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.

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Capturing Haze: A Lifelike Oil Pastel Portrait of a black Labrador Retriever

24/4/2023

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I enjoy using oil pastels to create portraits in addition to coloured pencils and acrylics, and I find it to be one of the most versatile mediums available. When it comes to creating beautiful and unique works of art, oil pastels offer an unmatched finish that can be applied to any subject with ease.

One of my latest portraits is of our late black Labrador Haze.

Neopastels and Sennelier oil pastels and an oil pastels painting of a black labrador with a raspberry squeaky dog toy created on Ampersand Pastelbord

In loving memory of Haze - 03.05.23

When creating my oil pastel paintings, I use professional pastel brands such as Sennelier and Caran d'Ache. One of the most significant advantages of using Sennelier and other soft pastel brands is their superior coverage and pigmentation. These pastels offer a rich and vibrant color that makes each stroke stand out and come to life. On the other hand, harder pastels such as Neopastel enable me to produce fine lines, which is essential when creating intricate details and textures in my portraits.

Building up the layers on a black Labrador oil pastel painting

Progress so far on a black Labrador oil pastel painting

When it comes time to store or frame my oil pastel portraits, I always take great care to ensure that they are protected. Since oil pastels never dry, it is highly recommended to store them in a secure location until they are framed. When framing, I highly recommend using glass to prevent debris such as hair and dust particles from damaging the painting's surface. Improper removal of debris can damage the painting's surface, but using glass can prevent this from happening.

Blending oil pastels with a tortillion on a black Labrador painting

It is important that a spacer is present between the painting and glass. This is done to prevent them from touching and adhering to each other, which can cause irreversible damage to the artwork. The spacer is a thin strip that adheres to the glass surface, creating a gap between it and the glass. When viewed from a close distance and at an angle, the spacer can be seen, but it is designed to be discreet and does not detract from the artwork itself. The material used for this oil pastel painting is known as acrylic glass. This particular product boasts exceptional durability and a reduced risk of breakage.

spacer and glass in an oil pastel painting of a black labrador

An oil pastel painting of a black Labrador using Sennelier and Caran d'Ache Neopastel oil pastels framed in a black ornate frame

Overall, oil pastels are an incredibly versatile and beautiful medium that can create stunning works of art. Should you wish to inquire about ordering an oil pastel portrait, please get in touch.

Feel free to share this post via your social media or email someone who may find this article of interest.

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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Bespoke Portraits: Springer Spaniels plus a Couple and their Adorable French Bulldog

29/12/2016

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This Christmas, I was inundated with commissions. I had to complete five within six weeks, presenting a significant challenge. Typically, a single portrait takes three to five weeks, so this period was exceptionally hectic. Nevertheless, all commissions were finished and dispatched to customers well within the deadline. Below, I have provided the details of each commission, the final portraits, and the accompanying customer testimonials.
Discover three bespoke commissions: two vibrant Springer Spaniels in acrylics and a heartwarming triple portrait featuring a couple and their adorable French Bulldog, meticulously rendered in colored pencils.

Buddy the Springer Spaniel - 11" x 14"

Buddy's portrait was crafted by merging five different photographs: the body from one photo, the head from another, the tail from a third, the background from a fourth, and some background flowers from a fifth. These were all cut and pasted together to form the reference image mock-up. This process can introduce numerous challenges, as each image may have varying lighting conditions. Fortunately, I managed to achieve the right balance by utilizing the high-quality photos provided, which offered ample detail to work with. As one might expect, the grass required the most time since each blade was individually applied in three layers, effectively repeating the process three times.

Springer Spaniel sat on grass in front of border plants

First stages of a Springer Spaniel sat on grass Acrylic painting

The base layer - Very messy but important

Acrylic painting of a Springer Spaniel sat on grass with beautiful border flowers in the background

The final completed painting

"I'm sitting looking at Buddy in pride of place on the wall, photo attached! It is absolutely lovely and it had the desired effect on Steve when he unwrapped - there were tears!! Everyone that has seen it has said how amazing it is with the amount of fine detail and so Buddy. If I manage to get a decent photo of Buddy next to it I will send it on! Thank you once again, it is lovely to have a painting of Buddy forever."
Esther

view Buddy's page

Springer Spaniel jumping through long grass on a sunny day photograph

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

The composition was delightful, but the small size of the photo caused pixelation upon zooming in, obscuring the details in the face, particularly around the eyes. The commissioner was delighted with the composition, which led me to request more close-up photographs of Dudley in a setting with less sunlight. By integrating all the photos, I was able to enhance the background and foreground while subtly adjusting the colors on his head, preserving the preferred posture. Despite the challenge, the composition made the ideal portrait and I was pleased with the completed painting.

