Ducks
    Uk Art Workshops
    Ukcps
    Unison Pastels Article
    Ursus Paper Article
    Vegan Art Products
    West Highland Terrier
    Wheatear
    Whinchat
    White Boxer Dog
    White Boxer Pup
    White Faced Cockatiel In Acrylics
    Whitethroat
    Whitethroat On Gorse
    WHsmith Coloured Pencils
    Wildlife Art Workshops
    Wild Rabbit Art Workshop
    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

    May 2020
    April 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    December 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    September 2017
    July 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
    November 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    October 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    July 2013
    June 2013
    March 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012

Karen M Berisford pets, portraits and wildlife art website logo dark

SERVICES

Commissions
Acrylic Portraits
Coloured Pencil Portraits
Traditional Hearts
Gift Vouchers
​Buy Original Art
​Buy Giclee prints
​Art Tutoring


COMMISSIONS

Commissions Info.
Picture Framing
Reference photo advice
Frequently asked Questions
​
Videos from the studio - art in progress
Step by step art website logo red and yellow
For All Artists

HELP & INFORMATION

News Blog
About The Artist
​Get In Touch
​Product Information
Terms & Conditions & Privacy
Links
Site Map



Images and text within this website are Copyright of Karen M Berisford 2010 - 2021 
No content should be used, copied or distributed in any way without express consent from Karen M Berisford
  • Home
  • GALLERIES
    • Art in Acrylics
    • Art in Coloured pencils
    • Pet Art
    • Portraiture
    • Traditional Hearts
    • Wildlife Art
  • COMMISSIONS
    • COMMISSIONS >
      • Capturing great photos
    • Picture Framing
    • Q & A
  • Art News
  • SHOP
    • Original Art
    • Giclee Prints
    • Gift Vouchers
    • Gift Ideas
  • About
  • TUTORING
  • Contact