Latest News for the UK Artist Karen M Berisford

Studio Showcase: Unveiling New Art and Christmas Commissions

1/1/2025

In this article, I am pleased to share my latest artworks. Three new acrylic paintings, which include a touching moment of a father embracing his son on his wedding day, a young girl named Lois riding her grey horse Vinnie, and Lois's sweet little black Cockapoochon. Additionally, I unveil my latest coloured pencil portraits, featuring a Golden Retriever surrounded by vibrant pink Hydrangeas, and two Boxer dogs that complement last Christmas's portraits. Each piece is crafted with meticulous attention to detail to capture the essence and personality of the subjects and each one was commissioned for friends and family members for various special occasions, including Christmas.

Discover the inspiration behind each unique creation and watch how these portraits were brought to life through the time-lapse videos. For those interested in commissioning a personal portrait, more information can be found on my Commissions page.

Jimmy & Craig in Acrylics
Gifted by Daniel to a friend after the recent loss of his father

Daniel made a formal request for an acrylic painting measuring 12" by 16", depicting a heartfelt moment of a friend embracing his father during his wedding ceremony. This artwork was commissioned as a thoughtful gift to commemorate his friend's birthday in December.

Daniel's initial request is detailed below:

" I am considering getting a portrait commissioned (30x40 acrylic) on behalf of my friend whose father has recently passed. The picture I have is taken indoors, although well lit, when his father surprised us all by making it to his wedding day despite being critically ill. It was a pivotal moment in his life and I would love it captured by yourself and I think it would help him through the grieving process. "

An acrylic painting of a father and son embracing at the son's wedding framed in a white frame

This image illustrates the chosen frame and painting, presented in a simulated display using the ArtStage app.

Portraiture is among my favourite subjects to create. As an artist, I find inspiration in challenges, and I consider portraits to be particularly demanding. While the majority of my work focuses on pets, I greatly appreciate the opportunity to diversify my portfolio when clients inquire about portrait commissions. Although I generally refrain from incorporating text into my paintings, I recognised the significance of this phrase to the recipient. As a result, I was able to integrate it in a way that maintains both cohesiveness and visual appeal.

An acrylic painting of a father and so embracing at his wedding

'Jimmy & Craig'

Below are two time-lapse videos that highlight two key stages of the painting process. The first video illustrates the detailing of the jackets, while the second video focuses on the completion of the face and head. Although the videos are brief, they each represent around 2 hours of work.

" Hi Karen, I have reviewed the painting and it's
exactly how you promised it would be.
I'm sure he'll love it."

Daniel
Merseyside, UK

Lois & Vinnie and Tux the dog in Acrylics
Gifted by Joan to her great-grand-daughter Lois

The two portraits presented below were commissioned by my lovely neighbour, Joan, as a thoughtful gift for her 13-year-old great-granddaughter, Lois. Lois holds a deep affection for her horse, Vinnie, and her dog, Tux and Joan sought to provide her with a unique and meaningful gift for her. Initially, it was requested that Tux be included in the portrait alongside Lois and her horse. While this may be feasible in certain scenarios, there were specific constraints that ultimately prevented me from accommodating this request.

A young girl called Lois sat on a grey horse called Vinnie in a grass field with four trees in the background

This image illustrates the chosen frame and painting, presented in a simulated display using the ArtStage app.

Both of these portraits were created from physical photographs. While I occasionally work with physical photos, digital images are preferred as they offer significantly greater potential for editing. This allows me to enhance any shadowed areas that may obscure important details. For instance, when depicting black animals, details can often be lost, necessitating additional research online for reference images, provided I can identify the specific breed. In the case of the black dog, Tux, his representation within an 11" x 14" portrait would likely result in an indistinguishable shape in the corner of the canvas. Consequently, it was suggested that I create a separate 8" x 10" portrait of Tux, which proved to be a far more effective solution for capturing his unique characteristics.

A close look at the details of an acrylic painting of a young girl and her grey horse Vinnie

I enjoy adding creative interpretation into my work to elevate a portrait, especially when the reference photograph may be lacking in compelling details. In this case, the original image presented a dull concrete road, a few sparse trees, and a dreary overcast sky, which prompted me to think creatively about how to elevate the scene. To infuse life into the portrait, I focused on adding vibrant colours and crafting a more enchanting environment, which significantly improved the overall composition and depth of the main subjects. By transforming the background with lush greenery and a brighter sky, I turned a rather mundane setting into something visually engaging. I remained mindful of the young girl on her horse, ensuring that my enhancements highlighted their presence without overshadowing them. This way, they both remained the focal point of the portrait, creating a harmonious balance between the background and the main subjects.

