Latest News for the UK Artist Karen M Berisford

Pet Portraits in Focus: The Progress of a Lifelike Coloured Pencil Portrait of Maggot the Boxer

24/11/2024

A stunning coloured pencil drawing of a Boxer dog in a mock-up brown-wood frame

This marks the fifth portrait I've completed in the past year for my friend Jet. She initially commissioned two portraits of her beautiful Boxer dogs, Carrot and Fungus, and decided to wait until her third pup matured before asking me to create another, named Maggot. Additionally, last year's commissions also included pencil portraits featuring her mother's dogs, Masuda and Kudu, as well as Watson, another Boxer dog belonging to her friend Mark. Each portrait has a dedicated progress page, accessible via the provided links, showcasing the creation process.

Photograph of a fawn Boxer dog called Maggot

Planning the Composition for a Coloured Pencil Drawing

Jet possesses an extraordinary talent for photography, and her selections for reference photos will always represent the very best available. In this specific image, Maggot is engaging in direct eye contact with the viewer, creating a powerful connection. However, one ear appears slightly askew, which can distract from the primary focus on her eyes. Therefore, it was decided to adjust her ear to align it with the other one for a more cohesive look. An ear from a secondary photograph was superimposed onto the reference image, allowing for a simplified working process.

It is important to recognise that there is no singular requirement for a reference image. Any photograph selected by me as the artist reflects the optimal stance and composition; however, the ideal reference photo is one that the pet owner believes captures the essence of their pet most accurately. It is important to preserve distinctive characteristics in a dog's portrait, such as a subtly raised lip or an unusually angled ear, in order to authentically represent their individuality.

The early stages of a coloured pencil drawing

The early stages of the layering process with more layers yet to add.

As a traditional artist specialising in lifelike portraiture, I always start with the eyes. They must be accurately rendered, as any discrepancy can compromise the entire portrait. It's much easier to begin anew at this early stage than to invest hours into a portrait, only to realise it just can't be salvaged. Despite having over 40 years of experience in the field, I continue to adhere to this rule. When using coloured pencils, it is crucial to recognise that, unlike other mediums, overworking any area, especially the eyes, can place undue pressure on the paper's surface, potentially leading to tears. Therefore, careful planning throughout the process is essential to avoid overworking these areas.

Progress of a Boxer dog eye in coloured pencils

Further progression of a coloured pencil drawing of a Boxer dog

Techniques & Colour Palette

Both images above demonstrate the layering technique that I use in all of my coloured pencil drawings. By applying additional layers, I am able to enhance the details and achieve a more realistic representation in the artwork. The depiction of this area of the eye may involve the use of numerous colours, each consisting of five or six primary hues. Additionally, contrasts and highlights are incorporated using lighter and darker pigments from the same colour family. The extensive colour palette offered by the Caran d'Ache Luminance pencil range is the sole reason I favour this brand over many others.

The artwork is finalised when I apply the highlights with the most pressure, creating slight indentations in the paper that enhance the realism of the piece. This is why I advise customers to contact me during the drawing process if they wish to request any modifications.

Time-lapse video showing the creation of Maggot

Time-lapse videos serve as an effective means to illustrate the process involved in the creation of my coloured pencil portraits. Although these videos condense several hours of work into just a few seconds, they provide a clear view of the artistic journey.

At this stage, I am merely applying colours and providing some definition; however, I will return to these areas for further refinement, typically by adding highlights to eliminate the visibility of the paper grain, thereby enhancing the appearance to be more realistic and soft, akin fur.

Building up the fur on the face of a Boxer dog created in coloured pencils

The details so far of a coloured pencil drawing of a Boxer dog

After an additional two and a half hours, the fur appears shiny and more defined. Significantly, it now resembles actual fur in terms of realism.

Finalising the small details on a coloured pencils drawing of a fawn Boxer dog called Maggot

If you're considering a unique, hand-drawn portrait created with coloured pencils, I'd love to hear from you! To learn more about commissioning your own portrait, please click on any of the links below. You'll find detailed information about the process, pricing, and what to expect.
I also offer acrylic paintings, which offer vibrant, bold colours and dynamic textures for a painterly finish, providing a distinct alternative to the detailed precision of coloured pencils. You can discover more about them in my acrylics gallery.
There's absolutely no obligation to book, so why not drop me a line with your query? Simply email me at: [email protected]

Three coloured pencil drawings of Red Fox Labradors and black Labrador Retrievers in mock wooden frames

COLOURED PENCIL ART GALLERY

A family portrait and a French Bulldog created in coloured pencils

COMMISSIONS PRICING & ORDERING

Coloured pencil commission of a Dachshund dog and Caran d'Ache Luminance pencils

REQUEST A QUOTE OR BOOK HERE

Northumberland artist Karen M Berisford working on a coloured pencil drawing of a Rottweiler dog

PET PORTRAITS GALLERY

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

4/3/2022

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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.

