Lil' Dragon, Pyro Training - Day Six

Working on Lil' Dragon, Pyro Training has been a bit slow going ... seems like yard work and house work seem to be taking precedence lately!  Pooh!

Today was the only free day I have this week (meaning no appointments, no shopping) so this morning I got an early start before the heat set in and edged the entire back yard!  In most cases, edging wouldn't be a big task .. however, in our case, the edges rarely get trimmed and soon they begin to drastically encroach on the grass area.  As the grass (er, mowed area that is comprised mostly of weed type vegetation) becomes smaller and smaller I begin to envision a huge weed jungle of over 6' high beginning to take over!  Ergo, today I donned my "Edging" gear, plugged in the weed eater and mulched weeds back to fences, garages, and house foundation!  Tomorrow, all that downed vegetation should be pretty well dry and I can rake it up before my first appointment of the day!

Once that was done I had about 4 hours left over for me!  I opted to trot up stairs and work on my favorite little dragon!  Here is what day six resulted in ....

The little guy is coming to life!  I am liking the color selections in this version but have already figured out some more changes that need to be made to this charming little character in my next rendering!

Take care and happy day!
Karen Anne

Lil' Dragon finished on 6/18/2014!

Lil' Dragon is officially completed as of June 18th, 2014!  I am pleased with how the little fella turned out and hope you like him too.   The finished, trimmed size is 8.278" x 10.803" ...

I'm thinking that I would like to try my hand at another Lil' Dragon ... ;)

Toddler Dragon - Ink Rendition 6-12-14

Here is phase two of my Toddler Dragon, basic lines done in black ink.  All ready to apply color!

Back up to my studio to begin adding some color!  Since my acrylics haven't arrived, I begin this version with colored pencils (wet & dry) and finish it off with ink ... will be fun to see where it goes next!

Bigs hugs my good friends!
Karen Anne

In a Jar ...........

Awhile back my ACEO eBay Group held a challenge based on what you could find in a jar ... with the subject jar being an old fashioned canning jar.  I came up with three versions ....

"Sunflowers In A Jar"

"Dandelion Bouquet In A Jar"

"Fairy In A Jar"

I am happy to say, the challenge worked out quite well for me because these three ACEOs sold really quickly on eBay!   Thanks to the wonderful equipment we now have, prints are still available in my Etsy Shop.  

This week I am working on a new challenge, the theme is "Fish".  On June 1st, I will be posting all the "Fish" themed ACEOs to eBay and Etsy.  I like the way they are coming along ....

Take care and be happy!

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

"Georgie Girl's Fairy"

I belong to several teams and groups on Etsy and eBay.   In one of the groups, one of the younger artists just had her first baby girl and has named her Georgie.  Well, this is a really friendly and supportive group with great comradery and one of the gals suggested we do an ACEO shower for Katie!

What a great idea!  So today I had fun creating a special little ACEO that I have titled "Georgie Girl's Fairy" ... will send it off to Katie tomorrow!

"Georgie Girl's Fairy"

I think she is kinda sweet!

Hope you all have a peaceful evening...

Karen Anne

"Dragonfly and Crocuses" .... The Colored Pencil Magazine April Challenge

The subject photo for the Colored Pencil Magazine's April Challenge is Crocuses!  I decided, however, that a dragonfly would look pretty nifty in my version so I added a fuschia colored one!  Fun!

"Dragonfly and Crocuses"

for your reference, here is the photo...

I have also made prints of my rendition so they are available as One Dollar ACEOs in my Etsy Shop:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/129595754/aceo-open-edition-art-print-titled

This current challenge is open until May 10, 2013.  If you are a colored pencil artist, why not join in?

Here is a link to this month's challenge:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/coloredpencilmag/8580943924/in/pool-cpmchallenge/

Hope you are all having a wonderful day!

Karen Anne aka IrelandBrady

"Bird of Paradise Fairy"

One of our favorite flowers is the "Bird of Paradise" and I thought it would be fun to create a Bird of Paradise Fairy ACEO.  The beauty of the Bird of Paradise is mesmerizing and captivating, evoking dreams of exotic lands  and glorious colors and natural splendors.  

And here is my latest ACEO, "Bird of Paradise Fairy" ... albeit, if I do say so myself, she does look a bit like Carmen Miranda!

The original is now up for auction at eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=121095310935

Authorized Open Edition ACEO Art Prints are on Etsy:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/129363746/aceo-open-edition-art-print-titled-bird?ref=shop_home_active

Best wishes for a beautiful spring week ...

