|
I recently began working with oil pastels. After decades of creating highly detailed artwork with coloured pencils and acrylics, I wanted to try out a different medium that allows for greater flexibility and expressiveness, offering a complement to my traditional emphasis on realism. While my passion remains rooted in capturing realism, my oil pastel paintings reflect this focus, albeit with a different level of intricacy compared to my pencil drawings and acrylic paintings.
An oil pastel painting of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - click the image to view progress of this portrait.
What are Oil Pastels?
Oil pastels are a fascinating art medium that consist of vibrant pigments, non-drying oils, and a wax binding agent. Their smooth and creamy texture makes them effortless to apply and blend, allowing for seamless transitions between colours. What sets them apart from traditional pastels is their ability to remain malleable and never fully dry, allowing the flexibility to apply various techniques for blending, shaping, and creating intricate details.
Haze - Black Labrador Oil Pastel Painting on Pastelbord
Featured below is a portrait of my beloved late black Labrador Retriever, Haze. This piece holds a truly special place in my heart, marking it as the very first pet portrait I created using oil pastels. It beautifully illustrates the depth, vibrancy and character that I love about this medium. For Haze's portrait, I chose Ampersand Pastelbord, a durable, archival surface ideal for works that, like this one, are best presented simply framed behind glass, without the need for a mount or additional features.
Comparing an oil pastel painting (left) to the original photograph (right)
I find oil pastels offer incredible expressive freedom, creating artwork with both vibrant colour and a gentle way of defining shapes and textures, much like the classic allure of an oil painting. With Haze's comparison above, you can clearly see how this oil pastel painting goes beyond a simple copy of the photograph, instead highlighting and interpreting his unique features.
Storm - Oil Pastel Painting of a Yellow Labrador in a Field of Wheat
I painted a second oil pastel portrait of my much-missed yellow Labrador, Storm, specifically to hang alongside Haze's painting. Though its composition is notably different and carries a softer vibrancy, Storm's chosen stance truly complements his warm colouring and beautifully conveys the gentle nature of both him and the Labrador breed. This portrait, too, was created on the archival Ampersand Pastelbord. For their presentation, both Haze's and Storm's portraits are housed in matching wide, cream frames, complete with a protective spacer to keep the painting safely separated from the glass.
The completed portrait of Storm - An oil pastel painting of a Yellow Labrador in a wheat field
The History of the Oil Pastels
My Essential Art Supplies for Oil Pastel Painting
My oil pastel work relies on a blend of Sennelier and Caran d'Ache Neopastel oil pastels, plus a few essential blending tools and accessories. This approach enables the fine details that are difficult to achieve with pastels alone. The soft, creamy texture of Sennelier oil pastels is perfectly suited for foundational layers and impasto effects. In contrast, the firmer Caran d'Ache Neopastels excel at creating precise lines and subtle details. Occasionally, I also use coloured pencils for exceptionally fine details like whiskers or individual strands of hair.
An oil pastel painting of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel on Pastelmat
My selection of painting surfaces depends on the desired framing presentation. I choose Ampersand Pastelbord for portraits designed to be framed similarly to traditional oil paintings, without a mount. For pieces that will be matted and framed like a pencil portrait, Pastelmat is my preferred surface. It's essential to frame all oil pastel paintings under glass, complete with a spacer, as the medium never completely dries, making the artwork vulnerable to dust and smudging.
The 'Sycamore Gap' tree oil pastel painting on Pastelmat
While I truly enjoy creating pet portraits, my oil pastel paintings aren't limited to just animals. I offer bespoke portraits of many subjects, including cherished landscapes or even people. Every piece of art I create is unique, showing different levels of expressiveness. This is one of the great things about working with oil pastels. My goal isn't just to make a perfect copy. Instead, I aim for a custom result that captures the true character and life of the subject and its surroundings, always with my own artistic touch. Interested in Commissioning Your Own Portrait?
If you're interested in a unique, custom portrait, you can find details and pricing for my oil pastel portraits on the links below. If oil pastels aren't quite what you're looking for, I also create lifelike portraits in coloured pencil and vibrant acrylic paintings. Use the links below to explore my other styles, or feel free to contact me directly to discuss your ideas!
0 Comments
This article was first published in 2016 to document a graphite pencil commission of Wynyard Hall, it has been updated in 2025, to include current information about commissioning graphite portraits, particularly for weddings, engagements, and other milestone occasions. Back in 2013, I was approached by a couple planning their wedding at Wynyard Hall, Billingham. They wanted a graphite pencil drawing of the venue to display on the day, something guests could sign around the mount as part of their celebration. It was a thoughtful idea, and one that turned into a striking centrepiece. Rather than being purely decorative, the drawing was integrated into the celebration itself.  A custom-ordered, non-standard-sized piece designed to commemorate a wedding day. With no personal photographs available, I contacted Wynyard Hall directly and was granted permission to use one of their high-resolution images. After receiving approval, I commenced work on the portrait. The final piece measured 12 by 24 inches, tailored to suit the scale of the building and the couple’s plans for guest messages. Though I don’t routinely promote graphite commissions, it remains a selective option for architectural subjects where tonal control and detail are paramount.  Framed before the big day! We worked through framing options to ensure the mount could accommodate handwritten notes, although the mount could have been wider due to the amount of people wanting to sign it on the day. The couple opted for a simple black frame, coupled with a dual mount and a silver plaque inset, engraved with the venue name and wedding date. These details made the piece personal without overwhelming the composition, especially as the messages would play such a large part.  The completed portrait featuring the well wishes of wedding guests inscribed on the mount. The drawing was completed in just over three weeks, ahead of the couple’s collection date. Framing was arranged locally and finished in time for their trip to collect the portrait, just in time for their wedding. While large-scale commissions typically require more time, I will always do my best to accommodate specific deadlines, especially when the portrait is tied to a wedding or milestone event. This Wynyard Hall commission remains one of the most emotionally resonant wedding pieces I’ve produced. Custom-made wedding portraits and for other special ocassionsIf you're considering a graphite pencil portrait as a gift, whether for a wedding, birthday, or simply to mark a meaningful moment, pricing and commission details are listed below. I’ve outlined the commissioning process in detail in ‘Portraits As Gifts: 'A Guide to Commissioning Meaningful Art’, or use the booking form to request a no-obligation quote. To get started, just send over a favourite photo, or message me if you'd like help choosing. This helps me understand the kind of portrait you're after and how best to approach it.
These are a small collection of my early graphite pencil portraits, completed between the 1990s and early 2010s. Subjects range from portraits of children, pets, and loved ones marking significant birthdays or milestones. Each piece was created with close attention to tone, likeness, and character, qualities I continue to prioritise in all current commissions. If you're considering a colour portrait, I also work in coloured pencil, acrylic, and oil pastel. Each medium offers a distinct finish, but all are suited to highly realistic work. You can explore the links below to learn more about each option and how they might suit your subject. |
AuthorKaren M Berisford Choose tags below to search the news blog directory, or quickly find each blog through the News Blog Archives page.
Follow my YouTube Channel
Find me on Pinterest
Categories
All
Archives
July 2025
|
|
|
Looking for something specific?
|
|
|
Images and text within this website are Copyright of Karen M Berisford 2010 - 2026
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