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 ... ;)

Christmas 2013

I have been missing from the blog scene for over a month now and thought I'd let you know what I have been doing ... I have been making "Beaded Ornament" Covers for Christmas gifts this year!

Here is a photo of a group of 20 of them, I ended up making a total of 36 this year (for family only, none for sale) ... missed my goal by 6!

Here are some on our Christmas tree ...

The following are some individual photos I took ....

I think I will make about 2 a month in 2014 so that I don't end up doing everything at the end of the year.   I still owe Jim 6 more ornaments from 2013 ... good thing he is an understanding hubby!

Wishing all my friends a wonderful New Year!

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

PS  If you could say some prayers for my Jim, that would be wonderful.  He is undergoing chemo treatments for colon/rectal cancer, stage two.  We are hoping the first 6 treatments will shrink the cancer enough so they can surgically remove it.  If so, then once he has healed he will undergo another series of 6 - 8 chemo treatments; they are trying to avoid radiation if at all possible.  

Big hugs everyone!  

$0.99 NibbleFest Time!

NibbleFest is a time honored tradition where artists compete once a month with a maximum of 3 entries in a themed competition, each entry starts with a beginning bid of only $0.99!  There is quite a variety of pieces and wonderful artists.  Many are larger sized pieces of art, and many are smaller; but all begin at just $0.99.  The auctions are staggered with some going for 7 days, some for 5 days and some for as little as 3 days; all auctions are to end on the 27th of the month.  What is nice about this is that every 2 days you get to see new entries.

The theme for November 2013 is "Giraffe" and I have created three little "Baby Giraffe" ACEOs that have recently been listed.

"Baby Giraffe 1"

"Baby Giraffe 2"

"Baby Giraffe 3"

These originals are listed on eBay and are currently up for bid, you are certainly welcome to join in on the bidding!  If you would like to take a gander at all the entries (highly recommended) here is a link that will take you there:  NIBBLEFEST NOVEMBER ART CHALLENGE!

Be prepared to enjoy some terrific pieces of art!

Take care and be happy!

Karen Anne

Finally - A New Post - About Time!

Oh my, I have certainly been neglecting my blog.  A big case of life interrupting my plans!  Oh well, that is what keeps life interesting, the unexpected popping up with new challenges ... some good, some not so good but challenging never the less.

As you make recall, I belong to an artists eBay group and each month they have a Theme Week Contest.  This month's theme is "Native American" and the following are my two ACEO (2.5" x 3.5") entries in the Theme Week contest from the ACEO ~ Art Cards Editions and Originals group on eBay. The contest takes place the first week of each month. To view other listings, by some very talented artists, you can use this link ACEO TW NOV

"Native Girl with Doll"

"NW Coast Girl"

The originals are currently up for bid on eBay and Authorized Open Editions are available on Etsy.

Right now I am in the midst of moving my studio from the dining room to our upstairs area.  My supplies are piling up higher and higher in the dining room and I am in need of more space!  The only problem is, we have been using the upstairs as a "Catch All" these past several years and it is quite packed.  Yesterday I unburied my drafting table and light table.  Today I am geared up to tackle the main room ... ugh!

Take care, be happy ...

Karen Anne Brady

White Wolves - The Colored Pencil Magazine August 2013 Photo Art Challenge

This has been executed on 5.5" x 7.5" Strathmore Toned Gray Paper using primarily colored pencils.  I did use art pens in a few places for delicate details.  I used a white gel pen to outline the wolves when I initially transferred the drawing to good paper.  I should have used a white pencil; the pen left ink marks that interfered with the colored pencil.  I used an Xacto knife to remove most of the ink, but some remained.  I won't be doing that again!

I almost didn't complete this month's challenge because animals are a true challenge to me; but with some gentle nudging and prodding by my eBay Artists Group I was finally coaxed into joining in.  I am glad I did because this piece came out much better than I expected.  Guess I have been listening when people give advise on how to do animal fur ... this time I went for illusion rather than trying to capture every single strand of fur.

Thank you, my friends, for sharing your techniques ... people do listen!

"White Wolves" by Karen Anne Brady

Photo by John Knight

"Lilac Roller III"

This is my final and last entry in the Colored Pencil Magazine July 2013 Art Challenge.  I had shared a copy of my previous drawing with my Mom and she thought it would look better with the foliage included, as in the challenge photo ...

I thought about it and tended to agree ... so here is my third and final entry into this month's Art Challenge.   This one has been completed on Strathmore Toned Tan Sketch Paper with a watercolor pencil (wet application) under painting followed by dry colored pencils for shading and details.

Hope you like it!

"Lilac Roller III"

this is the reference photo...

