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!

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.

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:

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

Why not join up to our Newsletter to receive the latest Article news straight to your mail box. Here are 3 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.

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

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.

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!

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.
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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.

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)

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.