Welcome to the Step by Step Art website

Within the pages of this website, you will find articles covering a variety of art products. We cover coloured pencils, acrylic paints, graphite pencils, soft pastels and other mediums too. We also offer a selection of art tutorials for all artists, from absolute beginner and beyond. We run coloured pencil and graphite pencil art workshops in the UK, two to three times a year.

You can find all this information here, managed by artist and art tutor, Karen M Berisford. We update our articles to keep up with the latest information and products. You can also check out our latest blog posts to see what is new.

​We add new articles every three months, which we include in our latest newsletter. If you would like to join the mailing list, click the link below to join for free!

Subscribe here

Our latest newsletter is currently in progress and will be available early May (2022). If you haven't already signed up, fill in our subscription form at the bottom of the page, so you get the latest news straight to your inbox.

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Articles & Reviews

This page offers a link to every available article on this website. There is a selection of product reviews, art tutorials, personal recommendations, hints and tips. 

Mini Tutorials

Why not try one of our mini tutorials. We provide written and visual guides to  create an easy to follow experience. You can find a colour chart and reference image provided on each page.

Join our social community

Why not join our ko-fi page where we provide information covering art products, tips and tricks, art by Karen, images and videos plus updates on new ideas. What is ko-fi? You can also find us on Instagram. 

Our blog

Keep up with what's new on this website via the 'News blog'. All the latest articles, workshops and general art related news will be posted here.

Art Workshops

Our art workshops run two weekends a year. Information on current workshops can be found by clicking the image above. Every event has an individual page where you can find out more and book your place. 

About the SBS Founder

If you would like to find out more about Step by Step Art and the artist behind it, click the image above. View our future plans for this site too. See Karen's art on her website at:  ​www.karenmberisford.co.uk

Articles from February 2022 newsletter

Below are our latest articles. They include a mixture of product reviews, recommendations, hints, tips and art tutorials. Click on any of the images below to visit the article of interest. You can find all our articles here. There are between four and six articles, including mini tutorials, released every four months. These are all included in our newsletter including art workshops that are currently available. We update our articles from time to time, so check back regularly. If you wish to navigate the website quickly, view our site map and should you wish to request a specific article, please get in touch.
You can always subscribe to our newsletter to ensure you get information and the latest articles delivered straight to your E-mail.​

Graphite pencils | A guide for beginners

New to graphite pencils? Looking for some advice? Where to begin, what to buy!? Our recently updated article provides you with a comprehensive guide to the pencil to get you started and tips on how to successfully create your own graphite art.

Unison pastels

Unison pastels are one of the finest, soft pastel ranges available and they blend extremely well. There is very little binder, so the pastels are more vibrant, due to the pure pigments found in the ingredients.

Clairfontaine pastelmat

This is one of the most prized surfaces, especially among pastel artists. This article provides an extensive analysis of the paper and explores the characteristics and abilities in depth. It can be used with other mediums too, not just pastels. Find out what this paper can offer you as an artist.

How to blend coloured pencils & products

Want to know how to blend coloured pencils effectively? In this article we cover various blending products and show you how they work. Includes pencil blenders, burnishing, powder blenders and solvents.

How to draw a Hare in coloured pencils

Are you new to coloured pencils or new to animal art? Or maybe you just love Hares! In this tutorial we show you how to draw a Hare in coloured pencils. By providing you with images and written descriptions, we make it as easy as possible for you to follow.

August art workshops

Our art workshops are back in 2022. If you are a pencil artist, and interested in attending one of our  coloured and graphite pencil workshops, we have a full weekend coming up on the 13th and 14th of August. The 13th is the Kingfisher in coloured pencils (2 spaces left) and the 14th, Audrey Hepburn in graphite (8 spaces left).

2022 Art Workshops

Art workshops have commenced in 2022.
To give people time to build up their confidence after the pandemic, especially mixing with groups of people again,
​our 1 day workshops will run on the following dates:

Kingfisher in coloured pencils - Saturday 13th of August 2022
4 places left
Female portrait in graphite pencils - Sunday 14th of August 2022
9 places left

Anyone who wishes to pre-book, please get in touch. Payments will be taken in the summer. 

For those holding gift vouchers, we have extended the expiry date from 2022 to the end of 2023.

Find out more about our art workshops

Previous newsletter articles
Mid-year 2021

Soft Pastels | A guide for beginners

Are you thinking of trying soft pastels but unsure where to begin? We have put together a comprehensive article for artists like you who are looking for some guidance. We know it can be overwhelming, but we have broken it down into sections to make it easy to follow.

Lumi LED Task light

In our latest blog post, artist Karen M Berisford discusses her search for a new studio light that provides bright, natural light for close-up work and balanced coverage when working on larger portraits. She turns to The Daylight Company to find the ideal light. ​

Pencil storage chest | Holds 250 pencils

Finding suitable storage for your pencils and pens can be difficult, so when we came across this pencil chest made by 'Creations by Rod', we wrote an article about it. They make 24 unique designs including the pencil chest, which are aimed at the creative market.

WH Smith colouring pencils

The UK brand WH Smith colouring pencils are great for those looking for a low-cost alternative to expensive brands. They share many excellent qualities and could be the ideal starter set if you are new to coloured pencils. 
​UPDATED ARTICLE

Step by step acrylic tutorial | Weasel

Our latest tutorial explains how to create a detailed painting of a weasel using acrylic paints by following our visual and written step by step guidance. This tutorial can be undertaken by artists of any calibre, but if you are new to the medium, you may enjoy a challenge.

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