Take care ... wishing you a happy and loving day,

Karen Anne Brady aka Ireland Brady

CPM "Lilac Roller" Challenge Entry .....

I have done a bunch of new pieces in the past few weeks but really haven't had much time to sit down and post them in my blog.  So I thought I would take out a few minutes today to share my latest piece with you.

This is my second Colored Pencil Magazine July 2013 Challenge Entry "Lilac Roller".

I went large for this entry ... 4 inches x 6 inches (hey, that's large in comparison to ACEO size of 2.5" x 3.5"! - LOL!).

Anyway, I used my new Aquarelle watercolor pencils for the primary layer followed by Verithin pencils, SoHo pencils, Faber-Castel pencils, a dash of white Gelly Roll pen, and a smidgeon of Prismacolor fine line markers ... all mixed together on a bed of Stonehenge Paper. Hmmmm, kinda sounds like a recipe doesn't it? LOL!

I must say, I am really beginning to like laying down a watercolor (pencil) under coat and then proceeding with the dry pencils. It is a very useful technic for people who are less patient with the cp layering process.

My rendition of the "Lilac Roller"

and the challenge photo

Happy Day everyone!

Karen Anne

PS I didn't like the sky in the entry I posted yesterday for the July 2013 Challenge, so today I worked on it and I am now much happier with the piece ...

Four more "Winter Berry Maidens"

I have just finished four more of my zentangle inspired goddess/fairy type ACEOs.  I seem to be calling them my "Winter Berry Maidens" simply because I have winter berries in each of these recent ACEOs.

Winter berry shrubs have green foliage and berries; in the winter the green leafs drop off the bush leaving only the beautiful red berries on the twigs.  I like adding them to these latest pieces because they seem to add a bit of a magical element.

Here they are in the order they were created:

"Cleopatra"

"Hummingbird Protectress"

"Rainbow Guardian"

"She Who Loves Yellow Flowers"

I have been having fun creating this little maidens and I hope you are enjoying my efforts.

Take care and happy day!

Karen Anne aka IrelandBrady

Strathmore Artist Papers - New Product - Featured Artist ....

I have been keeping a "secret" since early May of this year.  I've just been bursting to share it, but I promised I wouldn't say a word to anyone (except Jim) until it was made public.  Well ... yesterday I saw it advertised at Amazon.com so I figure that is about as public as something can get!

Let's go back to 5/7/2013 when I received an email with the subject line "Zentangle Art for Strathmore".  Well naturally that piqued my curiosity, what artist hasn't heard of or worked on Strathmore paper?!  I opened the email and here is the first part of that message:

"Dear Karen,

My name is S___ S______ and I am with Strathmore Artist Papers (www.strathmoreartist.com).

We are in the process of developing a new product line called “Artist Tiles”, to be used for meditative art, patterning, and “Zentangle” style artwork. As I was doing research, I came some of your artwork and Zentangles. We really love your style and wanted to get in touch with you to see if you’d be interested in having your artwork featured on the packaging of our new product. One of the products we are creating for this line is 4”x4” Artist Tiles in retail packs. The paper used for these tiles would be our 400 Series Watercolor. We thought your style could be a great fit for this product specifically." 

I'll tell you, I was so stunned I nearly fell off my chair ... you could have knocked me over with a hummingbird feather ... Strathmore, contacting me?  Surely this has to be a joke some one is playing on me ... this can't be real, can it?  Well, it sure looked pretty real to me so I thought "OK ... I'll bite ..." and I responded.  They responded back! And with a contract no less!  We came to an agreement, they sent the product for me to work on, I created a piece of Zentangle watercolor artwork, sent it off to Strathmore and sat back a waited.

In the meantime I still kept thinking ... this is the best dream I have EVER had!  The original piece of art was returned and I had been compensated for my time but still it did not seem real, that is until yesterday when I was once again contacted by S.S. at Strathmore.   Then I googled "Strathmore Artist Tiles" and lo and behold .... there it was!  A Strathmore product with my art work on it!

It's NOT a dream, it is real!  Now I can share what I have been keeping a secret for what seems like forever ... the new Strathmore product with the artwork of your's truly on the front!  Ta-da!

And here is the original art piece ....

This day is certainly filled with a LOT of sunshine and Thank You very much Strathmore!

Happy day all!

Big hugs,
Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

"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

More ......... "Monarch Fairies"!

I think I have an ACEO Fairy Series in the makings!  Just finished two more of the Monarch Fairy ACEOs ....


