Latest News for the UK Artist Karen M Berisford

Self-Portrait: Honouring Cindy, Our Beloved Labrador-Collie Mix

14/4/2020

During the challenging days of the UK lockdown, I am focusing on the completion of several artistic projects that have been pending in my studio. One notable piece is a self-portrait that also incorporates our beloved family dog, Cindy. She was a cherished member of our household who passed away in 2009 at the age of 16. As a crossbreed between a Labrador and a Collie, she was renowned for her gentle temperament and held a special place in the hearts of our family, particularly my mum.

You can find more of my acrylic paintings in my online art gallery
Bespoke commissions are available to book.

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Custom Made Dog Portrait: Shih Poo Acrylic Portrait Gift

18/6/2018

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Ernie is a little Shih Poo dog. A Shih poo is a cross between a Shih Tzu and a Poodle He is a very sweet and affectionate dog and whenever I visited, I would offer him a treat. He would eagerly stand on his hind legs with his paws up, waiting for me to feed him. Ernie had been living with my auntie since he was a puppy, but when she sadly died in 2018, he found a new home with a very kind lady.

During a visit to my aunt, I brought my camera along to capture pictures of Ernie. Unfortunately, the weather was dismal, and I couldn't get any satisfactory shots. However, I managed to take one photo that had a certain appeal, even though it could have been better. I planned to edit it and transform it into a beautiful painting as a surprise gift for my aunt, who was going through some health issues.

For this particular painting, I opted for a simple background and used large brushstrokes to create the initial layers. This served as a foundation for adding finer details. It's worth noting that not all my acrylic paintings are created the same - some require a looser style, while others need more intricate details. The canvas size also plays a role in determining the painting style.

Fortunately, I had an extra Ashgate frame in my studio that matched the portrait flawlessly. The warm, golden hues of the frame perfectly complemented the painting's tones. When I showed the artwork to my aunt, she became emotional. She cherished the artwork and hung it in her kitchen. When she passed away, I requested that the painting be returned to me to keep that memory alive. He now hangs in my studio as a memory of that precious moment that made my auntie happy when she was so ill.

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

22/1/2018

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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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Cocker Spaniel Art: Acrylic Painting from Traditional Photographs

17/12/2017

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BEN
Cocker Spaniel in Acrylics

Size: 9" x 12"
Completed: 16th December 2017

This article provides insight into the meticulous process of creating an acrylic painting portraying Ben, a Cocker Spaniel, from the initial photograph to the final framed piece. Sadly, Ben had died in January 2016, prompting Kathleen to contact me with a request to create a portrait of him as a Christmas gift for her niece. Continue reading for a detailed account of this process.

Acrylic painting of a Cocker Spaniel in a beautiful field

Kathleen only had physical photographs of Ben, and although I typically work with digital images, I understand that there are times when only physical photos are available. Ideally, it is best to scan these and email them to me, allowing me to determine if I can work from one of them. Since Kathleen did not have access to a scanner, she sent the photos directly to me via special delivery so that I could scan them. I kept the photos safe and returned them to her along with the painting.

Photograph of a Cocker Spaniel for an acrylic painting

Working from physical photographs

The image above served as the reference for Sam's portrait. As evident from the magnified version, it possesses almost no definition. Digital photographs provide me with the ability to enhance detail through adjustments. In contrast, physical photographs typically lack the level of detail found in digital images, so zooming in on a scanned file yields very little clarity. When I am creating a pet portrait and can access additional photographs of the same breed online, it almost always provides a beneficial solution.

Early progress of an acrylic painting of a Cocker Spaniel

Progress of an acrylic painting of a Cocker Spaniel

Refining the detail of an acrylic painting of a Cocker Spaniel

Completed acrylic painting of a Cocker Spaniel

In this case, I was able to provide a generalised interpretation of Sam, suggesting that a full-body portrait is the most feasible option due to the absence of fine detail. Although head-and-shoulders portraits are the most commonly requested format, full-body portraits deliver a more classical presentation. The background was chosen from my personal photographic collection, following a collaborative process with Kathleen to identify the most appropriate option.

Acrylic painting of a Cocker Spaniel in a teak frame

Kathleen requested that the painting be framed to enhance the presentation of the portrait as a complete package. I presented her with a selection of frame samples for her consideration. She ultimately selected a teak moulding. Upon receiving her confirmation that no further modifications were required, I moved on to the varnishing stage. After ensuring safe packaging, I dispatched the item with a 24-hour express delivery service to ensure its arrival the following day.

Acrylic painting of a Cocker Spaniel in a tranquil surroundings within a teak frame

" Portrait arrived safely and I am delighted with it. The likeness is amazing and I know my niece is going to love it. Here's wishing you a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful and healthy New Year! "
Kathleen R

For more information about my custom-made portraits, please explore the Acrylic Paintings Gallery and the Pet Portraits Gallery. You can view the complete collection of my work in the Art Gallery, which includes pieces created with Coloured Pencils as well as Oil Pastels.

Should you be interested in commissioning a custom portrait, detailed information regarding the process is available on my Commissions page.

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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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Self-Portrait: Honouring Cindy, Our Beloved Labrador-Collie Mix

Custom Made Dog Portrait: Shih Poo Acrylic Portrait Gift

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

Cocker Spaniel Art: Acrylic Painting from Traditional Photographs

BEN
Cocker Spaniel in Acrylics

Working from physical photographs

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

Self-Portrait: Honouring Cindy, Our Beloved Labrador-Collie Mix

Custom Made Dog Portrait: Shih Poo Acrylic Portrait Gift

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

Cocker Spaniel Art: Acrylic Painting from Traditional Photographs

BENCocker Spaniel in Acrylics

Working from physical photographs

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

BEN
Cocker Spaniel in Acrylics

SERVICES

COMMISSIONS

HELP & INFORMATION