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

"Blue Dragonfly"

Here my latest ACEO which I have titled "Blue Dragonfly". I really like Dragonflies ... they remind of something pre-historic and they always make me smile, plus they don't bite! The patterns in their wings are so delicate and complex, with each new dragonfly I create on paper ... I get a little better at capturing that beauty. I hope you like my "Blue Dragonfly"!

I have the original listed in my eBay Store ...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=121093151447#ht_550wt_1191

and Open Edition ACEO Authorized Art Prints in my Etsy Shop ...

https://www.etsy.com/listing/128992014/aceo-open-edition-art-print-titled-blue?ref=shop_home_active

Hope all is well with you and you are enjoying this day (even though it is wet and gloomy here)!

Karen Anne aka IrelandBrady

Dragonfly Fairy (with Mystic Fairy Flower)

It has been awhile since I created any fairy illustrations, so yesterday I did!


With this piece, I wanted to see how much detail I could get into a 2.5" x 3.5" area. So, I began with a tiny face with a fairy and a dragonfly in mind. Combined the two to create a "Dragonfly Fairy" and went from there. As the drawing progressed, the Mystic Fairy Flower was added, as well as several other zentangle inspired patterns. The final result is what you are viewing in this post.

"Dragonfly Fairy"

The original is up for auction at eBay....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281090735525?ssPageName=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Open Editions prints are in my Etsy Shop ....

https://www.etsy.com/listing/128892422/aceo-open-edition-art-print-titled

Hope you are all having a wonderful day!

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

"Bald Eagle"

Paper work for taxes: Done!   Time to create a new ACEO: Done!

"Bald Eagle"

Things are getting semi-organized and I was able to take a bit of time to get in an ACEO today!  Yes!

You can find the original on eBay at:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/281078913944?signal=own_ce98fbd4-0a78-342a-89b3-0bb5f6c4b08a:dc57df40-8dcb-11e2-b3da-005056a87aea_1

And Open Edition ACEO art prints at Etsy:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/126556208/aceo-open-edition-art-print-titled-bald

Wishing all a great St. Patrick's Day weekend!

Karen Anne

"Easter Egg Bunny #3" a New Zentangle Inspired piece of art!

I am loving my "Orbital Easel" more each time I use it ... it is truly the dream easel of all easels! Another plus, because of sitting in a more comfortable drawing position, I find that I now have more stamina and am able to continue working longer with no distracting aches and pains.  Thank you Orbital Easel!  It is also much easier to get things in perspective, eliminates a lot of erasing.

I really had a lot of fun creating my latest ACEO ... he just makes me smile!

"Easter Egg Bunny #3"

If you would like a chance to purchase the original, it is now up for auction at eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281076560856

Authorized Open Editions ACEO Art Prints are available to you through Etsy at:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/126025967/aceo-open-edition-art-print-titled?

Hope you are all have a "Hoppy" day!

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

My new "Orbital Easel" & "Easter Egg Bunny #2"

I have been checking out the "Orbital Easel" for the past two weeks and finally on Tuesday I decided to go ahead and order one for myself, the 19" x 25" easel with the table top base.  Imagine my delight when it arrived on Thursday!  So of course I had to immediately unpack it, rearrange my art area and start in on a new ACEO!

My reaction to my first use of the "Orbital Easel"? .... TOTALLY AWESOME!

And here is my initial review ... I am taking to this new easel like a duck to water! It provides a new freedom and flexibility when using watercolors, colored pencils, and ink pens. It is truly a modern miracle for today's artists! I got so lost in the piece I was working on that I didn't even realize how much I was moving it ... just feels so absolutely natural.

My arms love it! My eyes love it! It provides the perfect angles! Makes application of watercolors easy, colored pencils just love it, ink pens are captivated by it!  No more constant turning of the piece I am working on to achieve the right angle, I don't have to worry about a glass of water tipping over and ruining a piece (cuz I can't very well place a glass on an angled surface), this easel is definitely going on vacation with me this year!  The table top base works quite well for me, it is sturdy and with grip pads on the bottom it stays in place and does not move.  They also have a clamp base that I understand can be used on a heavy duty tripod as well.  The working area of the easel is laminated with light weight aluminum on both sides and is quite rigid so that if you happen to lean on your work, like I do, it does not flex or bend.

The only body part that rebelled a bit was the back ... it was so used to hunching over a flat work area that it is having a bit of a time adjusting to working in a natural upright position! LOL! I am totally IN LOVE with the "Orbital Easel"!   I would actually go so far as to call it an artists' third hand!

I started the new ACEO yesterday and was so excited to get back to my "Orbital Easel" that first thing in the morning I was back to having fun!  I like it more today than I did yesterday!  And today my back didn't rebel ... guess it only needed one night of good sleep to accept a better drawing position ... 8)

I just finished working on "Easter Egg Bunny #2", I think I worked on him longer than I expected because I didn't want to leave "Orby" (yes, I name inanimate objects that I fall in love with) but I had to get him (Easter Egg Bunny #2) scanned and posted on eBay and Etsy.  

