Latest News for the UK Artist Karen M Berisford

Fungus - Progress of a coloured pencil drawing of a brindle Boxer dog

7/12/2023

Here are some time-lapse videos showing the stage developments which capture almost every minute of the process. Each time-lapse lasts mere seconds but covers around 45 - 70 minutes of work.

Other pencil portraits in progress

Carrot

Watson

Masuda

Kudu

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A Heartfelt Testimonial: Red Fox Labrador Pet Portrait Commission in Coloured Pencils

29/5/2022

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It is always lovely to receive feedback from clients. Every single one of my commissions are created with care and you do get attached to the pet. You know you're unlikely to ever meet them in the flesh, but could pick them out in a crowd, having spent so many hours staring at and creating, their beautiful faces with all their tiny markings and (im)perfections.

Framed drawing of a Red Fox Labrador called Dougal. Completed as a commission by Northumberland artist Karen M Berisford

A thank you from a happy customer is a celebratory one. The fact that someone takes the time to send an email and to tell me how well the portrait was received, always brings a great sigh of relief knowing that they appreciated the time spent on the portrait. I thought I would share it here.
Here is the framed portrait of Dougal, a Red Fox Labrador completed in coloured pencils. What a beautiful dog he is.

If you want to see more of my coloured pencil art (including Rua, Dougal's sister), click here.

If you are thinking of booking your own bespoke commission, find out more here.

A BIG THANK YOU to Karen for her fantastic piece of work to complete
the portrait of Dougal.

This was a gift for my cousin and he loved it! It's got pride of place on his wall!

Karen has managed to capture Dougal exactly with the exquisite colour and
detail and professional finish.

I couldn't recommend Karen's service enough, she has been proactive in communication and I felt part of the commission throughout the process.

Thank you again, Mike

A coloured pencil drawing of a Red Fox Labrador bespoke pet commission

Tweaking the final detail.

VIEW DOUGAL'S PROGRESS PAGE

Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below, or share this post with friends and family.

Karen

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Lifelike Pet Portraits: Coloured Pencil Portrait of Dougal, the Red Fox Labrador

29/3/2022

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I've recently completed a commissioned portrait of Dougal. Pet portraits are what I'm most often requested to paint, and a loyal customer requested Dougal's portrait as a birthday gift for a family member.

coloured pencil drawing of a Red Fox Labrador

The reference image

The reference image used for this drawing was a great composition, but the detail and colour, was unfortunately lacking. Extra photos of Dougal were provided, which allowed me to gather additional detail. The leash was removed from the drawing, as this added nothing to his portrait.

Drawing a Red Fox Labrador using Caran d'Ache Luminance pencils

Residing in Northumberland, I find that Labradors are a favoured breed, and owning two myself, we frequently meet Red Fox Labradors and their owners. This has given me the opportunity to observe their distinctive colouration. In every portrait, I strive to balance the values, adjusting the colour tones as necessary, particularly when the original photograph's colours are faded or underexposed. Additionally, I dedicate time to online research, gathering images of other Red Fox Labradors to serve as a reference.

If you are thinking about booking a commission of your own pet, get in touch. If you want to find out more about my commissions first, you can click one of the tabs below and read about the process or view my art gallery. I work in coloured pencils and acrylic paints, both offer very different outcomes, but are highly detailed.

Coloured pencils

Acrylic paints

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Creating Realistic Pet Portraits: Dougal A Red Fox Labrador in Coloured Pencils - Private Commission

4/3/2022

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The latest commission on the easel is this stunning Red Fox Labrador called Dougal.

For this 10" x 12" drawing of Dougal, I am using the lightfast coloured pencils, Caran d'Ache Luminance on Strathmore Bristol Vellum paper.

Coloured pencil drawing of a Red fox labrador - early stages

I create my drawings using a layering process, which help to create the depth and realism that can be seen in all my work. This process starts from the lighter tones and builds up to heavy and bold applications. The realism is created at the end, when I use both light and dark tones to manipulate the layers and create the final pieces you see within the pages of my website.

