News page of the Step by Step Art website

Our latest Newsletter - Graphite pencils, Hare Tutorial, Pastels, Blenders & Pastelmat

14/3/2022

There are five articles covered in our latest newsletter, which are:
Graphite pencils for beginners
Having overhauled the original article, it's worth checking out (again) if you are new to graphite.
Unison pastels
What makes these pastels so special? We share our findings in this article.
Clairfontaine Pastelmat
Are you an artist, looking for suitable paper? Find out more. Ideal for pastel artists and can be used for other mediums too.
Blending with coloured pencils
If you are a coloured pencil artist and want to learn how to create smooth blends, this article offers lots of hints and tips.
New tutorial for coloured pencil artists
Our latest tutorial shows you how to draw a Hare.

You can click any of the image below to visit each article.
If you are not currently a subscriber to our quarterly newsletter, you can sign up here.

Derwent graphite pencil set and pencil accessories

Starting out with graphite pencils

Are you thinking of trying graphite pencils but unsure what you need or where to begin? Which brands should you buy? We have put together a comprehensive article for artists like you who are looking for some guidance. It can be overwhelming when there’s so many products available but we have broken it down into sections to provide you with lots of useful information.

Learn how to draw a Hare in coloured pencils

Are you new to coloured pencils or new to animal art? 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 endeavour to make it as easy as possible for you to follow.
Click the image to try this tutorial

coloured pencil drawing of a running Haare and Caran d'Ache Luminance pencils

Tools for blending coloured pencils - pencil blenders, pen blenders, powder blender, burnisher, zest-it solvent

Blending products for coloured pencil artists

In this article we show you how to achieve smooth, mixes of colour using blenders and solvents. We explore each product and show you how effective they can be in your own pencil work. We cover pencil blenders, burnishers, blender pens, powder blenders and solvents. Click the image to read the article.

Unison soft pastels

Unison pastels are one of the finest, soft pastel ranges available. There is very little binder, so the pastels are more vibrant, due to the pure pigments found in the ingredients. They are easy to apply as a result of their softness and they blend extremely well. Find out more about the background of this family run business based in Northumberland in the UK.

Clairfontaine Pastelmat

This paper is held in high esteem, especially among pastel artists. In this article we analyse the performance features of this paper in depth, and explore its capabilities when used with other mediums like; coloured pencils, watercolours, oil pastels, charcoal and acrylics.
Click the image to read the article.

Have you tried any of the products we mention in this post? If so, what are your thoughts? Any preferences? Maybe you have a favourite art product? Share it with us in the comments, and tell us what you like about it and why. Let's share our knowledge among other artists.

Our current favourite product is the Sennelier oil pastel. Creamy, highly vibrant and great fun to work with. Perfect for use on the pastelmat paper too!

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Art Spectrum Colourfix 'Smooth'

19/11/2020

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A while back I purchased a couple of sheets of the latest Colourfix paper. It is a smoother version of the standard paper that was launched by Art Spectrum in 2017
Available colours are the same as the standard Colourfix options which you can view HERE

Art Spectrum® Colourfix™ Smooth is manufactured by screen printing Colourfix™ Smooth Primer onto European Archival 300gsm Hot Pressed watercolour paper making 340gsm pastel paper.
Colourfix™ Smooth is a versatile surface that can be used for pastels, oil colours, acrylics, inks, oil pastels, gouache, watercolours and dry media such as charcoal and pencils.
The Colourfix™ Smooth texture is ideal for pastel artists who are looking for a not so toothy surface. The surface still has enough soft tooth to enable the artist to do multiple layers of pastel.

Colourfix™ Smooth is available:
Colours: 20 (As the Colourfix standard)
Sheet sizes: 23 x 30cm (9” x 12”) and 50x70cm (20” x 28”) 10 sheets per pack.
Rainbow packs available in 23 x 30cm (9” x 12”)
Cool and Warm packs in 23 x 30cm (9” x 12”) size

Primer

You can also purchase Colourfix smooth as a primer which allows you to paint it over any surface and create your art over the top. The primer is available in all colours found in the paper surfaces.

Comparison between the standard Colourfix paper and the smooth version

Below is a magnified image of the Colourfix standard paper versus the smooth surface. As you can see, the standard surface appears quite gritty next to the smooth surface. You can see how the smooth compares to the very popular Pastelmat paper below.

How does the Colourfix smooth compare to Pastelmat?

