My Third and Final ACEO Challenge ACEO

Outside of our kitchen garden window we have an arborvitae that stands at the east end of the window.  We also have a family of squirrels that nest in the tall blue spruce in our front yard.  The squirrels gather and bury nuts all over our yard, later they will dig up their little treasures and many a time I have been working in the kitchen and a motion will capture my attention outside of the window, I look up and I'll see a little squirrel happily munching on a tender nut morsel. 

This happened again today and inspired my third and final entry in The ACEO Challenge which I have titled "Garden Window Visitor"....

Happy Day all!

Karen Anne

"My Chinese Mudmen" - day #5 - Finished!

Hi!  Well, I completed the illustration of "My Chinese Mudmen" and now have it listed for sale in My Etsy Shop as an 8"x10" art print as well as an ACEO open edition art print (2.5"x3.5").

After I had finished working on it yesterday, I spent a relaxing evening and watched a good movie after which I snuggled into bed for a good night's rest.  At 4 AM I woke up, made a photo-copy of the original and tried out an idea that had come to me during the night and woke me up!  All day I had been stewing around about the sky, had tried out a few ideas (again on a photo-copy) and wasn't really pleased with any of them.  But now I had a grand idea and just had to try it out - make the entire sky black!  So, from 4 AM to 5 AM I spent time on the front room couch with Danny Boy (my miniature pinscher) by my side and filled in the sky with a black permanent ink pen.  When finished, I liked what I saw ... but, I wasn't sure, so I sat it up on a small easel and fell promptly back to sleep.

I woke this morning and asked my husband what he thought about the black sky, he loved it!  So today I blacked out the sky on the original and finished up with small details here and there.  I am especially pleased with the way my little turtle turned out.  Not too sure about the frog, he looks more like a lizard ... I guess he can be whatever the viewer wants him to be!

I am very proud to present to you now,  "My Chinese Mudmen" .....

Take care and God bless!

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

"A Zentangle Sunset"

After I had completed "A Zentangle Sunrise" my hubby asked that I illustrate a tree with more personality and friendly mushrooms. Of course I was simply delighted to fulfill his request, especially since his birthday is just around the corner! The finished result is titled "A Zentangle Sunset" which I am happy to share with you as well.



The original drawing was executed on a size 9"x12" sheet of art paper and took about 4 days to complete.  I have listed it in My Etsy Shop as an authorized art print (printed on 8.5"x11" sheet of acid free paper) and in the reduced ACEO format size (2.5"x3.5").  


I really like how this piece turned out and hope you like it as well.

Happy Day!

Karen Anne