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
0 Comments
Whether you're a beginner seeking guidance on art supplies or an established artist comparing brands, the Step by Step Art website is your resource. It features a range of articles on different products and recommendations, with new content added regularly. To explore an article that catches your eye, click on the corresponding image. This action will open the page in a new tab, guiding you to the website. Our website is designed to serve a diverse array of artists. We feature a variety of mediums such as coloured pencils, graphite pencils, acrylics, soft pastels, and others provided by contributors. We are planning to offer written step-by-step tutorials and mini-video tutorials for artists both in the UK and internationally. Additionally, you can request articles on particular subjects. Through this website, you can reserve spots in pencil workshops with me. You can also access the latest newsletter for up-to-date articles, product reviews, recommendations, tutorials, and other art-related content that might capture your interest. If you think someone else might benefit from this post, feel free to tweet it, or drop a comment below with any inquiries or insights. I trust you'll find the resources offered here valuable. Help and advice is at hand if so....For those who are not aware, I also have an official 'Step by Step Art' website that allows you to book an art workshop, or read one of my articles, that cover a plethora of art related subjects including coloured pencils, paper reviews and pastel reviews too. The article section is still in the early stages but I will continue to add more articles as often as possible. My latest article focus's on coloured pencil brands, as I trial a selection of coloured pencil brands, which I currently have in my personal collection. This article shows the 5 most important factors that I look for when selecting my professional pencil range:
The 5 'tests' shown in this article includes:
This article also gives information on the importance of paper weight (gsm), information on each pencil including costs (GBP) and lightfast ratings as well as my own thoughts on 'adapting to coloured pencils' . I hope that this will be of help to all coloured pencil artists out there from those starting out looking to buy their first range to those interested in how each brand compares to the others.
The very popular Prismacolor Premier & Verithin ranges will also be added to this article very soon and an adaptation of this article (with even more information in) will be available to view and purchase (download or hard copy) from the USA's Colored pencil Magazine 'Student' version in the next few months. Find out more about this magazine here: Colored pencil magazine - Student Edition The editor of 'Colored Pencil Magazine' approached me to write an article about my involvement with 'Paws For Charity'* over the past three years. I enthusiastically embraced the opportunity, which culminated in an extensive four-page article. It encompasses a segment detailing my identity as an artist, provides valuable tips and product recommendations, and presents a detailed, step-by-step guide on crafting a Snow Leopard eye. *Paws For Charity is no longer operational. I wanted to share some insights from the article that could offer valuable content, guidance, and practical advice, which may be beneficial to coloured pencil artists, particularly those who are just beginning their creative journey. Throughout my life, art has been my passion and driving force. In 2011, I embraced this calling fully, establishing myself as a self-employed professional artist and art tutor. I originated from Chesterfield in the UK, which is situated close to the Peak District in Derbyshire. In May 2015, I relocated to Newbiggin by the Sea, Northumberland, to join my partner and fellow artist, John Graham. Both being artists, John transformed the spare room into a studio, providing ample space for me to work and create freely. Additionally, it provides the essential storage for my extensive collection of art supplies. I dedicate a significant portion of my time to creating custom made portraits for clients both in the UK and internationally, in addition to running art workshops that focus on a range of mediums, but primarily coloured pencils. Being an artist is a journey, and for me, it's an integral part of my identity. I always emphasise to my art students the value of savouring the artistic journey, rather than hastening through it. If we reached our peak abilities overnight, the incentive for improvement would vanish. What would be the purpose? The joy and challenge would be lost. In every artwork I create, I aim for excellence, while recognising that art is subjective and not everyone will resonate with the same style. This acceptance grants me the freedom to relish in my work without the pressure to satisfy everyone's taste. About the art products I useFor my coloured pencil artwork, I consistently use heavyweight, acid-free, and archival paper. A weight of around 300gsm is ideal as it accommodates multiple layers and guarantees durability. Initially, I exclusively utilised tonal papers, particularly the grey and tan tones, because they provide a neutral starting point that enhances both highlights and shadows. Black paper is also a favourite, as it contributes to an atmospheric finish and necessitates fewer layers for a significant effect. For larger works, I opt for a robust heavyweight paper like Colourfix, which is more widely used by pastel artists. Coarse paper may cause pencils to wear down more rapidly, especially those with softer cores like Prismacolor. However, its textured surface holds pigment well, reducing the need for multiple layers to achieve similar levels of detail. Moreover, it allows for the incorporation of mixed media, like acrylics. Adapting to different paper textures can be a challenge if you're accustomed to smooth surfaces. I would recommend that you experiment with the paper before committing your artwork to it. Previously, I owned a vast collection of coloured pencils, many of them lacked the quality of todays brands and currently use just two brands: Caran d'Ache Luminance and Derwent Coloursoft. The Luminance pencils exhibit a slightly firm texture, making them well-suited for intricate details. In contrast, the Derwent Coloursoft pencils feature softer cores, making them ideal for creating soft backgrounds and layered tones. Before investing in a new range of pencils, I always test the black and white ones first. This allows me to assess their opacity, application, and how they compare against other favoured brands. If they meet my standards, I'll either purchase individual pencils from open stock, choosing colours I frequently use, or opt for a starter set. The white pencil holds significant importance in my artwork as it must provide the luminosity needed for catchlights and highlights. Additionally, it serves as a tool to lighten other colours, thereby expanding the range of my colour palette. The concluding section of this article provides a brief overview of how I crafted this Snow Leopard's eye using coloured pencils on black Art Spectrum Colourfix paper. I maintain a specialised website featuring this tutorial, among others, covering various subjects and mediums for artists to explore. To access the page and attempt the tutorial, click on the image above.
I'd love to hear about your own individual insights and approaches to work. In the comments section, please share your own preferred products that contribute to your most successful outcomes. |
AuthorKaren M Berisford Select tags below to search the news blog directory.
Categories
All
Archives
July 2024
|
Vertical Divider
|
- Art Store
Original Art & Prints - Custom made Portraits - Gift Vouchers - The Art Hub (For Artists) Vertical Divider
|
- Art Gallery
- Pet Portraits Gallery - Acrylic Paintings - Oil Pastel Paintings - Framing Info. - Coloured Pencil Portraits Videos from the Studio - Art in Progress Vertical Divider
|
|
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
No content should be used, copied or distributed in any way without express consent from Karen M Berisford