Fanciful Doodle

I got back from a trip to the coast and after recovering from salt air and sun decided to sit down in front of the TV and see where my pen would take me.  It was just supposed to be nothing much but once I had finished I thought it was kind of fun and decided to share it.

"Fanciful Doodle" in original colors

"Fanciful Doodle" antiqued

Happy Day to all!

Karen Anne

Latest Illustration

My latest illustration was inspired by a photo taken by John A. Anderson of "Fool Bull" in or around 1900, (Tatanko Witko 1844 - 1909).  Fool Bull was a medicine man among the Brule Sioux.  I was especially taken by his "Shield of Many Feathers" and the following drawing is the result of what I call my Fool Bull inspiration ...

"Inspired by Fool Bull and His Shield of Many Feathers" 

I am not a portrait artist, so this is not a factual depiction of "Fool Bull".  But, he seems to be a man who has inspired many an artist, myself among them.

Thank you for taking the time to look.

TC & GB

"Reaching For The Unknown"

I have applied doodle patterns to my ACEO's and thought I'd like to try my hand at a larger scale illustration using this technique.  An idea came to me on Sunday, but I needed to pick up some art supplies to do it.  So on Monday, after my jaunt to the Art Supply Store, I sat down and started an 8-1/2" X 11" drawing.  This afternoon, Wednesday, I finally completed my attempt which I have titled:

"Reaching For The Unknown"

I think she turned out rather well, what do you think?

"Girl With Many Feathers"

Today I was watching the little hummingbird outside our front room window, out of nowhere came the thought "Feathers"!  Then I saw an oval with feathers flowing around, so I sat down and started a new ACEO.  After several hours I am happy to show you.......

"Girl With Many Feathers"

Two More Doodles!

I am really having fun with this doodle technique!  I finished one last night and woke up today, Jim said "Look, the Hummingbird is back...".  Well, dang ... he just gave me a new idea for another ACEO!  These are my last two for a couple of days, have to get ready for a show this weekend.

"Around N Around"

"The Hummer"

Til my next drawing, 

Karen Anne

It's A Grand Day For A New Design!

I awoke this morning with butterflies on my mind, Monarch Butterflies in particular.  Then I had this grand idea to combine 2 ovals with a butterfly!  The result is "The Merry Monarch"!  Hope you like her ...

Hope your day is a grand one!

Karen Anne

Last ACEO Balloon Drawing for the Day!

I think I am becoming addicted to doodling on ACEO's!   Here is my final design for today .....

"The Girl In The Heart Shaped Balloon"

My Etsy

New Doodle!!!!

I'm finding I really like Doodle Art ... it is so much fun and you never know quite how your creation will turn out.   Here is my latest ACEO Original .....

"Dragon Fly In A Balloon"

http://www.etsy.com/shop/IrelandBrady

Something Different ....

Hi All!

I am trying my hand at doodling .... I've seen so many wonderful ZenDoodles lately that I just wanted to try out my hand at it ... Please, let me know what you think about my first attempt ....

I've titled this attempt "Doodle Balloons"

The "Honey Bear" Series

"Me and My Honey"

"Honey Bee Mine!"

"It's A Bear-y Berry Good Day!"

"Here's Looking At You!"

This is my newest ACEO Original series.  The inspiration for this series came from one of my granddaughters and is call "The Honey Bear Series".  They were a lot of fun to create and I hope you enjoy them!

The Final Three Frogs In My Set Of Six

Well, I finally finished the last three frogs and here they are for you to view ...

"Well, Hello There!"

"Out On A Limb"

"Contented Frog"

They will all be listed in my My Etsy Shop shortly ....

TC & GB!

New ACEO Originals

I call this one "Tree Frog" .... it is one of my latest ACEO Originals ...

Tree Frog on Blog

And here is "Frog Sitting On A Tree Stump" ...

Frog Sitting On Tree Stump


And this one is "Frog On A Cattail" .....

Frog On A Cattail

ACEO Original Series ... Mushrooms and Toadstools

"Fungi #1"

"Fungi #2"

"Fungi #3"

"Fungi #4"

NW COAST STYLE CLAM DESIGN

This is a drawing I attempted in NW Coast Style and decided to finally share in ACEO Open Edition Format.

NW Coast Style Clam Design

CLAM - NW Coast Style Design (Meaning)

The shell, as a whole, symbolizes the body of the entire family and a celebration of life.  The white panels express the different branchs of the family - each separate but each a part of the whole.