Each of these detailed ACEOs can take from 8 to 10 hours to complete.  Each one begins with a blank piece of Stonehenge paper upon which I create the subject using an erasable terra cotta pencil.  I then use a technical art pen and provide an ink outline to the elements in the piece.  After which all of the pencil lines are erased to reveal a black & white coloring page type of image.

The fun then begins by applying layers and layers of colored pencil and subtly blending those applications of color together.  The is a very time consuming process but well worth the effort.  Once this stage is completed I begin the slow but steady work of re-inking all the initial lines and adding fine detail designs to the image.

When  I am finally satisfied with the results, the newly created piece is then sealed with a spray finishing laminate to preserve the colors and prevent damage.

"Blue Monarch Fairy and Butterfly"

and

"Pink Monarch Fairy and Butterfly"

I am enjoying these little ladies ... think I'll go make some more!

"Monarch Fairy and Butterfly"

I seem to be favoring fairies lately ... my latest ACEO piece is a take on the monarch butterfly, a Monarch Fairy!  Perhaps she is the protector of Monarch Butterflies?  If so, she certainly looks like a very loving and caring protector ... 

"Monarch Fairy and Butterfly"

I really think Monarch Butterflies are so very beautiful, perhaps this weekend I'll try my hand at creating a Blue Monarch Fairy and Butterfly ACEO ... sounds like fun!  Don't you think?

The original of this little gem is now on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=121097875768

Authorized Open Edition ACEO Art Prints are on Etsy:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/129882962/aceo-open-edition-art-print-titled

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Big hugs,

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

"Birds of Paradise" plus one little blue haired Garden Fairy ...

One of our favorite flowers is the "Bird of Paradise" and I thought it would be fun to create a Bird of Paradise ACEO complete with a little blue haired garden fairy peeking out from amidst a garden of blooms.

Also, I received a new of set colored pencils yesterday that I was quite eager to try out, SoHo Urban Artist Professional colored pencils.  WOW!  I LOVE these pencils!  Its like they were made for me and to my own personal specifications!  I can hardly wait until I begin my next piece just so I can work with these little gems again!

Hope you like ......

"Birds of Paradise"

The original is now on eBay...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121093773250?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

and Open Edition ACEO Authorized Art Prints are at Etsy ...

https://www.etsy.com/listing/129136213/aceo-open-edition-art-print-titled-birds?ref=shop_home_active

Looking forward to a great Friday! 

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

"Blue Eyed Princess"

Here is my second entry in the Colored Pencil Magazine March 2013 Art Challenge.  There were some areas that needed improving on the first submission so, rather than reworking that piece, I chose to start fresh.  This piece is about 7.75" x 5.25", done on Stonehenge Paper with colored pencils and art marker pens.

In this version I was able to capture more of the subjects likeness and I am very happy with this second attempt.  Hope you like it as well!  I call this version:

"Blue Eyed Princess"

and here is the original photo...

Hope you are having a great day!  

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

PS  I am loving my "Orbital Artists' Easel"!  In fact so much so that yesterday afternoon I ordered the smaller easel top (13" x 17") for the small pieces I am working on.  To my delight, it arrived around noon today!  Now THAT is outstanding service!  And I was able to complete this piece on the new top.  The large size (19"x 20") is perfect for pieces 8.5" x 11" and larger, the smaller size is perfect for my ACEOs and smaller sized pieces.  You know, even with 2 tops and the table top base ... this easel is reasonably and affordably priced at less than, or about the same as, the cost of a complete set of top of the line colored pencils.  This is honestly the best investment in art equipment I have ever made. 

March 2013 Colored Pencil Challenge

This drawing was done on a 5" x 7" sheet of Stonehenge paper using Prismacolor Verithin colored pencils and a LePen technical pen for fine line details (about 5%), in the hair and eye lashes.

This is my interpretation of "Veiled", this month's subject photo by Sally Ford.   The subject is so pretty I decided to eliminate all the jewelry, thereby removing distractions and focusing the viewer's attention on her beautiful face. I am not a portrait artist but I really enjoy working on illustrations of people, I use the photo merely as inspiration and a starting point. In this piece, I gave her a bit of a smile and thickened her hair. My intention was to give her a more "dream-like" quality as opposed to a photographic realness; which, quite frankly, is beyond my skills and capability.

The most challenging portion was the veil, in the beginning I had applied way too much color and had to carefully remove most of it. The end result was that it does somewhat have the appearance of veiling.

This was a good learning challenge.

Here is my interpretation of "Veiled" which I have titled

"Look of Love"

this is a copy of the 
photo "Veiled" taken by Sally Ford

If you would like to join in on the challenge, here is a link that provides details and information:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/coloredpencilmag/8495249165/in/pool-cpmchallenge

Take care and hope you are having a productive and happy 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