January 2014 Nibblefest Art Contest "Blue" Entries

Here are my three original art entries in the Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC), a themed art contest beginning on the 20th of each month. The theme for January 2014 is "Blue".  These three entries are all ACEO sized pieces (2.5" x 3.5"); using colored pencils, fine tip marker pens on Stonehenge Art Paper.

If you would like for my artwork to win please vote with your bid. The bidding starts at only $.99 and the winner each month is the entry that has the most bids.

Please be sure to search for NFAC (on eBay) to find and enjoy all the great entries, each starting at just $0.99. This is a great opportunity for you to possibly own a beautiful piece of artwork!

Feel free to share this post if you like it! Thanks a bunch!

"Blue Belle"

"Blue in Blue"

"Blue Psychodelic Wabbit"

More ......... "Monarch Fairies"!

I think I have an ACEO Fairy Series in the makings!  Just finished two more of the Monarch Fairy ACEOs ....


Each of these detailed ACEOs can take from 8 to 10 hours to complete.  Each one begins with a blank piece of Stonehenge paper upon which I create the subject using an erasable terra cotta pencil.  I then use a technical art pen and provide an ink outline to the elements in the piece.  After which all of the pencil lines are erased to reveal a black & white coloring page type of image.

The fun then begins by applying layers and layers of colored pencil and subtly blending those applications of color together.  The is a very time consuming process but well worth the effort.  Once this stage is completed I begin the slow but steady work of re-inking all the initial lines and adding fine detail designs to the image.

When  I am finally satisfied with the results, the newly created piece is then sealed with a spray finishing laminate to preserve the colors and prevent damage.

"Blue Monarch Fairy and Butterfly"

and

"Pink Monarch Fairy and Butterfly"

I am enjoying these little ladies ... think I'll go make some more!

Ta-da! Bitty Betta #5!

OK, I thought I was over my Betta Binge ... but guess not!  Really, these little ACEOs are great practice for getting comfortable with the various betta fins, tails and scales ... once I am really comfortable with those things, I'll begin work on the mermaid ... correction, Betta Mermaid!  Of course, she will be larger than an ACEO ... an idea is formulating in my brain and once it is ready to be put on paper I will begin.  In the meantime .... more Bettas!

"Bitty Betta #5"

The orginal ACEO is available in my eBay Store:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281062475079? ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Open Edition ACEO Art Prints are for sale in my Etsy Shop:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/123055690/aceo-open-edition-art-print-titled-bitty

Happy day everyone!

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

Water Droplets on Blue

I have decided I need to learn how to illustrate water droplets and here is my first attempt.  This was done on a blue colored piece of cardstock using Prismacolor Premier Pencils and Prismacolor Verithin Pencils on an ACEO (2.5" x 3.5") sized format.

"Water Droplets on Blue"

I am selling the original of this in my Etsy Shop and I will not be making any open edition or limited edition copies.  I will be creating more of these little ACEO Water Droplet ACEO's in the coming days until I finally get the hang of illustrating realistic water drops.  I will also be selling all these little originals ... so, in essence, these will all be OOAK (one of a kind) pieces with no reproductions available.

Happy day!

Karen Anne

"The Letter F"

It is just fabulous to finally finish and feature "The Letter F"! With the completion of this letter I am left with only four letters to illustrate ... E, K, U, and V.  I have recently listed this in My Etsy Shop as an Authorized Art Print (8"x10") as well as an Open Edition ACEO (2.5"x3.5").


Stacy, MagicLoveCrow, has once again been the first guesser (I am beginning to think Stacy is psychic!) and has very kindly selected the twenty-third letter for me to illustrate.  Please venture a guess as to which letter Stacy has chosen!


Once again, if you are the first guesser of the letter I am currently working on, you will not only be able to choose the next unknown (to others) letter but you will also receive a complimentary Open Edition ACEO of your alphabet choice upon completion of the entire series!  Please limit your guesses to one per day.

"The Letter F"

Happy Day!

Karen Anne

"The Letter W"

Wha-Hoo! I have complete a whimsical "The Letter W"! My trek through the alphabet is proving to be an enjoyable adventure.  A great part of this journey are the wonderful people who have joined along in this series sojourn.  Seventeen letters are now completed and only nine remain to be illustrated, three vowels and six consonants. 


Pam, AlwaysArtistic, was first guesser of this letter and has chosen a new letter for me to begin illustrating.  This is a fun letter that brings to mind fond memories of a age old childhood game.  Can you guess which letter Pam chose for me to complete?


If you are the first guesser of the letter I am currently working on, you will not only be able to choose the next unknown (to others) letter but you will also receive a complimentary Open Edition ACEO of your alphabet choice upon completion of the entire series!  Please limit your guesses to one per day.

"The Letter W"

Happy Day!

Karen Anne

"The Letter N"

I am so enjoying my sojourn through the alphabet! With each new letter I discover something new and am excited by where the pen and my mind take me next. In this case, it was to the completion of "The Letter N"!


I have listed the newly completed "N" in My Etsy Shop earlier today.  It is available as an authorized art print (8"x10") and as an Open Edition ACEO (2.5"x3.5").


Stacy, MagicLoveCrow, guessed that I was working on "The Letter N" and has provided me with another letter which I began illustrating today.  If you are the first guesser with the current letter, you will be able to provide me with the next letter to illustrate as well as receive a complimentary Open Edition ACEO of the letter you choose.


In order to give others a chance at being first guesser, I humbly ask that previous first guessers please wait until the day following this post to submit their guesses, and that guesses be limited to one per day for each person.  


OK ....  The clue for the new letter is:  It is a consonant and there are only seven of them left to illustrate.  This letter generally starts a question.

You can see which letters have been illustrated so far, go to my latest Etsy listing ("The Letter N")  and beneath the description of the letter is a list of completed letters ...

"The Letter N"

Good luck guessing!

Karen Anne

"The Letter M"

HooRah!  The 13th letter is now completed and I am half-way through the alphabet, it's all downhill from here on out!  I am happy to share with you "The Letter M", which is now listed in My Etsy Shop as an authorized art print, size 8"x10", and as an Open Edition ACEO, size 2.5"x3.5".

I have decided that whoever is the first to guess the unknown letter I am illustrating, besides getting to choose the next letter for me, will also receive a complimentary Open Edition ACEO of the letter(s) they choose.   For those who have provided me with letter choices in the past, I have noted their picks and will be sending ACEO's to them as well.

Stacy aka MagicLoveCrow guessed I was working on "M" and has provided me with her choice for our next letter in the alphabet series.  Can you guess Stacy's choice?  Clue:  This letter is sometimes used in reference to three basics.

"The Letter M"

Happy Day!

Karen Anne

"The Letter T"

Today is Tuesday and what better day to tender "The Letter T"!   I will be listing "T" in My Etsy Shop  today as an Authorized Art Print, size 8"x10"; and also as an Open Edition ACEO, size 2.5"x3.5".

MagicLoveCrow guessed that I was working on "The Letter T" and has graciously provided me with the letter of her choice to work on next!  I really like guessing games and puzzles, so the next person to guess the letter I am now working on will choose the next letter they would like to see completed.

Until then, I plan to have a dandy day Doodling on my next letter!

"The Letter T"

A Dandy Day to all!

Karen Anne