Latest News for the UK Artist Karen M Berisford

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

22/1/2018

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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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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Capturing Obie: A Heartfelt Acrylic Painting Tribute of a Boxer dog

15/8/2016

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OBIE

Portrait size: 11" x 14"
Completed August 2016

Back in 2016, I had the pleasure of creating a beautiful portrait for a Boxer dog group on Facebook. They wanted to surprise one of their members called Di, who lives in the United States, with a stunning painting of their beloved dog, Obie. Almost 40 Facebook friends joined forces to arrange this surprise portrait, and it was heartwarming to learn of her joy upon receiving such a considerate gift from wonderful friends.
Continue reading to discover the creation process of the painting.

Progress of an acrylic painting depicting a Fawn Boxer dog

Painting the fine detail on an acrylic painting of a Boxer dog

The diligent and experienced photographer, Obie's owner, had provided me with a reference image of exceptional quality. The single, large digital image allowed me to zoom in and carefully capture all the intricate details, ensuring that the resulting painting of Obie was highly detailed and fully showcased his unique and handsome features.

Close up of the fine detail in an acrylic Boxer dog portrait

A Boxer dog acrylic painting on a 3mm Ampersand Gessobord surfaace

The technique starts with a basic layer of colour, followed by roughly placed markings that help to establish the contrasts and highlights. This phase enables the refinement of details to an even greater extent in the subsequent layers. This refinement progresses until the details are sufficiently defined to my satisfaction, at which point I then proceed to the varnishing phase.

A custom made acrylic painting of a Fawn Boxer dog

Boxer dog acrylic painting in a teak coloured frame

" Karen, Your painting brought tears to my eyes and a huge smile to my lips.
He's home, on my wall. You did an awesome job of capturing my beautiful boy, Obie.
He looks like you could reach out and touch him. Thank you! I love it. "

Northumberland artist Karen M Berisford holding an acrylic painting of a fawn Boxer dog in a washed ivory frame

My acrylic paintings are created using a mixture of vibrant pigment and sometimes I will include a medium or two, which provides texture. This painting involves applying the paste onto the canvas using a palette knife, before applying the paint, which adds more texture and detail to my artwork and enhances its overall quality. I used this technique when creating Obie's portrait, giving the painting a stronger sense of structure and character.

Upon completing the painting, I added a layer of varnish for protection. Although the painting was commissioned unframed, I located an extra frame in my studio which I utilised for the display image provided. Upon receipt of the portrait, Di shared a photo of the painting once it had been placed in its forever frame.

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Beautifully detailed acrylic paintings of a Springer Spaniel & a white Boxer puppy

12/4/2016

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The creation process of my acrylic pet paintings

I'd like to share the process involved in creating my acrylic paintings. Even when I have several dog portraits on the easel, my method remains consistent, however, I may choose to enhance the artwork by incorporating different mediums or adding specialist colours. Here are two of my latest dog portraits: one features a Springer Spaniel swimming, and the other, a young female white Boxer.

Springer Spaniel
Canvas: Ampersand Gessobord - Size: 11" x 14"

Creating an acrylic portrait involves significant transformations of the artwork. I make it a point to photograph the painting at various stages. Observing the evolution of the painting is not only intriguing but also serves as a valuable tool to demonstrate its progression to others. In this segment, I will detail the process behind the creation of a painting featuring our Springer Spaniel, Casper. This piece is one of a quartet, each illustrating our dogs in water, which will be displayed together upon completion.

Blocking in stages of an acrylic painting depicting a liver coloured Springer Spaniel swimming

In all my artwork, I begin with the foundational layers, starting by establishing tones and introducing contrasts. Initially, it may appear quite chaotic, but this process is essential for building upon these initial layers. This stage is critical for establishing tonal values and focusing on the different elements that make up the subject.

Progress of a liver springer spaniel swimming created in acrylic paints

At this current stage, the detail is somewhat lacking in precision, however, it could potentially be perceived as a more exaggerated interpretation of a subject. As an artist who relishes a challenge, I then move forward to further refine the painting in order to render the main subject with a greater sense of realism, ameliorating both the finer details and overall appearance.

Northumberland artist Karen M Berisford creating and acrylic painting of a Springer Spaniel in water

My paintings maintain a realistic quality whether viewed from afar or up close. However, not all of my works require the same level of precision; at times, a more relaxed interpretation yields a better result. Working from photographs often means dealing with images that aren't high-resolution and may lack essential details. This propels me into the exciting challenge of finding a balance between realism and artistic interpretation.