Here is a magnified image of the Colourfix smooth and Clairfontaine Pastelmat paper comparison. They look and feel exactly the same and I suspect Art Spectrum brought out the Colourfix smooth paper in competition with Pastelmat, knowing how popular the paper is.

Violet flower on Colourfix smooth paper

Having completed a soft pastel drawing on this paper, it reminded me of the popular Pastelmat paper. Pastels go on smoothly and is easy to blend on. As I blend by overlaying pastels rather than using my fingers or tools, this paper makes it easier to do this because of its smoothness, not as easy on the original surface which has more of a tooth. This paper is great for those just starting out with pastels and is suitable for other mediums such as pencils and acrylic paints.

Violet flower in soft pastels on Art Spectrum Colourfix smooth Leaf green dark tone

The latest tutorial available on our website, created for inclusion in our autumn newsletter 2020, shows you how to create a Violet flower on the Colourfix smooth paper. Using soft pastels on the Leaf Green Dark tone (you can use any colour surface) we break down the process of base application with pastel blocks to creating the fine details using the PITT pastel pencils (you can use your own pastel range)

Why not give our pastel tutorial a go - Click to visit the page

NEW COLOURFIX™ OPTIMUM BOARD
ORIGINAL (MEDIUM) TEXTURE

The Colourfix original paper surface is also available in a more robust form known as the 'Optimum board'.
Unlike the Pastelmat surface, who has their own version which includes the foamcore (and was the first to offer this type of surface I believe?), the Colourfix surface also includes a thin layer of aluminium to prevent warping.

Art Spectrum® Colourfix™ Optimum Board is a high density archival and acid free foamcore board, hand screen printed with Art Spectrum® Colourfix™ Primer..
The secret that separates this board from all others is a super thin layer of Aluminum within the board that prevents warping and helps provide this substrate’s lightweight and sturdy characteristics.
Colourfix™ Optimum Board has a robust toothy surface that will hold layers of pastel without the need for fixative, allowing the velvet bloom and vibrant colour of pastel to be preserved.
The new Art Spectrum® Colourfix™ Optimum Board comes in 6 lightfast colours all with the Original Colourfix™ tooth. It is a superb substrate for pastels, oil colours, acrylics, inks, oil pastels, gouache, watercolours, and dry media such as charcoal and pencils.
Colourfix™ Optimum Board is available in 16 x 20” and ready to be framed without the need for a backing board.

What else you should know about this board:
The substrate board is acid free containing no lignin’s.
The glue used in this product is also acid free.
Aluminum thickness: 6.3μm
Colours available: White, Soft Umber, Terracotta, Rose Grey, Blue Haze and Deep Black.
Also available Rainbow Pack which includes one sheet of each colour

Available at Jackson's Art online store (UK)

Search the art spectrum website for a store near you (rest of world)

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Looking how to start your own art commission business?

12/11/2020

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If you are an artist thinking of starting your own commission based business, here at Step by Step Art, we have produced an article filled with lots of useful information for those of you needing some help and advice.
Written by artist Karen M Berisford who has always loved drawing since she was little, began taking on commissions back in the 90's after leaving school. She became a professional artist in 2011 and runs her own commission based business at: www.karenmberisford.com She is also the face behind this very website and provides all the content found within it. She is the web designer of both these sites and explains the importance of having your own website too.

In the art studio - easel, flowers, brushes and paints

Click the image above to visit the article.
Although the article was originally written in 2018, additional information has recently been added. As with all our articles on this website, we update, re-write or add new content to some from time to time.

Are there any other questions you would like answered that you would like to see included in our article? Please add them to our comments section below. We will answer them as soon as we can.

I hope you find the information helpful!

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Latest Articles available at Step by Step Art - Autumn 2017

17/7/2017

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Our 4 latest Articles

The latest articles are now available to view and you can access them by clicking on any of the images below.

New to coloured pencils? Why not view our 'Starting out with coloured pencils' article with some great hints and tips on where to begin, with what to buy and how to use them to their best ability.

If you are a newbie to soft pastels, this simple step by step tutorial explains how to create a tonal sky with the smoothest transitions and may offer you some great pointers to get you started.

Looking for some top quality soft pastels and have your eye on the Unison range but want to know more about them before splashing out? This article may offer you some great information.

Oil paint products in Chris Chalk's Art studio

Would you like to give oils a try and unsure what you need to get going? This article written by Welsh oil painter Chris Chalk and gives some simple advice to those new to oils.