Base layers of a springer spaniel acrylic painting

Loose undertones preparing for the layering

Acrylic painting on Ampersand Gessobord of a Springer spaniel running through long grass in the sun

The final painting

"Just wanted to let you know that mum loves her portrait and we all cried our eyes out when we first saw it. What you've done is so special and we couldn't have asked for a better painting to remember him by. It captures his brilliant personality so well. I'll definitely be recommending you to my spaniel loving friends!
Picture of framed painting to follow soon!
Andrea xx."

view dudley's page

Couple and their French Bulldog at Pennan in Aberdeenshire

Diarmid emailed me an excellent photo of himself, his girlfriend Max, and their little French Bulldog, Kyla, standing in front of the iconic red phone box from the movie 'Local Hero' during their visit to Pennan in Aberdeenshire. Since the phone box covered only half the background and the rest added no value to the composition, we decided to omit the background entirely and simply inscribe 'Pennan' in the portrait's corner. The mobile phone image tended to obscure details, but the precision of the coloured pencils restored the sharpness, and I thoroughly enjoyed crafting this portrait—I always relish a challenge!

Progress of a coloured pencil portrait of a couple and their french Bulldog

Working on the undertones and building up the tonal layers

Highly detailed Coloured pencil portrait of a man and his girlfriend with their French Bulldog

The final portrait treated with an application of UV fixative

"Hi Karen , Hope you had a lovely Christmas. Wanted to drop you a note to say that Max absolutely loved the portrait! She couldn't believe how well you'd captured the detail from the photo and was thrilled to pieces! We've already recommended you to friends and family and am sure we'll use your amazing skills again in the the future. Have a great New Year!! Diarmid"

visit Diarmid's page

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From Canvas to Frame: The Journey of a Japanese Akita Pet Portrait Acrylic Painting

23/12/2016

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This Christmas season has been exceptionally hectic with commissions, and I fear I may have taken on more than I could handle. Today, I completed the final commission of the year, feeling rather tired after many early mornings and late nights spent crafting beautiful dog portraits for their loving owners.

Custom made acrylic painting of an Akita dog

This Christmas commission is one I can share since it was presented early, allowing Kita's owner to select the frame for her beloved dogs' memorial portrait. With years of experience in pet portraiture, I was able to incorporate more into the painting than the photograph revealed. Given that Kita's owners had limited photos of him, and considering the exquisite detail that acrylic portraits can achieve, each hair was meticulously painted with a very fine brush to achieve the desired level of detail.

Photograph of a Japanese Akita laid down taken with flash

The reference photo

Acrylic painting of a Japanese Akita within a green background

The acrylic painting

The customer had only a handful of photographs of Kita, having recently lost him, and I was restricted to using photographs taken with flash. Although the reference image captured a good pose, the flash altered his colour and limited important details, so I conducted online research on the breed and applied some artistic interpretation.

Although the image was slightly out of focus, I discovered that by intensively working on the fur, I found that I could enhance the details by meticulously refining the fur, resulting in a final portrait that was more lifelike than I had anticipated. The completed painting was set in a black frame called Brockwell.

Working the fine details of an acrylic painting depicting a Japanese Akita dog

The progress of Kita's portrait can be viewed here. After finishing the portrait, I applied two layers of satin varnish, framed it with 'Brockwell' moulding, packaged it, and dispatched it to its new home. Upon its arrival, Kita's owner sent me the following message:

"I just wanted you to know that I absolutely love my painting of Kita. You have done the most amazing portrait of him, he was my best friend and my little boy. I love him so much and the painting of him has been put up in the living room so we can all admire him everyday!!!
Thank you again" xx
Rachel

An acrylic painting of a Japanese Akita in a black frame

Receiving such feedback is always special, and I eagerly wait to hear how my other portraits have been received this Christmas. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

How to book your own bespoke portrait:
For those interested in commissioning a custom portrait of your pet, a loved one, or any other subject, information on the commission process is available here. Feel free to explore my Pet Portraits page or Art Gallery to see more examples of my work. In addition to acrylics, I also create pieces using coloured pencils and oil pastels.