View the finished painting

Achieving the correct contrast can give a painting a three-dimensional appearance, even when viewed from a flat angle.

Now, let's explore the creation of another acrylic painting, featuring a charming little white Boxer puppy named Sprout.

White Boxer Pup
Canvas: Ampersand Gessobord - Size: 8" x 8"

At 8" x 8", this small painting is perfect for an intimate depiction of a nine-month-old Boxer puppy named Sprout. Recently welcomed into her new home with four other Boxer dogs, Sprout, like many puppies, dozed off in an unusual spot—snug in the bend of a friend's arm, with her little head resting in their hand. Choosing to craft a monochromatic portrait against a stark black backdrop guarantees that the attention is solely on the subject.

Acrylic painting of a white boxer dog pup called Sprout

During this preliminary phase, I carefully incorporate the fur details in a general manner to illustrate the flow and texture of the fur. Furthermore, I tentatively arrange the highlights and shadows, laying the groundwork for the meticulous addition of more intricate details in the next phase.

Here, the two stages are evident: the first with a thicker application, followed by a second with a finer touch. Each hair is individually painted using an ultra-fine brush, with a rigger brush being the perfect tool for such detailed work. To achieve a natural flow in the application of each hair, I rotate the canvas board as needed, even working upside down at times.

View a short video on Instagram to see the process

Here, the fineness of the fur is evident. Although the painting is incomplete, the meticulous addition of each hair strand showcases the intricate contours of the Boxer dog's mouth and nose region. The concluding phase involves meticulously detailing the hand, and upon completion, the painting will be sealed with two layers of varnish for maximum preservation.

View the finished painting

Chow Chow acrylic pet portrait created using Golden acrylic paints

Click to view the Acrylics Art Gallery

Currently, my acrylic painting collection is in the early stages of development as I work towards establishing a robust portfolio. In the past, I utilised woven canvases as the foundation for my artwork, however, I have since transitioned to Ampersand boards for my newer pieces. This shift has enabled me to achieve a higher level of intricate detail due to the notably smoother surface of the boards.

If you are seeking further information regarding Ampersand boards, please feel free to visit my instructional art website for a detailed guide by clicking on this link.
If you're considering starting with acrylics, consider reading my Beginners Guide to Acrylics. It's filled with helpful hints and tips, along with links to acrylic painting tutorials to assist you on your journey.

Thank you for exploring my article on how I create my acrylic paintings. Should you wish to Commission a Custom Portrait, please visit my Acrylic Paintings Gallery or the Pet Portraits Gallery. There, you can peruse my previous works, learn about the commissioning process, and either request a quote or book directly using the form provided on the page. Alternatively, you can contact me direct at: [email protected]

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

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?

Capturing Obie: A Heartfelt Acrylic Painting Tribute of a Boxer dog

OBIE

Portrait size: 11" x 14"
Completed August 2016

Beautifully detailed acrylic paintings of a Springer Spaniel & a white Boxer puppy

The creation process of my acrylic pet paintings

Springer Spaniel
Canvas: Ampersand Gessobord - Size: 11" x 14"

White Boxer Pup
Canvas: Ampersand Gessobord - Size: 8" x 8"

Author

Categories

Archives

Get In Touch

SERVICES

COMMISSIONS

HELP & INFORMATION

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

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?

Capturing Obie: A Heartfelt Acrylic Painting Tribute of a Boxer dog

OBIE

Portrait size: 11" x 14"​Completed August 2016

Beautifully detailed acrylic paintings of a Springer Spaniel & a white Boxer puppy

The creation process of my acrylic pet paintings

Springer Spaniel​Canvas: Ampersand Gessobord - Size: 11" x 14"

White Boxer Pup​​Canvas: Ampersand Gessobord - Size: 8" x 8"

Author

Categories

Archives

Get In Touch

​SERVICES

​COMMISSIONS

​HELP & INFORMATION

Portrait size: 11" x 14"
Completed August 2016

Springer Spaniel
Canvas: Ampersand Gessobord - Size: 11" x 14"

White Boxer Pup
Canvas: Ampersand Gessobord - Size: 8" x 8"

SERVICES

COMMISSIONS

HELP & INFORMATION