An acrylic painting of a black Cockapoochon dog named Tux

This 8" x 10" portrait of Tux presented a degree of complexity that had the potential to jeopardise the accurate representation of the dog. In instances where a reference photograph is insufficient and alternative images are unavailable, a viable approach is to create a small portrait. To enhance the accuracy of my depiction, I used online images of black Cockapoo dogs to inform the details of the eyes, which were not adequately represented in the original photograph. This additional resource also assisted in differentiating between the fur on the face, forehead, and ears—an aspect that was not clearly defined in the provided image. I recognised that failing to distinguish these crucial features could result in an unintended appearance, such as the impression of an exaggerated perm for Tux. Overall, this method proved effective in improving the definition of Tux's features.

An acrylic painting of a black Cockapoochon dog in a silver frame within an illustrative setting

This image illustrates the chosen frame and painting, presented in a simulated display using the ArtStage app.

Both portraits are elegantly displayed in matching frames, although the photographs shown here may convey a sense of difference in their appearance, this is entirely due to the editing process. While examining a selection of more ornate frames in my studio, I realised that these intricate designs often overshadow the artwork itself, diminishing its visual impact rather than amplifying it. This experience reaffirms the notion that, in art presentation, simplicity can often prove to be more effective than excess.

If you are considering commissioning an acrylic portrait and would like it to be framed, I invite you to view more examples on my Framing page.

Elsa in Coloured pencils
Gifted from Melvin and Kay to two dear friends.

In memory of Elsa - October 2024

This was gifted from Melvin and Kay to two dear friends in honour of their cherished Golden Retriever (and ex guide dog), Elsa, who recently passed away. Due to the nature of this presentation as a surprise gift for the two recipients, the commissioner was only able to supply a limited selection of photos of Elsa. Although the available details were minimal, I was able to create a new composition based on one of the photos, featuring Elsa in a recognisable area of the garden, positioned beneath the Hydrangea bush with a tennis ball in front of her.

" We are looking to place a commission for a portrait of a dog and we are very impressed with your body of work. The subject doesn’t belong to us but is very dear to us. The dog is named Elsa and she is a retired guide dog and she lives with two very special friends of ours. Very sadly, Elsa is coming to the end of her life and we are hoping a portrait will give our friends a lasting memory of Elsa."

Coloured pencil drawing of a Golden Retriever laid beneath a pink Hydrangea bush in the garden with a yellow tennis ball at her feet. Displayed in a mock grey frame within a Christmas set up of tree and ornaments

This image illustrates the final drawing, with framing presented in a simulated display using the ArtStage app.

Elsa frequently found comfort beneath the hydrangea bush, highlighting the importance of creating a composition that would serve as a lasting tribute to her in her favourite spot in the garden. The portrait was developed using two distinct images, as the client was unable to provide a suitable photo of her in a lying position. I combined a photograph of Elsa's head with an image of the body from a different Golden Retriever to achieve a realistic representation of the desired pose. Additionally, I used other photographs of Elsa to ensure that the colouration accurately reflected her likeness, while also omitting any white hairs typical of her youthful age of eight years, in accordance with the client's request.

A coloured pencil drawing in progress of a Golden Retriever called Elsa laid beneath pink Rhododendron flowers

As you might expect, the most time-consuming aspect of the portrait was meticulously crafting the leaves and petals of the flowers. I found myself consistently underestimating the amount of time this intricate detail required, often losing track of how many hours I dedicated to perfecting the background detail. To give you a sense of the labour involved, I’ve included a couple of time-lapse videos. These clips capture the painstaking process and reveal the hours of effort that went into each stage of the artwork, with each video spanning approximately two and a half to three hours of my work. As previously mentioned, I have a deep passion for tackling challenges, and I found immense satisfaction in the process.

" We cannot thank you enough for the amazing portrait you have produced and we are in awe of your artistic skill.

It is a beautiful composition and it truly encapsulates Elsa in a very typical pose we have all witnessed many times."

Melvin & Kay
West Midlands, UK

Maggot in Coloured pencils
Commissioned by Jet. A personal gift of her now matured female Boxer dog to match the two portraits completed last Christmas

Last year, Jet commissioned coloured pencil portraits of her Boxer dogs. However, two additional Boxer dogs belonging to Jet and her friend Mark had not reached maturity at that time. To ensure their portraits could be displayed alongside the previously commissioned pieces, Jet decided it would be prudent to wait an extra year.
Maggot is Jet's third Boxer dog, joining her other two, Carrot and Fungus. The framed examples are presented as a simulation for display purposes, but have yet to be framed. The portraits of all three dogs together are also showcased further down the page.

Framed illustration of a coloured pencil drawing of a fawn coloured Boxer dog

This image illustrates the final drawing, with framing presented in a simulated display using the ArtStage app.

Although the reference photograph was of exceptional detail, I used an additional reference image to make adjustments to the left ear, which was protruding and could potentially disrupt the balance of the overall presentation. It is uncommon for me to produce a portrait based solely on a single photograph; typically, I incorporate a combination of elements from multiple images to achieve the desired outcome.