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Elegance in Acrylic: A Custom Made Springer Spaniel Portrait

3/9/2016

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I recently completed this stunning portrait of Willow the Springer Spaniel, as a surprise gift from a husband to his wife for their first wedding anniversary. The reference photo was excellently composed, which made the painting process even more enjoyable.

An acrylic painting of a liver Springer Spaniel called Willow laid in the grass, looking at her tennis ball

My acrylic paintings are designed to exude vibrancy and, where possible, texture. For the tennis ball at the forefront of the painting, I incorporated a moulding paste into the paints to replicate the ball's fluffy texture. Similarly, I used the moulding paste to add texture to Willow's fur, creating an intriguing effect when the painting is viewed from various angles.

Progress of an acrylic painting depicting a Springer Spaniel laid in the grass besdie her tennis ball

The image above represents the preliminary phase of the artwork, where I establish the foundational colour tones. At this juncture, the appearance may seem quite chaotic, which can be somewhat disconcerting, particularly for the customer, but it does improve as the image below shows. Observe how the details have been further refined and the contrasts are now also being established.

A custom made acrylic painting in progress of a Springer Spaniel called Willow

Fine detail in an acrylic painting of a liver Springer Spaniel on 22mm Ampersand Gessobord

Fine detail in the face

The Ampersand Gessobord's smooth surface is ideal for the fine detail I prefer in my acrylic portraits. This portrait was created on a 22mm Gessobord, designed for frameless displaying. The edges have also been painted edges so it can be displayed without a frame. It has been preserved with multiple coats of Satin Varnish and enhanced with two wall protector feet on the reverse side's lower corners for extra protection.

Springer Spaniel acrylic painting on a 22mm Ampersand board

22mm board with painted corners

Wall protectors on the back of a 22mm Ampersand board of a Springer Spaniel in acrylics

Wall protectors are applied to every unframed 22mm painting

The beauty of these 22mm board portraits is the flexibility they offer; you can decide to frame them later for a classic look or leave them unframed for a modern aesthetic. Crafting this portrait was a joy, and learning that Willow's owner was delighted with her unexpected gift made it even more rewarding.

Artist Karen M Berisford holding her painting of a Springer Spaniel

Northumberland artist Karen M Berisford with her painting of Willow

Karen, I was the lucky one to receive this beautiful painting. I can't tell you what a lovely gift it is, thank you so much for capturing Willow's character so well. I absolutely love it, it's beautiful and one to be treasured for many years to come.
Victoria D.M

Are you looking to commission a custom-made portrait?

For those interested in commissioning a custom-made portrait of their pet or another subject, further details are available on the commissions page. Additionally, you are invited to view my collection of pet portraits and the art gallery featuring a variety of subjects. Available mediums for portraits include acrylics, coloured pencils, and oil pastels.

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My Latest Lifelike Coloured Pencil Art Celebrating Four Canine Companions

Carrot

Watson

Fungus

Kudu (Left) and Masuda

THE PROBLEMS WITH REMOVING COLLARS

Capturing Haze: A Lifelike Oil Pastel Portrait of a black Labrador Retriever

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

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

Bespoke Portraits: Springer Spaniels plus a Couple and their Adorable French Bulldog

Buddy the Springer Spaniel - 11" x 14"

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

From Canvas to Frame: The Journey of a Japanese Akita Pet Portrait Acrylic Painting

Elegance in Acrylic: A Custom Made Springer Spaniel Portrait

Are you looking to commission a custom-made portrait?

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

Capturing Haze: A Lifelike Oil Pastel Portrait of a black Labrador Retriever

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

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

Bespoke Portraits: Springer Spaniels plus a Couple and their Adorable French Bulldog

Buddy the Springer Spaniel - 11" x 14"

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

From Canvas to Frame: The Journey of a Japanese Akita Pet Portrait Acrylic Painting

Elegance in Acrylic: A Custom Made Springer Spaniel Portrait

Are you looking to commission a custom-made portrait?

Author

Categories

Archives

Get In Touch

​SERVICES

​COMMISSIONS

​HELP & INFORMATION

SERVICES

COMMISSIONS

HELP & INFORMATION