Day 40

My goodness ... Day 40!  Only 35 days left ... very nice!  I may just finish this challenge and earn my "Artistic License" yet!

For the day 40 subject I chose a sea urchin that my hubby has in his sea shell collection ... I think it was a bit more detail than I really had time for today and on this one I really could have used a pencil to get the shape more accurate ... and the curves in the sea urchin designs .... am I digressing in that I miss my pencil and eraser?

 

Happy Day!

Karen Anne

Days 37 and 38

Not sure exactly why but I decided to try my hand at drawing a Buffalo Head .... so I found a photograph and began day 37 .... as I have said before, drawing animals is not my strong suit.  When I was done, I looked at the sketch and thought ... "Wow, I have just sketched a Werewolf with horns!" ....

Day 37 - First attempt at sketching a buffalo head ...

 

On Day 38 I found a different photo of a buffalo, this one had a great more details and I could see it a lot more clearly; and decided to attempt another version, but this time I grabbed a sheet of notebook paper and did a pencil pre-sketch to get the feel of the subject, the shadowing, and the shape of the head.  Well, this one at least looks like a buffalo and not a werewolf ... maybe the third time will be a charm????

 

Day 38 ink sketch version of the buffalo head ... I think I put in about 4 hours on this sketch because I really wanted it to turn out good, so I went much slower and paid a lot more attention to detail.  I think this version turned out much better!

 

Moral of the story?  Just keep on trying!

Happy sketching!

Karen Anne

Day Thirty-two

I am currently on creating a set of Zentangle Inspired Numbers to compliment the Zentangle Alphabet that I completed in 2010.  Today I wanted to try out some new zentangle patterns to see if I could incorporate them into the number 3 illustration that I am currently working on.  So today's ink sketch is more of a zentangle sampler .....

Happy sketching!
Karen Anne

Day Thirty-one

Day thirty-one's sketch is a whimsical floral design. 

Happy sketching!
Karen Anne

Day Thirty

I have begun illustrating a zentangle number series to compliment my zentangle alphabet series, so numbers are on my mind.  Today's sketch is (Surprise!) - Numbers!

 

Happy sketching!

Karen Anne Brady

Day Twenty-seven

Today I decided to do a piece I have not done in quite awhile, a zentangle inspired sketch.
A zentangle is an easy to learn method of creating beautiful images from repetitive patterns. It is a fascinating art form that is fun and relaxing. It increases focus and creativity, artistic satisfaction as well as an increased sense of personal well being.  Zentangle was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas, you can learn more abut this enjoyable art form by going to their blog, Zentangle.com. 

Whenever I feel the need to draw but can't settle on a subject I turn to zentangle.  It is very easy to become completely absorbed in the creation of a zentangle inspired piece.

Happy Day,
Karen Anne Brady

Day Twenty-six

Today I wanted to see if drawing the picture I did on day twenty-four would turn out different if I first scanned the photo to my computer, then put it in Photoshop, flipped it so that the young boy was now facing to the left (as opposed to facing to the right in the original sketch), and proceed to draw it from that view.

I think my theory of drawing subjects straight on or facing to the left is much easier for me than subjects facing to the right as I am a right handed artist is true, because this sketch came out much better.  I guess I must see everything from a right handed point of view???

Oh, I also learned that it is wise to keep your old pens, that are nearly out of ink, on hand because they are great for ink shadowing!  Yes!

Happy sketching!

Karen Anne Brady

 

Day Twenty-five

I have missed designing new outfits for my "Humming Belles" paper dolls so I thought today would be fun to create a new dress as my challenge sketch.

I do so enjoy creating new outfits, props and scenes for these little charmers ... guess I'm going to have to get busy with these so they don't feel neglected!

Have a grand day!
Karen Anne Brady

Day Twenty-three

Ever have one of those day's when nothing seems to go right?   This picture just seems to capture that feeling.....

"A Sad Little Girl"

Mind you, I am not having one of those days ... this picture

just captured my attention and I felt compelled to see

if I could actually capture the feeling.

Having a good day!

Karen Anne Brady

Day Twenty-Two and Happy New Year To You!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Today's sketch is mixed up with a bit of whimsy!  

The sketch looked so plain all by it's self that I added a bit of

Zentangle inspired designs to give it a little zip!

 

Wishing you all the very best in 2012!

Karen Anne Brady

Day Twenty-One and New Year's Eve!

Happy New Year!  Today I completed my twenty-first sketch, yay!  Again, I turned to my albums for a topic, this time I chanced upon an album containing photos of our trip to Ireland about 16 years ago.  One evening we spent the night at a B&B in the city of Cong, County Mayo in Western Ireland.

After we had settled in, we decided to go for a stroll in this charming village noted for its fishing.  We were on the Riverwalk alongside the Cong River and we came upon this charming little duck!  I was lucky enough to capture an image of this little guy in quite an unusual pose.  We sat and watched him for awhile and as we started down the road again we noticed we had company, the little character had joined on us our stroll!  He actually followed us all the way back to our B&B where we turned and waved goodbye as he slowly departed.

Having come across this photo, I knew he was today's subject .....

Meet "Cong Duck"

and here is my Day Twenty-One Ink Sketch of "Cong Duck"

 

I can see I should have made his head larger, 

I can also see I have a lot learn about drawing animals, 

especially birds!

Happy New Year to One and All!

Karen Anne Brady

Day Nine .....

For the subject today, I chose a small carved yellow cedar bowl that we picked up on one of our visits to Haida Gwaii (aka Queen Charlotte Islands) in BC many years ago.  I've always been a huge fan of Northwest Coast art.  This bowl has been carved in the design of a Haida Bear, I cherish this bowl and the memories it stirs.

Well, now its time to start gift wrapping, Christmas Eve is drawing ever closer with each passing day.

Merry Christmas All!

Karen Anne

"Dance Of The Gecko's"

I have had numerous requests to illustrate a gecko design and this past week I finally did just that!  Here is my latest piece of art titled "Dance Of The Gecko's", hope you like it!

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.