During certain periods in my creative process, I capture time-lapse recordings that provide viewers with an insight into the methodology behind my portrait creation. The two videos presented here encompass only a few seconds of footage, yet they collectively represent approximately three hours of work each.

A coloured pencil drawing in progress of a female Boxer dog

The image above was taken during the final stages of completing Maggot's portrait. This process involved the meticulous addition of whiskers and final adjustments to ensure the artwork’s completion. At this stage, I proceed to sign the portrait, followed by the application of two to three layers of fixative spray to provide enhanced protection for the finished piece.

A illustrated mock up of three Boxer dogs created in coloured pencils

This image illustrates the final drawings, with all framing presented in a simulated display using the ArtStage app.

The three portraits are showcased here through a simulation application that allows you to visualise how they may appear when framed and displayed together. To ensure consistency in size among the portraits, particularly since two of them were completed a year ago, I always maintain a printed reference image that allows me to accurately evaluate and align the dimensions of any subsequent portraits.

Rooster in Coloured pencils
A Christmas gift from Jet to her friend Mark.

This Christmas, my friend Jet commissioned a second portrait as a gift for her friend Mark. This piece features Mark's now-matured male Boxer dog, Rooster, and is designed to complement the previously commissioned portrait of his brindle Boxer, Watson, which was created last year. The framed examples presented are simulations for display purposes, as the actual portraits have yet to be framed. Additionally, further down the page, both portraits of the dogs are showcased together.

Coloured pencil drawing of a Boxer dog in a brown frame

This image illustrates the final drawing, with framing presented in a simulated display using the ArtStage app.

Throughout various stages of my creative process, I capture time-lapse recordings that give viewers a deeper understanding of the techniques involved in my portrait creation. The two videos featured here, though they are only a few seconds long, encapsulate a considerable amount of time and effort; each represents approximately 2 to 3 hours of meticulous work. These recordings serve not only to showcase the final product but also to highlight the intricate steps taken and the evolution of the artwork from initial concept to completion.

I began my first commission in July, and as I received more requests, I effectively adapted my schedule, working on each project every other day. This approach allowed me to prioritise those with upcoming deadlines and ensure timely completion. I coordinated the ordering of acrylic paintings and their frames at the same time as starting each portrait, which proved to be a smart strategy for ensuring everything was ready for the final varnishing.

Coloured pencil drawing in progress of a male fawn coloured Boxer dog

By mid-November, I was fully booked, leaving no room for additional commissions until Jet reached out to me with a photo of Rooster at the end of November. Drawing from my experience in creating Boxer dog illustrations, I was able to efficiently integrate this new project into my workflow and remarkably finished it in just eight days! The constrained timeframe presented an intriguing challenge, leading to the surprising realisation that I was able to complete a large 10" x 12" coloured pencil portrait in a remarkably short period. Typically, I would not work at such a pace for a piece of this size, making this experience a notable exception.

Two coloured pencil drawings of a fawn boxer dog and a brindle boxer dog

This image illustrates the final drawings, with all framing presented in a simulated display using the ArtStage app.

THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY BLOG

If you are interested in commissioning a lifelike, custom-made coloured pencil portrait or an acrylic painting of your pet, a loved one, or any other subject, you can find out more on my commissions page or contact me via email at: [email protected] to discuss your ideas for the portrait. Additionally, I offer oil pastel portraits for those seeking a more expressive interpretation of your chosen subject.

Jimmy & Craig in AcrylicsGifted by Daniel to a friend after the recent loss of his father

Lois & Vinnie and Tux the dog in AcrylicsGifted by Joan to her great-grand-daughter Lois

Elsa in Coloured pencilsGifted from Melvin and Kay to two dear friends.

Maggot in Coloured pencilsCommissioned by Jet. A personal gift of her now matured female Boxer dog to match the two portraits completed last Christmas

Rooster in Coloured pencilsA Christmas gift from Jet to her friend Mark.

THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY BLOG

Time-lapse videos

Brands used in this drawing

Time-lapse videos of the creation of Maggot

Other pencil portraits in progress

Buddy the Springer Spaniel - 11" x 14"

Dudley the Springer Spaniel - 9" x 12" in Acrylics

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Jimmy & Craig in Acrylics
Gifted by Daniel to a friend after the recent loss of his father

Lois & Vinnie and Tux the dog in Acrylics
Gifted by Joan to her great-grand-daughter Lois

Elsa in Coloured pencils
Gifted from Melvin and Kay to two dear friends.

Maggot in Coloured pencils
Commissioned by Jet. A personal gift of her now matured female Boxer dog to match the two portraits completed last Christmas

Rooster in Coloured pencils
A Christmas gift from Jet to her friend Mark.

SERVICES

COMMISSIONS

HELP & INFORMATION