The black border flowing around the shell and each panel implies the never ending cycle of life that binds the family as one.  It further denotes the different paths each takes, whether as an individual or as a group, in life’s journey.  The paths fork but eventually come together as one.

The eyes are indicative of all family members watching over each other.  Helping hands are all around to lend support and love.  Oars (paddles) represent guidance from elders to young in hopes the youth will steer toward successful and happy life paths.

The Clam designs on either side of the shell represent elders in the family who share their knowledge and skills with gentle words and caring love.  The solid circles are symbolic of the “pearls” of wisdom passed down to each new generation.

If you are interested, you can find it for sale in My Etsy Shop.

New ACEO Original Series of Buffalo Skull illustrations

Hi!  I'm pleased to share with you my recent set of a series of Buffalo Skull ACEO Originals.  I am slowly listing them in my Etsy Shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/irelandbrady starting today (6/11/2010).  I am selling the originals and a limited edition of 11 of each illustration.

The  above ACEO is available as an original ACEO ORIGINAL Buffalo Skull with Blue and Black Design by Karen Anne Brady

http://www.etsy.com/listing/49226572/aceo-original-buffalo-skull-with-blue

and as a ACEO Limited Edition (#1 of 11) http://www.etsy.com/listing/49228425/aceo-limited-edition-1-of-11-authorized

I hope that you enjoy my latest endeavors!  Thanks for looking!

ACEO - Open Editions Prints Just Listed On Etsy

"I'm Just Ducky!"

"Irish Laddies Playing On St. Paddy's"

"Young Highland Dancers"

ACEO - How to make a simple ACEO Original

"Tutorial Post"
I recently became interested in how to make an ACEO while reading posts at NotebookInHand (a really great site you should check out if you're a creative person wanting to be in the company of other creative people)..... http://www.notebookinhand.com   


I wanted to learn how to make one so I started looking around, found out that ACEO is an acronym for Art Cards, Editions and Originals.  Basically there is only one rule involved in creating an ACEO and that is it has to measure 2-1/2" X 3-1/2".  I learned the history of ACEO and of ATC (Art Trading Cards), but not that much on how to make an original ACEO.  


While I was making one of my first ACEO cards, my husband suggested I photograph all the steps and post "How To Make An ACEO" on my blog.  Good suggestion!  So that is what this Post is about ... 


I first get inspiration from something ... in this case it was a plaster Hooded Monks' Heads Candle Holder that has been in my husband's family for ages ...

I then needed some type of paper that was fairly heavy to work with and remembered a bunch of matte board scraps we had salvaged earlier from a local picture frame company and thought "Aha! That would be perfect!"  ...  so I gathered up my scrap for recycling into an ACEO.  I then cut a pattern, 2-1/2" x 3-1/2" to draw onto the piece I would be using ...

Using the dark blue pattern, I traced it onto the white matte board...

I then drew on a rough draft in pencil...

Worked on the sketch some more...

Took a .005mm ink pen and inked over the pencil sketching...

Erased all the pencil lines...

Found a box of Water Color Colored Pencils ... I had never used these type of pencils before, so now was a good time to experiment!

I colored in the areas I wanted done in watercolor effect, layering the colors to get the colors I was seeking.  I only had 8 pencils so  I figured by layering I could get close to the color I was seeking ... 

Found a paint brush and water, brushed on the water and achieved the following results:

After this I went back to my regular colored pencils and began applying a base color for the flesh... 

Now began shading the face and other areas of the picture that I wanted enhanced...

Once the picture was shadowed and enhanced I began the inking process...

For finer lines, as around the eyes and face I used a .005mm pen, for outline strokes I used a heavier stroke with a .3mm pen...

I then went on to add details to the picture using .1mm, .2mm, and .005mm pens
with the finished results shown below ...

Now its off to the cutting board to trim it down to regulation ACEO standard measurements...

With this completed I have my regulation size ACEO!

But, I want it to look a bit more finished so I grab a marker pen and darken the edges as show in this next example ....

To finish off the piece, I turn it over and title, date and sign the piece, completing the ACEO!  I did it!

I had previously done Hooded Monk #1 and Hooded Monk #3, so with the completion of Hooded Monk #2 I have a completed set.  What do you think?

I hope you have enjoyed and perhaps learned a bit through my little guided journey into the making of an Original ACEO!