News page of the Step by Step Art website

Articles found in our latest Newsletter (Q2)

20/6/2022

Our newsletter has dropped and we have four new articles, including a brand new medium for our mini tutorials section, the oil pastel. If you haven't tried oil pastels, we would highly recommend you give them a go. Our new tutorial only takes 10 minutes to create a highly effective piece of work, and maybe you will fall in love with the medium too? We certainly love them!
We like to cover a different medium or product, in each article, so this quarter, we provide a list of blending tools for soft pastel artists, a selection of black papers for artists who enjoy working on a dark surface. We have chosen various surfaces and brands, suitable for numerous mediums, not just pencils.
Finally, we have updated the Prismacolor pencil artist. We really delved deep into the history of these pencils and believe us, these pencils have a great history. They span over a hundred years! We also discuss what these pencils can achieve, as we are aware that they are a favourite of many coloured pencil artists.

Click on any of the images below to visit the article and have a read. Why not grab a coffee, as we do throw lots of information into our articles, so we hope you enjoy them.

About the Prismacolor pencil
Updated

In this quarters' newsletter is the Prismacolor pencil. We analyse the claims found on the Prismacolor.com regarding their pencils. We share our personal views, as well as those of other artists', found from online research, and explain the metamorphosis of the Prismacolor pencil, which spans over a 100 years and is fascinating! Click the link to read the article. It is a long one so you may wish to grab a coffee before you start.

10 blending tools for soft pastels

Do you work with soft pastels or relatively new to the medium and require guidance? Have you found a particularly efficient way to mix soft pastels? Did you know that there are many ways to blend pastels? In this article, we provide a list of 10 blending tools that will assist you in your work.

12 Popular black papers for artists

During our search for the 12 black surfaces in this article, we found many more, with companies producing their own ranges, in varying shades of black and different textures. The following article provides you with a selection of the most popular brands, including some lesser known.

Brand new medium added to our tutorials section
Oil pastels

Are you new to oil pastels or wish to try the medium, but unsure where to start? Oil pastels are so easy to manipulate, which make them an ideal medium for the absolute beginner. We provide a simple step by step guide, allowing you to create a highly effective drawing in just 10 minutes.

Juicy strawberry oil pastel painting for a tutorial

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Let us know if you would like to see any other articles or tutorials by leaving us a comment below this article. Also, if you enjoyed an article in particular, let us know so we can do more like it. We always like to hear from you, the reader, so we can continue providing you useful content, and that you become a returning visitor to step by step art.

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Latest coloured pencil tutorial in the Colored pencil magazine

4/4/2022

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For the last few years, we have taken part in the workshop series, found in the American Colored pencil magazine. This year, we chose a very different subject for the series, which was the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. You can purchase this magazine as a digital download, and try this tutorial yourself.

Front cover of Colored pencil magazine April 2022 edition

We chose black paper and just 6 colours from the Prismacolor Premier range, plus the introduction of Derwent Metallic colours and the Gelly pens by Sakura. A fascinating study, which works extremely well on dark paper. Click the black bar below to go to the website and purchase your own digital download from just £2.99, or click the link button to view the full tutorial, here on the step by step art website.

Northern Lights coloured pencil drawing for a tutorial in the Colored pencil Magazine April 2022

progress of a coloured pencil drawing for a tutorial

workshop series promo for the Northern lights coloured pencil tutorial

try this tutorial today

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Hare tutorial in the Colored pencil magazine March 2021

3/3/2021

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I was invited once again to create a coloured pencil tutorial for the American Colored pencil magazine workshop series. Past tutorials contributed to this series are the Blueberries (2018) and the Peacock Feather (2019). This year I chose the Hare, a very popular subject among artists. Click the image below, which links to the page where you can purchase a digital (or print) copy of the magazine. If you are in the UK, the digital copy costs less than £2.50 and you can download it in seconds. A great read at a cheap price.

What is included in this issue?

Spotlighting Art-n-Fly - Art-n-fly is an affordable oil-based coloured pencil which is covered in this edition. There is a link to a You Tube video demonstrating these pencils used with Art-n-fly alcohol markers.
Finding the Unique You - Alexandra Zeres showing her artwork framed in flowers, birds and butterflies
Creating Prints of Your Art - Learn how to navigate the options in order to get started printing and providing your followers and fans with gorgeous prints of your artwork.
Hare Tutorial - Workshop series by Karen M Berisford
Pairing with Pitt Pens - Sara Ostlund compares the pros and cons of using the Faber-Castell Pitt artist pens with your coloured pencils. Follow her demo to try it for yourself.
Creating a Beautiful Layout - Learn how to create beautiful layouts by Erin McManness in an excerpt from the book of the month.
Sketchbook - See what's new and in the news
Challenge Met Gallery - Artwork of 18 artists who undertook every monthly art challenge in 2020 and won themselves a free digital subscription.
plus Selfie challenge and December art challenge winners.
Featuring: Ambro Jordi
Ambro brings animals to life when he puts pencil to paper. Learn how he went from pursuing a career in animation to one in fine art. Read how he enjoys sharing his knowledge with others and offering words of encouragement.

