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"

"Zentangle Beta" a new ACEO

Here is another Beta!  Only this time I have used zentangle designs in creating this little gem of a fish.  Been feeling kinda sluggish lately, so this is about as creative as I can get ... the weather is supposed to be getting warm towards the end of the week ... maybe that will perk me up!  I can always hope!

"Zentangle Beta"

The original is available at this link:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121103497785?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Open Edition prints here:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/130808741/aceo-open-edition-art-print-titled?ref=shop_home_active

Take care,

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

"Bitty Betta #12" !

The series is complete!  Here is the final little charmer .....

"Bitty Betta 12"

Hmmm, he seems to look a bit sad that the series is ending.....

You can find the original ACEO for sale on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281065909961

Open Edition ACEO Art Prints on Etsy:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/IrelandBrady?ref=si_shop

Wishing you all a great weekend!

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

"Bitty Betta #10" has arrived!

Thank you for the encouragement and support on my "Bitty Betta" Series ... I have decided to go for 12 of my new little friends ... here is

"Bitty Betta #10"

Once again, the original of this ACEO is available to you in my eBay Store at this link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281065178818

Open Edition ACEO art prints can be purchased at my Etsy Shop with this link:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/123634050/aceo-open-edition-art-print-titled-bitty

Wishing all of you a happy day,

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

And here is "Bitty Betta #9"!

Well, here is "Bitty Betta #9"!  But, you know, I am really getting the hang of these charming little fish ... don't know if I can stop at 9 .... don't be surprised if I extend the series to 12 ... What do you think?

"Bitty Betta #9"

This little guy seems to be a bit on the patriotic side!

You can find the original ACEO to bid on in my Etsy Store:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281064521777

And you can find Open Edition ACEO Art Prints under the "One Dollar ACEO Prints" section of my Etsy Shop:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/123472551/aceo-open-edition-art-print-titled-bitty

Hope you are all having a wonderful day!

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

"Bitty Betta #8"

Just finished my eighth bitty betta .... and I do believe number nine will finish me off ... at least for awhile!

"Bitty Betta #8"

Again, the original ACEO is for sale in my eBay store:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281064145746?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

And Open Edition ACEO art prints are listed in my Etsy shop:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/123376941/aceo-open-edition-art-print-titled-bitty

Happy day everyone!

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

Would You Believe? Another Bitty Betta!

I am really getting into these little Bitty Bettas!  I becoming very comfortable with the fins, tails and scales, YES!  Maybe a few more and I'll actually feel ready to attempt a Betta Mermaid ....

"Bitty Betta #6"

The original ACEO is for sale in my eBay Store:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=281062607681

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

https://www.etsy.com/listing/123098958/aceo-open-edition-art-print-titled-bitty

Happy day all!

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

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

"Bitty Betta" a Siamese Fighting Fish

Hi Everybody!

I am experimenting with combining watercolor pencils, colored pencils and art pens.  My goal is to achieve brighter and more vivid colors.  This is one of my first little ACEO attempts and I call him

"Bitty Betta"

The original ACEO is for sale in my newly re-opened eBay Store at this link:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/281060667217?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

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

https://www.etsy.com/listing/122588100/aceo-open-edition-art-print-titled-bitty

My originals don't do that well on Etsy and some friends encouraged me to try selling them on eBay, so far the experience there has been favorable!

Happy day all!

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

PS  Looking forward to working on another new ACEO tomorrow.  I like this combination of watercolor pencils, colored pencils and ink!

The Colored Pencil Magazine January 2013 Challenge

The Colored Pencil Magazine January Challenge is from a photo of a Beta Fish.  I really had a lot of fun with this illustration!  As I was drawing my pencil sketch I kept thinking of a 1950's Hot Rod with flames shooting back from the front of the car, guess the way I drew the fin tips is what inspired that idea.  Anyway, I decided to go with the hot rod flame theme ... worked for me since I was in a bit of a fanciful mood anyway.  Guess one could call this a "Hot Rod Flame Beta"!

This illustration was completed on Stonehenge paper using Verithin and Lyra Rembrandt colored pencils.  I find these two brands work well together for me.  I did use some art marker pen to sharpen up the detail around the eyes and mouth.  The finished size is 8.5" x 10.5" and I will be posting open edition art prints and ACEOs of it in my Etsy Store shortly.

"Flame, the Hot Red Crown Fin Beta Fish"

Here is the theme photo for this month's challenge...

If you would like to see the other great entries, use this link to the CPM Challenge Pool on Flickr 

If you are a colored pencil artist, why not join in on the challenges?  They are loads of fun and there are categories for pros and beginners alike, so all are welcome to join in!

Take care and be happy!

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

Pisces aka Two Salmon - a new zentangle inspired illustration

 "Pisces aka Two Salmon"

I have been having fun creating illustrations using zentangle inspired patterns; in this illustration I had drawn the border first, because my inspiration GPS just wasn't working. As the border was coming to completion I kept thinking of salmon (why salmon? I don't know!) so I went with this theme and the result is the drawing you see in this listing. I like the way it turned out and hope you do as well! The original drawing was done on an 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper, but I have reduced it down to be able to offer it in ACEO format.