Without further ado, here is my new ACEO and the first piece to be completed with Orby's assistance!

"Easter Egg Bunny #2"

He has just popped out of his shell and seems to be quite delighted to see the new world around him!  It is filled with beautiful bright colors and wonderful smells but he seems to be looking up with loving eyes at someone very, very special.   Could that very special someone be you?

The original of "Easter Egg Bunny #2" is now listed on eBay at:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281075316636#ht_575wt_1191

And Open Edition ACEO Art Prints can be found at Etsy:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/125853705/aceo-open-edition-art-print-titled?

Hope you are all having a grand a day as I am!

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

"Hare Holmes"

I started out "gleaning" (new word for cleaning and getting rid of) the house today and thought I'd start by cleaning up my art area.  BIG mistake!  I found a piece I had been working on for the "Mad as a March Hare" contest for the team, ACEO~Art Card Editions and Originals on eBay, but hadn't had time to finish.  Well of course I couldn't put away a piece that was nearly 50% complete ... so I sat down and really enjoyed finishing it up!  Since it is too late to enter into the contest, I just renamed they little guy!  I am happy to introduce you to:

"Hare Holmes"

The original ACEO of "Hare Holmes" is currently listed in my eBay Store at:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281073574806?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Open Edition ACEO art prints are available in my Etsy Shop at:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/125438018/aceo-open-edition-art-print-titled-hare

So that I won't feel so guilty about backsliding on my "gleaning" I'll now go out and clean out one wee cupboard!  Hey ... I'm starting with baby steps!  LOL!

Happy day all!

Karen Anne

"Mad as a March Hare"

I belong to a team named "ACEO ~ Art Card Editions and Originals on eBay" (this is their Facebook Page) and each month they hold a theme week contest that runs from the first of the month to the seventh.  The theme for the first week in March is "Mad as a March Hare".  Now of course that title sounded like a lot of fun to me so I just had to create two ACEOs to enter!

Tomorrow (3-1-13), all participants will be posting their entries, I am sure they are going to be quite creative and a lot of fun!  To view the entries, wait until 3/1/13 and go to eBay by using this link:  http://search.ebay.com/ACEO-TW  or just go to eBay and put ACEO TW MAR in the search area.

You know, if you create ACEOs and sell them on eBay ... you might just want to join this group!  The members are wonderfully creative, supportive and welcoming.  I joined through the Facebook page.

So, with no further ado ... here is a preview sneak peek of my two entries in the March Theme Week Contest:

"Mad as a March Hare #1"

"Mad as a March Hare #2"

Now I'll have to actively get down to the pursuit of "clean house" ... ugh.

Have a great day!

Karen Anne

One more Bitty Betta!

OK, I just had to try one more Betta!  LOL!  This is a version of the crown fin betta, a siamese fighting fish.  I think this is my final Betta for awhile ... but you never know what tomorrow will bring!

"Bitty Betta #4"

The original ACEO is listed at my eBay Store:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281061847722

Open Edition ACEO Art Prints are available in my Etsy Shop:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/122895402/aceo-open-edition-art-print-titled-bitty

One thing for sure, I am improving on the scales and fins and tail!

Happy day!

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

Well Hello ... It's Bitty Betta #3!

Obviously I am on a Betta Binge!  Just finished another little cutie today .... went for purple this time around!

"Bitty Betta #3"

This little ACEO original is available in my eBay Store:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281061511539

And Open Edition ACEO art prints are available in my Etsy Shop:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/122802610/aceo-open-edition-art-print-titled-bitty

I think I am having too much fun with littler charmers!

Happy Day!

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

"Fan Tail Bitty Betta"

I am having fun mixing watercolor pencils, colored pencils and artist ink pens.  This little art piece has been created on Stonehenge art paper; Stonehenge paper is marvelous because it doesn't warp when water is applied to it ... well, it does warp a bit when wet but as soon as it dries the paper is once again flat.  ACEOs are a marvelous and fun way to practice new techniques.  So I will probably be creating quite a few this month!  Today's ACEO is titled:

"Bitty Betta #2" a fan tail siamese fighting fish...

The original ACEO is for sale in my eBay shop at this link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281061079410

Open Edition ACEO art prints are available in my Etsy Shop at this link:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/122684218/aceo-open-edition-art-print-titled-bitty

Happy day everybody!

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

And the Colored Pencil Magazine Pro Winner of the October Challenge is .......