Interested in commissioning a portrait? Browse the galleries below for details and examples of my work, or request a no-obligation quote. You can also get in touch direct through my Contact page.

coloured pencil gallery & prices

oil pastel painting of a black labrador and Sennelier and Neopastel oil pastels

pet portraits gallery

coloured pencil drawing of a springer spaniel in the sea

how to commission a portrait

request a quote or book here

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Capturing Kira: A Lifelike Drawing of a Rottweiler in Coloured Pencils

6/9/2019

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Portrait size: 12" x 16"

This portrait of Kira was commissioned by Georgina as a thoughtful birthday gift for her husband. Despite working from a small, low-detail photo, I was able to create a richly detailed drawing that captured Kira's character. Early ideas for a tonal background were set aside to keep the focus entirely on her. Read on to see how the portrait came together.

The reference photo was quite small, so zooming in caused pixelation and loss of detail, especially in the shadows of the black fur. To bridge those gaps, I spent time researching the breed online, gathering visual references that matched both the stance and the key features I could make out. This helped ensure anatomical accuracy while preserving the integrity of Kira’s likeness. While I don’t normally recommend working from low-resolution images, careful research made it possible to produce a highly detailed 12" x 16" coloured pencil portrait that reflected Kira’s character beautifully.

Close up look at the reference image of a Rottweiler for a coloured pencil drawing.

Georgina was initially open to the idea of a background but unsure of the direction she wanted to take. To help explore the possibilities, I created five different options, three featuring soft-focus outdoor backgrounds and two with simple, soft hues. She selected one as a starting point, but as the portrait progressed, she felt the background might detract from Kira and ultimately chose to omit it altogether. I agreed with her decision, as it allowed Kira to remain the clear focal point of the piece. Here are a few progress images showing how the portrait developed over time.

Portrait of a Rottweiler created in coloured pencils and framed in a simulated black frame via the Artsphere app

CUSTOMER TESTIMONIAL

" Thank you so much. This was a surprise for my husband and he loves it.
Your work is fantastic you really brought Kira back to life for us.
Absolutely stunning, thank you so much x x "

Georgina Gilbert
West Sussex, UK

You can explore a variety of Pet Portraits I've completed throughout the years. My work includes Acrylic Paintings, Oil Pastel Paintings, and Coloured Pencil Drawings, each offering a unique finish to suit your preferences.

For more information on my custom-made portraits, please follow the commissions link. Additionally, you're invited to browse my full gallery, showcasing a diverse array of subjects beyond pet portraits.

COMMISSIONS AND PRICING DETAILS

COLOURED PENCIL GALLERY

VIEW THE PET PORTRAITS GALLERY

REQUEST A QUOTE OR BOOK HERE

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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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Images and text within this website are Copyright of Karen M Berisford 2010 - 2026
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Pet Portraits in Focus: The Progress of a Lifelike Coloured Pencil Portrait of Maggot the Boxer

Planning the Composition for a Coloured Pencil Drawing

Techniques & Colour Palette

Time-lapse video showing the creation of Maggot

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

Capturing Kira: A Lifelike Drawing of a Rottweiler in Coloured Pencils

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

OBIE

Portrait size: 11" x 14"
Completed August 2016

Author

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Archives

Get In Touch

SERVICES

COMMISSIONS

HELP & INFORMATION

Pet Portraits in Focus: The Progress of a Lifelike Coloured Pencil Portrait of Maggot the Boxer

​​Planning the Composition for a Coloured Pencil Drawing

​​Techniques & Colour Palette

​​Time-lapse video showing the creation of Maggot

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

Capturing Kira: A Lifelike Drawing of a Rottweiler in Coloured Pencils

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

OBIE

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

Author

Categories

Archives

Get In Touch

​SERVICES

​COMMISSIONS

​HELP & INFORMATION

Planning the Composition for a Coloured Pencil Drawing

Techniques & Colour Palette

Time-lapse video showing the creation of Maggot

Portrait size: 11" x 14"
Completed August 2016

SERVICES

COMMISSIONS

HELP & INFORMATION