Latest News for the UK Artist Karen M Berisford

My Latest Lifelike Coloured Pencil Art Celebrating Four Canine Companions

7/1/2024

In October 2023, my friend Jet asked me to create four coloured pencil portraits. One portrait was intended as a gift for Jet's friend, another for her mother, and the other two were portraits of her beloved Boxer dogs. I have known Jet for over three decades, and during this time, I have had the pleasure of creating pencil portraits of her dogs on several occasions.

Here are all four portraits displayed with additional information about each individual. You can access a link below each image to learn more.

Carrot

Creating a drawing of a white dog on white paper may seem challenging at first, but it's quite easy. Since white fur is composed of shades of grey, white paper provides the perfect base for such a portrait. Drawing this particular portrait of a white boxer dog required a bit of creative problem-solving regarding the body. Still, I was able to use a different dog's body to complete the portrait.
If you're interested in learning more about this portrait, you can click on the link below.

Working on a lifelike coloured pencil drawing of a white Boxer dog

Discover more about Carrot

White Boxer dog custom-made coloured pencil drawing

Watson

The reference photo for the portrait depicted Watson wearing a thick blue collar. However, the photo was cropped short, leaving little of his body visible. Additional images were required, particularly in a similar pose, to complete the body and ensure accuracy. I also used some artistic license too.
If you want to learn more about this portrait, please follow the link below.

Working on a lifelike coloured pencil drawing of a Brindle Boxer dog

Discover More about Watson

Boxer dog custom-made coloured pencil drawing

Fungus

Jet's reference photo of Fungus was ideal. The image was a large, high-resolution file with incredible detailing that remained sharp even when zooming in. Taken outdoors, it had a perfect balance of light thanks to natural daylight, which is always the best option for pet photos. The collar, which was present in the photo but not included in the drawing, covered the throat area. To ensure accuracy, I referenced a second image of Fungus. Also, the chest area was not fully visible in the photo, so I had to extend it to complete the image.
Click the link below to read more.

Boxer dog coloured pencil portrait in progress

Discover More about Fungus

Fawn Boxer dog custom-made coloured pencil drawing

This video shows the three drawings side by side. There is no sound.

Kudu (Left) and Masuda

Creating this drawing was difficult, especially Kudu, the little grey dog. In the reference image, Kudu was wearing a harness that covered most of his body, so much of the details were missing. To ensure precision, I had to use other reference photos. Ordinarily, I may research a breed before embarking on such a challenging drawing. However, in this case, both dogs were mixed breeds, which made it even more difficult. Despite this, my friend was aware of the difficulties involved and graciously accepted that the final result may not be an accurate representation.

Working on a lifelike coloured pencil drawing of two small mixed breed rescue dogs

Discover More about Masuda & Kudu

Double portrait of two mixed breed dogs custom-made coloured pencil drawing

THE PROBLEMS WITH REMOVING COLLARS

All the dogs in the photos wore either a collar or a harness, which were removed in the drawing as per Jet's request. Fortunately, Jet provided me with a collection of photos of each dog to make the process relatively easy. The photos were incredibly helpful as they provided me with a clear view of the intricate details that were obscured by the collars in the reference photos. However, there may be instances where the removal of collars, especially harnesses, is a difficult task, especially if they hide crucial details. In such a scenario, removing them can only be considered if additional photographs are made available.

If you're interested in a custom coloured pencil portrait of your pet, a loved one, or any other subject, you can visit my commissions page or send me an email at: [email protected] to share your ideas for the portrait.

0 Comments

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

7/12/2023

0 Comments

This is one of a set of four coloured pencil dog portraits that I am completing for christmas commissions. There are three single boxer dog portraits, Fungus and Carrot are the other two and a double portrait of two small rescue dogs called Kudu and Masuda.

You can follow the step-by-step development of the creation by viewing a series of images and time-lapse videos below that capture every detail of the process.

Other pencil portraits in progress

Carrot

Fungus

Kudu

Masuda

0 Comments

Carrot - Progress of a coloured pencil drawing of a white Boxer dog

7/12/2023

0 Comments

Observe the journey from preliminary sketches to the intricate fur details, of a coloured pencil drawing through images and enthralling time-lapse videos that unveil the stages of crafting a lifelike portrait of Carrot, a white Boxer dog.