Progression of a coloured pencil drawing of a Red Fox Labrador on Strathmore Bristol 500 Vellum paper

Creating a drawing like this can take many hours and to ensure I stay fully focused on each piece, I work on other drawings and paintings in between sessions. The length of time it takes to create a portrait depends entirely on the complexity of the composition, but a 4 - 6 week timescale is normal, unless a specific timeframe is requested.

Coloured pencil art of a Red fox Labrador in progress using Caran d'Ache Luminance pencils

This is the current stage of Dougal's portrait. There is still much to do on the colouration, but you can see how soft his fur now looks from the first post above, after numerous layers have been applied. You can view Dougal's progress page HERE.

I also completed a portrait of a Red Fox Labrador last year. This is Rua, who is Dougal's sister. You can view her portrait HERE.

If you are looking to commission your own portrait, visit one of the galleries below to find out more about each medium.

COLOURED PENCILS

ACRYLICS

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Nature’s Palette: A Double Collared Sunbird in Coloured Pencils on Pastelbord

1/10/2019

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It's been rather quiet on the art front in the studio over the last couple of weeks. I had been on holiday and was unable to showcase my creativity. However, before my departure, I decided to do something new and exciting - I packed a portrait in my travel bag to work on during my downtime. This decision proved to be a blessing as the place we stayed in didn't have internet access for an entire week. I took this opportunity to draw a 'double collared Sunbird', a stunning bird captured by the talented South African photographer Scotch Macaskill. To add some extra vibrancy to my artwork, I experimented with my new Derwent Lightfast pencils, and the subject was the perfect choice to showcase some lively colours.

Instead of my usual pencil routine, I experimented with some new products I hadn't considered using before. As a purist, I typically only use paper, but this time I opted for a 3mm canvas called Pastelbord by Ampersand, which I use for my acrylic paintings due to its coarse surface. I also tried out the 'Zest-it pencil blend', my latest purchase. I was initially unsure if these products would work well together, but to my surprise, they did. The creative process was so enjoyable that I decided to take my project with me to Torquay.

Drawing a double-collared Sunbird on Ampersand Pastelbord using Derwent Lightfast pencils

On my third night away, I set up a small studio in the small bedroom and plugged in my desk lamp and a 4-way adapter. Unfortunately, the adapter fell and caused a power outage in the caravan. My dad, who was watching football with my brother, shouted, "What's goo'in off!" in confusion. We had to call a security guard who, not knowing much about electricity, had to phone a professional for advice. He eventually had to use a butter knife to remove the screws on the electric box outside the caravan and turn the power back on. Despite the mishap, I managed to get some artwork done in the limited space.

A coloured pencil drawing of a double-collared Sunbird in a black ornate frame

The pencil portrait completed and framed

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Paws and Pencils: A Newfoundland Dog Portrait in Coloured Pencils

26/12/2018

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JETSON
Newfoundland Pup
Coloured Pencil Portrait

PORTRAIT COMPLETED: November 2018
Portrait size: 11" x 14"

I was recently contacted by a client named Mel, who was asked by a close friend to facilitate the creation of a pencil portrait of their nine-month-old Newfoundland puppy, Jetson, as a Christmas gift from husband to wife. Mel kindly provided several photographs of Jetson, allowing me to select the most suitable reference image. One particular photo prominently featured a charming detail of Jetson with his tongue playfully sticking out, which I felt would make an excellent choice for the portrait.

Photograph of a black Newfoundland 9 month old dog sat in a graden

A coloured pencil drawing of a black Newfoundland dog

Photographing dogs with dark fur can present significant challenges, primarily due to issues related to contrast. Often, the shadows lack detail, and overexposure can occur when adjustments are made to enhance the image. However, utilising a high-resolution digital image proved to be highly beneficial in overcoming these issues. As a result, I used several photographs to guarantee that the portrait I created had the proper balance of highlights and contrasts.

Early progress of a coloured pencil drawing of a black 9-month Newfoundland pup

Secondary progression of a coloured pencil drawing of a black 9-month Newfoundland pup

The progression of a coloured pencil drawing of a black 9-month Newfoundland pup

Finishing up a coloured pencil drawing of a black 9-month Newfoundland pup

I utilise Caran d'Ache Luminance coloured pencils for all my pencil portraits. Employing professional-grade pencils is crucial due to their high pigmentation, which enables effective layering. This technique enables me to overlay highlights on darker base tones, which helps maintain accurate perspectives, especially in compositions that feature extensive dark pigmentation.