Why not subscribe to our newsletter

Why not join up to our newsletter to receive the latest article news straight to your mail box. Here are three previous newsletter subjects which covers coloured pencils, graphite pencils, acrylics, step by step tutorials, art product recommendations as well as the latest news on my 1 day workshops available to book for those able to come along.

Click to go to our subscription page to sign up to our Newsletter

Feel free to share this post or leave us a comment, maybe request an article?
Thanks for looking!

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New Look Website & 2017 1 Day Workshop Dates

29/1/2017

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I realise it has been many months since I wrote a post here on the Step by Step Art website and for that I apologise. There has been much happening since April 2016 but overlooked the power of the news blog. Hopefully I am able to change that in 2017 with new workshops and articles coming this year. As technology improves at a rate I certainly cannot keep up with, websites also have to keep up with the times and this is the reason for the 'new look'. I hope it is more visually appealing (we artists love colour!) whilst still offering lots of help and advice to artists here in the UK and around the world.

I am currently in the process of adding six new articles, including a mini step by step coloured pencil tutorial (other mediums will be available in future tutorials too). I also have a date for the first two workshops in May which will be run as a two day weekend workshop that can be booked together or individually depending on your preferences. The Saturday will be the coloured pencil workshop of a Snow Leopard eye on black Colourfix, which I ran in August 2013, and was quickly booked up. On the Sunday will be a graphite pencil workshop of a Ring-tailed Lemur, so if you are interested in learning how to work with pencils to create detailed art, these workshops may be for you. You don't need any previous experience with pencils or with art to join in, but I can guarantee that if you are a complete beginner you will be very surprised with what you have achieved by the end of the day.

We have a mini version of this tutorial on our website - click to try it at home

Everyone gets their own workstation so you have ample room to spread out. The price of each workshop includes the paper, outline print out, booklet/sheets, and if you are bringing your own products to the coloured pencil workshop, you will be supplied a colour chart for the day or you can loan a kit. The pencil colours are individually coded to match the workshop notes, making it easy to select your pencils. The graphite pencil workshop also includes the paper, outline and workshop booklet. You can also loan a kit or purchase a home kit.

Students at there Workstations for an Acrylic Art Workshop in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK

Products supplied for a UK Coloured pencil Workshop with Karen M Berisford

THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN COMPLETED

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Blenders & Burnishers

1/4/2016

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Prismacolor blender, derwent blender and burnisher and caran dache full blender bright image

Click the Image to visit the Article

I have recently completed a new article about coloured pencil blenders & burnishers and how best to use them. As I actively encourage people to get in touch if they would like to see a specific article or tutorial, this is one of them, which I thought would be a great subject to review. With thanks for the article request!

Although I own 3 different blenders and a burnisher myself, I forgot I had them and it gave me a great opportunity to try them all out and compare them, sharing with everyone my thoughts and findings.

If you are looking to find out what blenders & burnishers can offer you as a coloured pencil artist, or are new to blenders/burnishers and would like to know what they can achieve and how best to use them, why not take a look at this article - I was surprised to learn you can actually use them with graphite pencils too, although have not tried it myself.

If you would like to request an article, please get in touch - it's always great to hear feedback too if you wish to share your own experience on using any of these products so feel free to comment below. If you know someone who may find this article interesting, feel free to 'like' on Facebook or 'tweet' on your Twitter page!

I hope you find this article very helpful!
Karen :)

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New to coloured pencils? - product recommendation

9/3/2016

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Are you thinking of giving Coloured pencils a go, but not sure which pencils to start out with? Take a look at this article which offers a recommendation of a great set of pencils without breaking the bank, whilst offering lots of benefits that professional pencils have (and even some that certain pro pencils don't!) If you have £7* spare, these popular non branded pencils are the ones you should try before splashing out on an expensive, professional brand just in case you decide Coloured pencils is not the medium for you after all. This article offers advantages & disadvantages and also shows you what these pencils are capable of. It seems they are used extensively for those taking their GCSE's as well as Art Tutors (including myself) using them in Art Workshops.

Click on the image, to visit the article page.

Feel free to 'like' , share or leave a comment, especially if you have used these pencils before or found the article to be of help to you.

Please Note: These are only sold in the UK
*They may also be available to purchase at a lower price due to sale offers in-store or online.