Other pencil portraits in progress

Fungus

Watson

Kudu

Masuda

0 Comments

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

29/5/2022

0 Comments

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

0 Comments

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

4/3/2022

0 Comments

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

0 Comments

Custom Pet Art: English Bulldog in Coloured Pencil

7/10/2020

0 Comments

I was recently commissioned to create a stunning coloured pencil drawing of an English Bulldog for a client. This client, Carol, had previously asked me to create two beautiful portraits of her beloved pets: a red English Bulldog named Buster and a white English Bulldog named Reggie. Now, she has another adorable Bulldog named Rufus, and she wanted a third portrait to join the collection, creating a lovely trio of coloured pencil portraits to display in her home.

Northumberland artist Karen M Berisford working on a lifelike coloured pencil drawing of a red English Bulldog called Rufus

Prior to working on the portraits of Buster and Reggie, I had not had the opportunity to create a pet portrait of an English Bulldog. Their unique character is truly remarkable, with the distinctive wrinkles and folds in their faces that are somewhat reminiscent of those of the Boxer dog. Having completed over 40 portraits of the Boxer dog breed, I have always thoroughly enjoyed the creative process for each one. My extensive experience in creating Boxer dog portraits, coupled with the excellent reference photograph provided, greatly simplified the process.

Creating a coloured pencil drawing of a red English Bulldog

The realism of my coloured pencil portraits is greatly influenced by the quality of the photographs provided. High-resolution images enable me to capture even the minutest details by zooming in. Working from subjects photographed in natural light is significantly easier, as it eliminates the need to interpret details lost to overexposure or distortion from artificial lighting conditions. The precision of my pencil work will reveal the areas in the photograph that may lack essential detail, which can lead to a less refined portrait. With more than 35 years of experience in working with coloured pencils, I gravitate towards high realism because I relish the challenge it presents.

A lifelike coloured pencil drawing of a red English Bulldog called Rufus

If you're considering commissioning a custom pet portrait of your English Bulldog or another breed, I will provide useful links for you to learn more about the process before contacting me.
You're welcome to reach out directly as your initial inquiry, but if you're just looking to gather information before deciding, feel free to explore my Art Gallery and/or Pet Portraits Gallery to view the range of portraits I've crafted over the years.

In addition to Coloured Pencils, I also work with Acrylics and Oil Pastels, each providing unique finishes. You can visit each gallery by clicking on the provided links.

Additionally, comprehensive details about the commissioning process are available via this link.

0 Comments

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

22/1/2018

0 Comments

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

0 Comments

Vertical Divider

SERVICES

- Art Store
Original Art For Sale
- Custom made Portraits
- Gift Vouchers
- The Art Hub (For Artists)

My Etsy Store

Vertical Divider

COMMISSIONS

- Art Gallery
- Pet Portraits Gallery
- Acrylic Paintings
- Oil Pastel Paintings
- Framing Info.
- Coloured Pencil Portraits
Videos from the Studio - Art in Progress

Vertical Divider

HELP & INFORMATION

- Customer Testimonials
- News Blog
- News Blog Archives
- About The Artist
- Get In Touch
- Terms & Conditions & Privacy
Site Map
Landing page

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

My Latest Lifelike Coloured Pencil Art Celebrating Four Canine Companions

Carrot

Watson

Fungus

Kudu (Left) and Masuda

THE PROBLEMS WITH REMOVING COLLARS

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

Other pencil portraits in progress

Carrot - Progress of a coloured pencil drawing of a white Boxer dog

Other pencil portraits in progress

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

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

Custom Pet Art: English Bulldog in Coloured Pencil

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

My Latest Lifelike Coloured Pencil Art Celebrating Four Canine Companions

Carrot

Watson

Fungus

Kudu (Left) and Masuda

THE PROBLEMS WITH REMOVING COLLARS

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

Other pencil portraits in progress

Carrot - Progress of a coloured pencil drawing of a white Boxer dog

Other pencil portraits in progress

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

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

Custom Pet Art: English Bulldog in Coloured Pencil

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