The January 2013 Colored Pencil Magazine challege

January's challenge at the CPM  is of a snow leopard, here is the original photo that has been provided for interpretation ....

a magnificent cat to be sure!

Drawings of animals are NOT a strong suit with me ... in fact, I generally avoid them so this was a real challenge!  I have a heck of a time drawing anything facing to the right, this being a cat facing the right was just too much of a challenge, so when I downloaded the photo image I flipped it so the leopard was facing to the left ... better odds that I would actually capture an image that somewhat bore a resemblance of the original photo.

That being said, here is my attempt at a "Snow Leopard" ...

You can view all the entries at:  http://www.flickr.com/groups/cpmchallenge/pool/
You will find many wonderful entries here and a wide range of artistic interpretations!

I am super excited about the February Challenge, it is of a red beta fish with glorious fins!  Working on it right now and look forward to sharing my version in a week or so.... Yes!

Take care and be happy!
Karen Anne

PS  If you are an artist who works with colored pencils, why not come over and join in on the challenges?  It is for Pros and Students alike!  It is loads of fun and one terrific group of people!

A New Zentangle Inspired Series!

As an accompaniment to my Zentangle Inspired Alphabet Series, I recently completed the Zentangle Numeral/Number Series.  The number series is being made available as an Authorized Art Print (8" x 10") and in ACEO format (2.5" x 3.5").  They will also be available as coloring pages, you need to specify if you want a color page so that your print will be made on a laser printer.  Many people have received enjoyment from adding color to the black & white letters thereby making them personal.

Each day I will be listing a new number in my Etsy Shop, as well as posting them in this blog.  For today, I am pleased to present you with ....

"The Number One"

 

aka "Numeral One"

Day 39

A day at the coast brings up dreams of beach combing treasures ....

Day 39 in the Brenda Swenson 75 Day Sketch Challenge.....

YaHoo over the half way mark!

Karen Anne Brady

Day Twenty-nine

I have to admit, I did the day twenty-eight drawing just to get it done ... my hubby was looking at it last night and said "You didn't post this, did you? It's not finished ... ". Reluctantly I had to admit, "Yeah, I was rushing ... and you are right, I do need to finish it..." Ergo, day twenty-nine is going to turn into the finishing of day twenty-eight. 

My Jim is my greatest critic, and he know's me sooooooooo well, that he tells me what he thinks about each piece I do, most generally ... he is right. I was trying to slide this by him ... but he caught me! God has to love a great spouse!

Take care, be happy, hope your are blessed with a good and loving critic in your life!

Karen Anne

Day Twenty-three

Ever have one of those day's when nothing seems to go right?   This picture just seems to capture that feeling.....

"A Sad Little Girl"

Mind you, I am not having one of those days ... this picture

just captured my attention and I felt compelled to see

if I could actually capture the feeling.

Having a good day!

Karen Anne Brady

"Soldier Boy" Day Nineteen Ink Sketch

I am so enjoying going through my old albums!  Today I found a photo from 10/4/1993 and decided to sketch what I call "Soldier Boy"....

This "75 Day Sketch Challenge" is fun!

Try it you'll like it too!

Karen Anne

Day Ten

I honestly wasn't sure I could work in my Day Ten sketch but I did!  I figured go for something simple so I chose a little Beany Bear that is sitting on my art table.  I'll bet the next few days will result in more quick drawings, at least until after Christmas!

 

"Merry Christmas!"

Karen Anne

Day Eight!

Well, I wasn't sure I'd get Day Eight completed with the Family Christmas Party and all!  So I started it before the get together and put on the finishing touches once we got back home.  The party was great, 40 members showed up, enjoyed all the good food and had grand fun with the gift exchange game!

Today I picked out another Chinaberry Parasite Wood Carving.  This is one of a fish, I like these carvings, they intrigue me how the carver leaves so much of the natural part of the growth and works the subject into the shape of the piece.  They are each unique and individual because each piece of parasite wood is one of a kind.

FYI:  Chinaberry parasite wood carvings come from a parasitic plant, a mushroom-like growth that imbeds itself into the bark of a Chinaberry tree and gets its nourishment from the tree's sap.  These parasite growths are so hard and dense that they don't decay when the tree is dead and rots away, leaving these parasite growths to be picked up and carved into beautiful objects by talented artists.

"Day Eight Ink Sketch"

If you like to know more about the challenge, just click on this link Brenda Swenson's 75 Day Sketch Challenge.

Happy Day!

Karen Anne

12/15/2011 is Day Five!

These last two ink sketches seem to reflect the fact that I am finding the Christmas spirit!

Day Five's subject is a beaded ornament.  For about 4 years running I made a beaded ornament (cover) for each of my children, their spouses, each grandchild, and many friends.  Each year I would use a different pattern and base the beads used upon the recipient's favorite colors for that year.  The color combinations were sometimes unusual but always unique and individual to that person.

The ornament I used for day five was one of my least complicated patterns ....

"A Beaded Christmas Ornament"

I have still not resorted to use of a pencil and eraser, but I have been sorely tempted!  There was nothing in the rules about using a template, so I did resort to using a circle template in the sketch.  A plain background was just too "plain" so I added different size circles and I think it rather looks like snowflakes or various sized Christmas lights.  What do you think?

Remember, if you want to check out this challenge just go to

Brenda Swenson's Blog "The 75 Day Sketch Challenge".

Merry Christmas!

Karen Anne

Day Four ....

I'm still in the challenge - Yes!  Yesterday I was looking through a Family Christmas album and found a picture of my youngest granddaughter back in 2007 where she had just handed Santa her Christmas letter to him; it was so sweet I decided to tackle sketching the picture of Santa as he was looking down at her and opening her letter.  So here is today's sketch ....

"Letter To Santa"

Merry Christmas!

Karen Anne

If you want to take on this challenge just go to Brenda Swenson's "75 Day Sketch Challenge" for the information. 

Day Three

Today I chose a Chinaberry carving we have to use as the subject of today's ink sketch.

FYI:  Chinaberry parasite wood carvings come from a parasitic plant, a mushroom-like growth that imbeds itself into the bark of a Chinaberry tree and gets its nourishment from the tree's sap.  These parasite growths are so hard and dense that they don't decay when the tree is dead and rots away, leaving these parasite growths to be picked up and carved into beautiful objects by talented artists.

Day Three   12/13/2011

I now have Day Three completed ... only 72 sketches more to do!  I hope I can, I hope I can, I hope I can ....

Happy Day!
Karen Anne

Brenda Swenson's "75 Day Sketch Challenge" 

"No Name Zentangle Design"

I haven't done any art work in the past two weeks and really felt the need to create a new piece. I didn't have any particular subject in mind but I realized I had to create something. What better to fill that creative urgency than to sit down and mellow out with a zentangle design! I have titled this piece "No Name Zentangle" because I wasn't thinking of anything in particular but it made me feel good and regenerated my "Inspiration GPS".

This piece is now available in 8.5" x 11" and in the ACEO format size of 2.5"x3.5" in my Etsy Shop.

"No Name Zentangle"

 

Wishing you a day filled with creativity and inspiration!