I just received an email that nearly knocked me off my chair!   And I just had to share it with all of you ....  here it is:

Karen Anne Brady

---

PRO CHALLENGE WINNER! 1 message

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COLORED PENCIL Magazine	Fri, Nov 16, 2012 at 3:13 PM
Reply-To: COLORED PENCIL Magazine To: KABrady.Art@gmail.com
Karen, I am so pleased to write to tell you that after much deliberation, we have selected you as the Pro Winner of the October 2012 #1210 Kiiro Art Challenge! You have also won a great prize from our friends and sponsors at UART to include 10 huge sheets of  18 x 24 sanded pastel 600 grade paper. This is a great prize and you are going to be surprised when it arrives how unique a surface this is to draw on. I hope you share with us something you do on it. Why you were selected by our staff: We just couldn’t escape your charming colorful concept and brilliant execution of this gecko challenge. It is an exciting change of perspective AND mirror image that isn’t too perfect of a mirror so that each lizard has it’s own little personality. We also love how you didn’t give up when you weren’t quite satisfied with your first attempt and how you pushed yourself to take chances the second time around. I know this wonderfully illustrated piece is one that many people would love as a print of and I hope it serves you well, if you put prints up for sale, be sure to link to it on the flickr page. Of course you have full rights to your image and use of the photograph. We will be showing you off in the December 2012 issue and facebook page. Check back on our blog to see all the entries and other winner. Please send your shipping address to us. You are still eligible to win again so please continue to join this awesome group of artists at flickr. http://www.flickr.com/groups/cpmchallenge Sally Ford COLORED PENCIL Magazine admin@coloredpencilmag.com www.coloredpencilmag.com Join us on facebook! www.facebook.com/coloredpencilmagazine My Blog Friends, You can view all of the wonderful and creative submissions at http://www.flickr.com/groups/cpmchallenge/pool/with/8139128623/#photo_8139128623 where you'll find a wide range of artistic views of the monthly challenge photos! Oh ... and here is the piece that won!  I titled it "Two Snow Leopard Geckos" If you would like your own print, you can find them in my Etsy Shop

as an art print (in various sizes) or in ACEO format!

Holey Moley!  I am still shaking! And I have to tell you ... as I opened it, I was looking forward to seeing who had won ... and was totally stunned when I saw that it was me!

Happy Day to all!
Karen Anne

"Apples and Cones"

As you know from my previous posts, the Colored Pencil Magazine posts a colored pencil competition each month, the November challenge is a photo of a apples and cones, a still life. In this submission I tried out oil based colored pencils, Lyra Rembrandt Polychrome Pencils. To my delight, I found I really like them! I can achieve deeper colors that are brighter and more vivid, and I do not have to work as long or hard to achieve the results I want.

The biggest plus?  Elimination of "Wax Bloom" (a condition created by too many applied layers of wax based colored pencils) and no need to use a workable fixative between layers!  When I was researching the pros and cons of oil based pencils, I read that they smear more easily than wax based pencils ... this was not the case for me.   I also read that they could be used on smooth paper and used smooth paper on this rendering, I like the effect I was able to achieve.  I further learned they have a harder core than waxed based pencils and, since I prefer harder leads, this was a great plus to me. 

The following is my submission to the Colored Pencil Magazine November Contest ...

"Apples and Cones"

 

Prints of this illustration are available in my Etsy Store as an authorized art print (https://www.etsy.com/listing/114809578/apples-and-cones-an-authorized-art-print) and in ACEO format (https://www.etsy.com/listing/114810399/aceo-open-edition-art-print-titled).

Below is the Colored Pencil Magazine challenge photograph

As you can see, I rearranged things a bit in my version. 

Blue Dragon Sea Slug aka Glaucus Atlanticus

The other day I was searching for an unusual subject as the basis of my next illustration.  While I was looking through various images on the internet I came across this extremely strange looking species ... "Glaucus Atlanticus" aka Blue Dragon Sea Slug.  Wanting to complete a drawing that is relatively simple, I decided this litter creature just fit the bill.

A little background on this weird yet exotic critter:   It is called a Glaucus Atlanticus (aka the blue dragon sea slug) and they are often found in temperate and tropical waters. It floats on the surface of the water with the aid of a gas filled sac in its stomach. Because of the location of the sac, this little slug floats upside down. They feed primarily on the  venomous Portuguese Man O' War jelly fish.  They survive by collecting the animal’s toxins and storing them in little sacs on the ends of their feather-like “fingers”, producing a much more powerful and deadly sting.

Beautiful to behold, but I don't think I'd want to come into contact with one!  Prints will be made available in my Etsy Shop.

Happy Day!
Karen Anne