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New article! Starting out with graphite pencils

8/3/2016

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If you are looking to take up a new art medium and are thinking of choosing graphite pencils but need some help and advice, I have written a little article about starting out with graphite pencils, what basic product requirements you will need to an explanation about those pencil grades. This article is a simple starting point for those totally new to graphite.

Click the image to visit the page.

Feel free to 'like', 'share' or leave a comment should you wish.
I hope this article is very helpful to newbies to graphite pencils.

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SAA Question time contribution by Karen M Berisford

3/3/2016

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The SAA contacted me in 2015 asking if I would like to be a contributor to the Q & A section in their quarterly magazine 'PAINT'. Being a Professional Artist (PA) of the SAA, I like to get involved wherever possible and sent through some questions and answers I have been asked often as a coloured pencil artist & art tutor and these have been included in their latest magazine (p.31 for those with their own magazine) It answers the following popular questions:

What products would you recommend to someone just starting out with Coloured pencils?
What paper would you recommend?
What is the best way to work with Coloured pencils?

SAA Paint Magazine Q & A Article by Coloured pencil Artist Karen M Berisford

Find out more about the PAINT magazine by clicking the image above.

This article combines a chance for readers to win a set of 72 Lyra Rembrandt Polycolor pencils too!

If you are an Artist and are wondering who the SAA are and what they do and offer, click the logo above left to be directed to their website. This is a small list of what the SAA offer members (Membership starts from £29.50(a year) - as of March 2016)

Large online Art store with free delivery for members as well as special offers and loyalty points (Non members can also shop too but without added benefits)
Video tutorials by numerous pro Artists recorded in the Newark HQ studio.
SAA Open days at Newark HQ (in Notts) with access to the Art shop
Quarterly PAINT magazine for all members covering a wide selection of varied Articles on different mediums
Large online Art Forums
Regular competitions (including Artist of the Year)
A huge searchable database for those looking for Art Tutors & Workshops
Access pages of Original Art for Sale
Free Reference photographs (free from copyright)

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Caran Dache Luminance pencils article

18/2/2016

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Thinking of buying the Caran Dache Luminance pencils and wonder if they are going to be suitable for you? Take a look at my latest article on these pencils to find out more about them before you decide to splash out.

Caran Dache Luminance pencils in a tin image

What is important to you when buying a new Art product? This article offers some advantages & disadvantages of the pencils as well as giving lots of information on the lightfastness of the pencils and what this means. It also shows what these pencils are capable of and hopefully offers lots of helpful information and advice which will allow you to decide whether or not to take the plunge. Personally, I would say you can't go wrong with these pencils, but then I'm biased! ;)

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Our latest Newsletter - Graphite pencils, Hare Tutorial, Pastels, Blenders & Pastelmat

Starting out with graphite pencils

Learn how to draw a Hare in coloured pencils

Blending products for coloured pencil artists

Unison soft pastels

Clairfontaine Pastelmat

Art Spectrum Colourfix 'Smooth'

Primer

How does the Colourfix smooth compare to Pastelmat?

Violet flower on Colourfix smooth paper

NEW COLOURFIX™ OPTIMUM BOARD
ORIGINAL (MEDIUM) TEXTURE

Looking how to start your own art commission business?

Latest Articles available at Step by Step Art - Autumn 2017

Our 4 latest Articles

Why not subscribe to our newsletter

New Look Website & 2017 1 Day Workshop Dates

Blenders & Burnishers

New to coloured pencils? - product recommendation

New article! Starting out with graphite pencils

SAA Question time contribution by Karen M Berisford

Caran Dache Luminance pencils article

Author

Archives

Categories

QUICK LINKS

HOW TO SUPPORT US

​Starting out with graphite pencils

​Learn how to draw a Hare in coloured pencils

​Blending products for coloured pencil artists

​Unison soft pastels

​Clairfontaine Pastelmat

Primer

How does the Colourfix smooth compare to Pastelmat?

Violet flower on Colourfix smooth paper

**NEW** COLOURFIX™ OPTIMUM BOARDORIGINAL (MEDIUM) TEXTURE

Our 4 latest Articles

Why not subscribe to our newsletter

Author

Archives

Categories

QUICK LINKS

HOW TO SUPPORT US

Starting out with graphite pencils

Learn how to draw a Hare in coloured pencils

Blending products for coloured pencil artists

Unison soft pastels

Clairfontaine Pastelmat

NEW COLOURFIX™ OPTIMUM BOARD
ORIGINAL (MEDIUM) TEXTURE