FREE Art-n-Fly Oil-Based Colored Pencil inside the USA Print Issues only - While Supplies Last

Price: USA $3.99 UK £2.87* Euro €3.31*
*Price may vary due to exchange rate when you purchase.

Colored pencil magazine front page March 2021

Inside colored pencil magazine's March 2021 edition - art by Ambro Jordi

Download the CPM app

You can also download the Colored pencil magazine app on your Android or Apple device and purchase this edition, although there are no discounts available. The price is $2.99 and £2.99

About the reference image

Hare reference photo for the Colored pencil magazine workshop series March 2021 by Karen M Berisford

My partner John Graham photographed this Hare back in October 2019. It was very inquisitive. Whilst John sat motionless on the ground; the Hare came closer, allowing him to capture this image and the second one below.

This high definition photo can be used as a reference during the construction of your drawing.

Hare photograph taken in Northumberland UK by John Graham

Hare drawing in coloured pencils for step by step art inclusion in March 2021 colored pencil magazine

If you haven't read this magazine before, you may find it a valuable resource as not only does it provide plenty of data on coloured pencils, it occasionally covers other mediums like pastel pencils and marker pens. There is an abundance of articles offering hints and tips, tutorials like this Hare above, regular competitions, a peek into the lives and studios of other artists and even guidance on the art business. They also have Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages too so you can get involved in those competitions wherever you are in the world - I even had a go myself a few years ago!

TRY THE TUTORIAL

Purchase the March 2021 edition

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Loxley Fixative for pencil & pastel artists

2/11/2020

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Loxley spray fixative 200ml is a high quality, colourless, non-yellowing protection medium with UV Filter and is CFC free.

It protects artwork from atmosphere damage caused by moisture and the suns UV rays as well as preventing smudging and is recommended particularly for use on charcoal, pencil, pastel, crayon, chalk drawings and paintings.

This is available in two sizes: 200ml and 400ml.

PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION:
I have used this product for many years to help seal my graphite and coloured pencil drawings as well as my pastel portraits too. I have tried some other fixatives, but I personally like this one due to the fact that it also includes a UV filter, which offers extra protection. Some fixative nozzles can become blocked which is when spitting happens and this can leave marks on your drawing, particularly noticeable if you use it for your pastel paintings. I have never had that problem with the Loxley one.

USING IT ON MY OWN DRAWINGS
When working on my coloured pencil portraits, I sometimes apply a fixative between the layers which helps to extend the working surface and minimise saturation if I have applied a large amount of layers to a particular piece. As the fixative secures previous layers, ensure you have finished blending as you may not be able to do this after sealing it with fixative. In the video above, you can see the Loxley fixative appear in the video showing you where I apply a spray of fixative. There are around 8 or 9 layers on this area alone and as I need to apply highlights to the dark fur, the fixative allows me to do this without muddying the colours. I can then continue with more layers. Once the portrait is complete, I treat it with two layers over the whole of the portrait to minimise smudging and to offer extra protection to the framed portrait, particularly as many people do not choose a UV or museum glass when framing.

USING IT ON PASTEL ART
If you work with pastels, you may wonder if you should use a fixative on your drawings. Take a look at the comparison photos below and see what may happen if you do. The one on the left is before applying fixative and the one on the right is after. See how the fixative has darkened the colours, creating a more translucent finish. The fixative has dampened the pastel application, causing the darkening of the pastels. This may depend on the pastels you use though as higher quality pastels may not react in the same way as cheaper brand ones due to their being more pigment in them. Many papers, particularly textured ones, do not require a fixative as they hold the pastel well with minimal pastel drop. At the end of the day, the final decision is yours alone.

violet flower in dry pastels after being treated with a spray fixative

DIRECTIONS FOR USE:
When spraying, hold the can about 12" away from your upright drawing and spray evenly from top to bottom. It has also been suggested to me that you can turn your drawing 45 degrees and respray, so you are applying a balanced amount over the whole of your drawing. Spray too close and you may create speckling from the aerosol.

WHAT ABOUT USING HAIRSPRAY AS A CHEAP ALTERNATIVE TO FIXATIVE?
Never use hairspray as a fixative. Manufacturers of hairspray make this product for use on hair, not artwork. As hairspray is not acid-free, should you spray it over your artwork, it could cause it to yellow over time. The acid in the hairspray can cause discolouration of the pigment and may also make the paper brittle too. If you have ever used hairspray, you'll note that some can leave a tacky residue behind, not good for your work. It really is better to buy a fixative made for art, which will help protect your work properly for many years.

