Latest News for the UK Artist Karen M Berisford

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

15/8/2016

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.

OBIE

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

Custom-made wedding portraits and for other special ocassions

​​The creation process of my acrylic pet paintings

​​Springer Spaniel - Acrylic Painting on Ampersand Gessobord - Size: 11" x 14"

Laying the Groundwork: Tonal Foundations and Contrast

Refining the Subject: Enhancing Form and Precision

Balancing Realism and Interpretation in Photo-Based Work

​​White Boxer Pup - Acrylic Painting on Ampersand Gessobord - Size: 8" x 8"

Establishing Fur Flow and Tonal Structure

Layering Detail with Precision Brushwork

Refining Contours and Preparing for Final Varnish

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Archival qualities of my artwork

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Portrait size: 11" x 14"
Completed August 2016

The creation process of my acrylic pet paintings

Springer Spaniel - Acrylic Painting on Ampersand Gessobord - Size: 11" x 14"

White Boxer Pup - Acrylic Painting on Ampersand Gessobord - Size: 8" x 8"

SERVICES

COMMISSIONS

HELP & INFORMATION