Welcome!
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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. There is a selection of art tutorials for all artists, from beginner to advanced. 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.

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New articles

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 comprehensive articles that cover art products, and a mini tutorial, released every three months. These are all included in our newsletter including art workshops that are currently ongoing. 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.
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Faber Castell | PITT Pastel Pencils
UPDATED October 2023

Looking for information on the Faber Castell PITT pastel pencils, find out about their abilities &  lightfast qualities suited to all pastel artists, particularly pet portrait artists.

Staedtler | Mars Lumograph pencils

The Staedtler Mars Lumograph black pencil boasts a smooth matte finish, thanks to its high carbon content which gives it a deep and intense black hue. Using graphite pencils often results in a shiny finish, but this is eliminated when using the Lumograph black carbon pencils.

Wildflower Meadow | Oil Pastel Tutorial

This tutorial is a step-by-step guide on how to create an oil pastel drawing of a Wildflower Meadow. It is suitable for beginners and those who are interested in trying oil pastels for the first time. Click the image to try the tutorial.

Berol | Karismacolor
Updated October 2023

The Berol Karisma coloured pencils were sadly discontinued in 2005 but are still loved by many pencil artists. Find out more about these pencils in what could be the most comprehensive article found on the internet.

An introduction to oil pastels | Ken Bromley Art blog

Oil pastels are a versatile medium, yet often undervalued. With a wide range of techniques available, they offer countless possibilities for artists. ​Read the blog.

View our newest section:
​Oil-based art products and articles.
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The Art Business | A useful guide to starting your art career

Learn how to kickstart your art career with this helpful guide to the art business. This introduction provides valuable insights and tips for beginners.

Where would you like to go today?​
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Articles & Reviews

You can access all the articles on this website on this page. The articles cover various topics including product reviews, art tutorials, personal recommendations, and helpful tips.​

Mini Tutorials

Why not try our mini tutorials? They are designed to be visually and textually engaging, providing an optimal learning experience. Each page includes a detailed colour chart and reference image.​

Join our social community

Why not join our ko-fi page, which provides 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

We offer 1-day pencil workshops twice a year. These workshops take place on consecutive weekends, allowing ample time to engage in the creative process. To learn more, click the image above.
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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

Previous articles
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Derwent | Inktense pencils

Inktense pencils are different from traditional watercolour pencils because they have been formulated to create vivid ink-like colours, allowing for exceptional layering without disturbing previously dried layers. This article offers a thorough evaluation of the capabilities of these pencils.

Ampersand | Pastelbord

​The marble-dust tooth holds more layers than pastel paper and works well with all types of pastels, it is suitable for other mediums such as charcoal, conte crayon, coloured pencils, watercolour pencils, ink and acrylics. This article provides valuable information showcasing its remarkable adaptability and delves deep into the intricacies of this surface.
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Paul Rubens | HAIYA oil pastels review

We had the opportunity to try out the Paul Rubens Oil Pastels and wrote a review about the experience. The set includes 48 unique and creamy shades with a smooth texture.

GOLDEN Polymer varnish | An update

If you are a GOLDEN user, you might be interested to know that the company has discontinued its Polymer varnish. If you used this product in your artwork, you may wonder what to use instead. Follow the link above to learn more about its replacement.

Derwent Chromaflow

The Chromaflow pencil was released in June of 2021 by Derwent, who has produced quality products for over a century and a half. In this article, we analyse the quality and application of the pencils and see how they compare to other brands, in particular the highly popular Prismacolor Premier pencil.

Sennelier oil pastels

The Sennelier oil pastel is creamy, with an extraordinarily high pigment content, providing vivid colour and lightfastness. In this article, we delve into the possibilities of this pastel, its history and much more. Even if you have never used oil pastels before, this article may inspire you to give them a go.

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In the spotlight

In this section, we highlight products or subjects from our article pool, that we think may be of interest to our readers. We may include links to products that we have found online, which are currently on offer, or highlight a product that we think may help a fellow artist. Click any of the images to view an article, or click the link buttons, below, to 'pop to the shop'.
We are not affiliated with any company, and do not receive a commission for products you may purchase.
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Derwent | Inktense pencils

Looking for the new colours in the Inktense pencil range? We have found the best deal online at Cult Pens. You can buy them individually for £1.80 each or purchase all 28 colours for £48.00 with free UK delivery. Based in the UK, Cult Pens also ships internationally. Please note we are not affiliated with this company, we like to provide useful links.  Read our latest article by clicking the image above or make your purchase by clicking the link below.

Buy Inktense pencils @ Cult Pens

GOLDEN Heavy Body acrylics colour chart

Golden Heavy Body Acrylic colours is the original line of Golden Artist Acrylic Colour, and contains the largest assortment of lightfast and unique pure pigments in a 100% acrylic emulsion vehicle. When selecting your preferred paint, a hand painted colour chart is useful to view the pigments before you buy. Some charts can be quite expensive, but the Golden HB acrylics charts are just 13p each. An article about these paints is currently in production. We will provide the link once it is available. ​

Buy THE CHART @ jackson's art