If you wish to see the final portrait of the Boxer dog being created in the video above, click this link

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The new Luminance Portrait set from Caran d'Ache

20/7/2020

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For anyone who uses the Caran d'Ache Luminance pencils, the company has released 24 new colours! You can buy individual pencils or purchase 20 of the colours in a box set called the 'Portrait assortment'

These pencils have been available to 'pre-order' for a while, but online stores, are now receiving stock and getting them sent out to everyone. My set appeared on Saturday morning (18.07.20) and I have to admit to being very excited upon opening the box.

For me, the Luminance pencils are THE best pencils I have used and I really appreciate that Caran d'Ache have extended the colour palette from 76 to 100. I suspect this was a reaction to Derwent releasing their first, fully lightfast pencil range last summer, which had 100 colours. For anyone interested, I have both ranges. The Luminance pencils are my regular 'go to' pencils as they are a little firmer than the Derwent Lightfast, and I am able to create finer details with them, but both ranges offer different colour palettes and having a larger choice is always a bonus.

The two darker tones, Indanthrone Blue and Dark Indigo will make a more natural replacement for the black pencil, but as the majority of my own work includes pets and portraits, having additional browns and pinks added to the palette is excellent. My current favourite colours are Burnt Ochre 10% and Burnt Sienna 10%, which I use on almost every portrait, so the introduction of the Herculanum Red, Violet Pink and Dark Flesh 40% are most welcome!

4 new colours in the caran dache luminance coloured pencils

Above are the four new colours not included in the Portrait set. Personally, I think that Caran Dache should have created the Portrait set and include all 24 colours as they are just as important as all the other colours. I also wish they had included an extra grey for the 'eye colour selection', but as I use the greys more than most other colours, I could never have enough choice!

Have you got yours yet? Do let me know what your favourite, or most used colours are, and which new colours you are most excited about!

You can view our Luminance article by clicking the link below.

Read the Caran d'Ache Luminance pencil review and see what these pencils can achieve

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2020 1 & 2 Day Art Workshops plus latest articles & mini tutorials

3/1/2020

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2020 Art Workshops

Workshop booklets from Karen M Berisford's 1 and 2 day Coloured pencil and Graphite pencil Art Workshops in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK

I am currently in the process of organising this years art workshops and will be included in the winter newsletter which will be Emailed out to subscribers hopefully by the end of this month. All details will be posted on the step by step art CHESTERFIELD WORKSHOP page once available and added to social media pages for this site & my KMB social media pages too, ensuring a larger audience reach.

Every year I choose 3 or 4 subjects for the Coloured pencil & Graphite pencil workshops which include varying techniques and surfaces to previous years, ensuring each workshop is different to another. Coloured pencil workshops using textured paper are somewhat easier for a complete beginner than the workshops working on smooth paper, however every workshop available can be attended by any artist regardless of their calibre, even if they have NEVER drawn anything since their time at school!

To find out more about our workshops, click any one of the following links to visit the page of interest:

about our workshops

coloured pencil workshops

graphite pencil workshops

Reviews & Tutorials

Here are the latest articles and mini tutorials that can be found on the Step by step art website. Included are a selection of independent reviews on multiple mediums and art products as well as the very latest tutorials - click on any of the images below to visit the page of interest. You can also find lots more reviews on art products on our 'ARTICLES' page with new ones added every 3 - 4 months.

Latest product reviews

The newest member of the Derwent Coloured pencil range - The Lightfast range

Stabilo CarbOthello pastel pencils article

Trialling the Zest-it 'pencil blend'

About the Pastelbord by Ampersand

Derwent released their first 100% lightfast Coloured pencil range this year and I decided to try them out on both smooth and textured surfaces, see how I got on.

The CarbOthello pastel pencils offer 60 vibrant colours and would make a great addition to the colour palette of any Pastellist. Find out more about this range.

In this article, I mixed pencil blend and Derwent Lightfast pencils on both the Pastelbord surface and the Strathmore bristol plate surface, check out the review.

This canvas is an ideal surface for many different mediums, not just pastels and in this article I show what is achievable using Acrylics & Coloured pencils.

New Mini Tutorials

Waves drawn in Derwent Lightfast coloured pencils - mini tutorial

Waves in Coloured pencils mini tutorial

Caran d'Ache Luminance pencils and a blueberry drawn in coloured pencils

Blueberries in Coloured pencils mini tutorial

Dogs eye drawn in graphite pencils mini tutorial

Dogs' eye in Graphite pencils mini tutorial

Requested by a 'SBS Art' subscriber, this tutorial shows you how to create depth and movement in water using Coloured pencils. For all art abilities.