Finishing up on a coloured pencil drawing of a 9-month Newfoundland pup

" Aww Karen...
You wonderful, lovely girl. He’s gorgeous.
Must confess, might have shed a little tear...
THANK YOU SO SO much "

Should you consider commissioning a portrait, whatever the subject may be, you can find out how the process works on my Commissions page or drop me an email at: [email protected]

I provide three mediums, each offering a distinctive finish: Coloured Pencils, Acrylics, and Oil Pastels. More of my work is available for viewing on my Art Gallery page and in the Pet Portraits Gallery.

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Latest Pet Portraits: Dogs and Cats in Coloured Pencils and Acrylics - A busy few months with commissions

22/1/2018

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In 2017, I began receiving Christmas orders as early as September, which kept me occupied for the entire season. Starting in mid-October, I dedicated 10-12 hours daily to work, organizing a daily schedule to guarantee the timely completion of all portraits. With some orders coming from overseas, it was crucial to secure any needed frames well ahead of time, considering the high demand framers face during the holidays. My aim was to complete all orders a week before my trip to Chesterfield, yet I found myself working late into the night preceding my departure.

Everything proceeded without a hitch, and the individual who commissioned the piece met me at the Chesterfield train station to pick up the portrait of Star the Chow Chow. The painting travelled with me for six hours via various modes of transport, safely tucked inside my suitcase. The lady who requested the painting presented me with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. It was heartwarming to read the recipients' joyful remarks on Christmas Day upon receiving the portrait of their cherished pet. You can view the progress of Star's portrait on this page.

Acrylic painting of a Chow Chow dog laid in grass

Star the Chow Chow dog next to his acrylic painting

Find Out About our Commissions

Visit the Step by Step Art Website

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 for my Step by Step Art website. There are numerous tasks to accomplish behind the scenes. If you're interested in booking a personalised commission or are an artist searching for helpful articles, and mini-tutorials, click on the links below to visit my website.

Here's hoping 2018 is a wonderful year for you!

Karen

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Images and text within this website are Copyright of Karen M Berisford 2010 - 2024
No content should be used, copied or distributed in any way without express consent from Karen M Berisford

Fungus - Progress of a coloured pencil drawing of a brindle Boxer dog

Other pencil portraits in progress

A Heartfelt Testimonial: Red Fox Labrador Pet Portrait Commission in Coloured Pencils

Lifelike Pet Portraits: Coloured Pencil Portrait of Dougal, the Red Fox Labrador

Creating Realistic Pet Portraits: Dougal A Red Fox Labrador in Coloured Pencils - Private Commission

Nature’s Palette: A Double Collared Sunbird in Coloured Pencils on Pastelbord

Paws and Pencils: A Newfoundland Dog Portrait in Coloured Pencils

Latest Pet Portraits: Dogs and Cats in Coloured Pencils and Acrylics - A busy few months with commissions

Author

Categories

Archives

Get In Touch

SERVICES

COMMISSIONS

HELP & INFORMATION

Fungus - Progress of a coloured pencil drawing of a brindle Boxer dog

Other pencil portraits in progress

A Heartfelt Testimonial: Red Fox Labrador Pet Portrait Commission in Coloured Pencils

Lifelike Pet Portraits: Coloured Pencil Portrait of Dougal, the Red Fox Labrador

Creating Realistic Pet Portraits: Dougal A Red Fox Labrador in Coloured Pencils - Private Commission

Nature’s Palette: A Double Collared Sunbird in Coloured Pencils on Pastelbord

Paws and Pencils: A Newfoundland Dog Portrait in Coloured Pencils

Latest Pet Portraits: Dogs and Cats in Coloured Pencils and Acrylics - A busy few months with commissions

Author

Categories

Archives

Get In Touch

​SERVICES

​COMMISSIONS

​HELP & INFORMATION

SERVICES

COMMISSIONS

HELP & INFORMATION