Originally published in the USA Colored pencil magazine in 2018, this tutorial explains the process of how to create Blueberries in Coloured pencil. For all art levels.

An in depth guide explaining how to create a dogs eye using Graphite pencils and other accessories that will help you achieve a highly detailed, 3D drawing.

You can always request a specific article or mini tutorial and if I am able to provide that information, it could be included in a future article. Please get in touch with your idea at: [email protected]

Finally, you can always SUBSCRIBE to our quarterly newsletter, ensuring you receive the very latest articles, delivered straight to your E-mail.

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The latest Step by Step Tutorial by Karen M Berisford

1/11/2018

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Blueberries Tutorial in the Colored Pencil Magazine - November issue.

I was approached by Sally Robertson, Editor in Chief, at the Colored Pencil magazine asking if I wished to contribute a tutorial as part of their new 'Workshop series' and I agreed.
For the reference image I choose a simplistic subject of some blueberries so that any pencil artist could give it a go, and working with my Caran Dache Luminance pencil brand I created a comprehensive, step by step guide showing where to start and how effective layering is before adding then adding the finer detail.

The magazine can now be purchased via digital download or in print - a copy of the front cover can be seen above with a list of articles that can be found inside. There is also a special article with the artist Paul Hinks (UK Artist) who works solely in pastel pencils (front cover artwork) so not always fully limited to coloured pencil articles.

PURCHASE YOUR COPY - CLICK HERE

The November magazine is now out with my tutorial inside and for anyone wishing to purchase the magazine, you can purchase in either digital format to download immediately or order the print copy - you can also order both together too.

*Prices outside of the USA may vary due to the exchange rate on the day of purchase

Digital	Print	Digital & Print
£3.13*	£6.29*	£14.74* (Inc P & P)
$3.99	$7.99	From $12.48 (Inc P & P)
€3.52*	€7.05*	From €16.69* (Inc P & P)

Click this link to try out this tutorial - now available on this website

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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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Book your place at the coloured pencil 1 day workshop

19/4/2016

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For anyone wishing to attend one of Karen's Workshops, bookings are now being taken for a 1 Day Coloured pencil Workshop that will be run in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. If you wish to find out more, please click the image below to visit the webpage or get in touch via the MAIL US page. You can also fill in your details to secure your place via the booking form found on the CHESTERFIELD WORKSHOPS page.

Advert for the Red Squirrel 1 Day coloured pencil art workshop in chesterfield, derbyshire tutored by Karen M Berisford

WORKSHOP COMPLETED
View any current Workshops available HERE

Learn how to layer with coloured pencils to create realism in your pencil work and how best to apply colours and application to create a smooth, tonal background. Karen has been working with coloured pencils for over 30 years and during each of her workshops, always offers demonstrations, 1 to 1 help and provides a take home work sheet for every attendee to ensure everyone regardless of artistic talent, is able to follow the process with confidence.

Feel free to click the Facebook 'Like' button, 'tweet' on Twitter or post a comment below!

Hope to see you there!

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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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<<Previous

Articles found in our latest Newsletter (Q2)

About the Prismacolor pencil
Updated

10 blending tools for soft pastels

12 Popular black papers for artists

Brand new medium added to our tutorials section
Oil pastels

Latest coloured pencil tutorial in the Colored pencil magazine

Hare tutorial in the Colored pencil magazine March 2021

Download the CPM app

About the reference image

Loxley Fixative for pencil & pastel artists

The new Luminance Portrait set from Caran d'Ache

2020 1 & 2 Day Art Workshops plus latest articles & mini tutorials

2020 Art Workshops

Reviews & Tutorials

Latest product reviews

New Mini Tutorials

The latest Step by Step Tutorial by Karen M Berisford

Blueberries Tutorial in the Colored Pencil Magazine - November issue.

Latest Articles available at Step by Step Art - Autumn 2017

Our 4 latest Articles

Why not subscribe to our newsletter

Book your place at the coloured pencil 1 day workshop

WORKSHOP COMPLETED
View any current Workshops available HERE

New to coloured pencils? - product recommendation

Author

Archives

Categories

QUICK LINKS

HOW TO SUPPORT US

About the Prismacolor pencilUpdated

10 blending tools for soft pastels

12 Popular black papers for artists

Brand new medium added to our tutorials sectionOil pastels

Download the CPM app

About the reference image

2020 Art Workshops

Reviews & Tutorials

Latest product reviews

New Mini Tutorials

Our 4 latest Articles

Why not subscribe to our newsletter

WORKSHOP COMPLETEDView any current Workshops available HERE

Author

Archives

Categories

QUICK LINKS

HOW TO SUPPORT US

About the Prismacolor pencil
Updated

Brand new medium added to our tutorials section
Oil pastels

WORKSHOP COMPLETED
View any current Workshops available HERE