New Undersea ACEO's!

These are two new illustrations I created for my new "Humming Belles" Etsy Shop, which features paper dolls that transform into fairies, mermaids, and mermairies!  You can learn more about them by visiting their Etsy Shop or by visiting and following their "Humming Belles" Blog.

The "Humming Belles" wanted an undersea scene added to their portfolio and requested I create a two part set to give them more space to play in.  In the first scene, a sunken fairy castle, a clown fish and a sea horse are featured; in the second scene we find an octopus, an angel fish, star fish, mussels and much more!  These illustrations are listed in the "Humming Belles" Etsy Shop in full color, as pages to be colored by you, and finally as full color ACEO/Trading cards.

"Undersea Scene Number One" ACEO 

"Undersea Scene Number Two" ACEO

May you always have

Love to share,

Health to spare,

 And friends who care!

The Times Of Danny Boy

Good Day!  I have four new ACEO's to share with you.  These little drawings are all based around the character and antics of our little min pin, Danny Boy.  Danny Boy loves to be outside when it is warm and the sun is shinning.  But occasionally he does get

"Caught By April Showers"

At other times he will be outside, enjoying a warm breeze and soaking up the sun when out of no where he will be surprised by

"Danny Boy's Nemesis"

Most of all Danny Boy loves going on long walks in the early evening hours with his "Dad".  Danny Boy especially enjoys the springtime and is constantly stopping along the way and 

"Taking Time To Smell The Flowers"

Once he and "Dad" get home from their evening walk, Danny Boy proudly bounds into the house to let "Mom" know he has done his job and exercised "Dad"!  For this outstanding job he earns a reward of some kind, in this case it was one of his favorite treats - A Chew!  Unfortunately, this presents the poor little fellow with 

"A Dog Gone Dilemna"

And he is confronted with the challenge of finding the ultimate safe hiding place for his treasured treat!

May you always have

Love to Share,

Health to Spare,

And Friends who Care!

Karen Anne aka IrelandBrady

"A New ACEO for The ACEO Challenge"

Hi all!  It's been a bit since I have made an original ACEO so I decided to take on this month's ACEO Challenge with its theme of "April Showers".  I have additionally taken on a challenge from my hubby to draw a picture of our little miniature pinscher, "Danny Boy".  Drawing animals is, in itself, a very big challenge to me so I have really made a concerted effort to study Danny Boy and finally came up a small illustration that I will actually share.  Bear in mind that Danny Boy loves flowers (he is always burying his little nose into any flowers he finds on his travels) but its "I'm out of here" when it comes to showers!  That said, it took a real act of courage by him to pose for this illustration, he hopes you appreciate his efforts.

This little ACEO is titled "April Showers Bring Sweet Flowers"

May you always have

Love to Share,

Health to Spare,

And Friends who Care!

Karen Anne aka IrelandBrady

"Two New ACEO's"

I have been busy working on celtic knotwork design exercises and finally decided it was time to do some ACEO's.  This first one is a variation on a design I learned through exercises in Sheila Sturrock's book, "Celtic Knotwork Designs" ......

"Celtic Knot in Purples and Blues"

In this next ACEO I have combined my love of drawing people with my love for celtic designs and come up with my version of "Irish Eyes Are Smiling". The inspiration for this came from a picture of a mountain man my husband was using for one of his projects. When I saw the picture I saw an Irishman in his kilt and holding his shillelagh (prounounced shih-LAY-lee), a far cry from a gruffy looking mountain man wouldn't you say! Anyway, that is the image I saw in my mind and drew.

"Irish Eyes Are Smiling"

I have listed both ACEO's in My Etsy Shop today.  If you get a chance, stop by and visit!

Happy Day!

Karen Anne aka IrelandBrady

"A Wee Bit O' Irish Cheer!"

St. Paddy's Day is just around the corner, may you be starting off right with a wee bit o' "Irish Cheer" in the charming company o' this spirited little leprechaun! 

"Irish Cheer"

Mounted on Celtic Knot Design Mount Mat

May the luck of the Irish be with you!

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

"Celtic Knot Shamrock"

St. Patrick's Day is on its way and I thought now would be a good time to try my hand at some Celtic Knot designs. My first attempt at this beautiful style of art is a piece I have titled "Celtic Knot Shamrock".   I have the original ACEO as well as Open Edition ACEO art prints now available in My Etsy Shop.

"Celtic Knot Shamrock"

I am going to try my hand at some more celtic knot designs and hope to be sharing them with you in the near future.  Wish me luck (of the Irish?) in my latest endeavors!

Your friend,

Karen Anne aka Ireland Brady

I'd like you to meet "My Chinese Mudmen"!  I have spent the past five days with them and incorporated many of the zentangle design techniques, I have learned over the past several months, in this latest illustration.  I am very pleased with the finished piece and proud to share it with you at this time.

If you'd like to see the 5 day progress of this illustration, check out my blog "IrelandBrady - Musings To Ponder".

Take care and God bless,

Karen Anne

"Zentangle Design for mounting a favorite ACEO"

I am always trying to find a unique and unusual way to showcase an ACEO.  When I began this latest design I thought it would be interesting to try my hand at a border and see where that would take me.  Over the days that I worked on this piece I became intrigued with the idea that it might serve to make a nice background on which to mount a favorite ACEO.  So, as the work progressed, that overall idea became my theme.

Once I had completed my objective, I scanned the art piece to my computer and printed out a copy to see how it would work.  It was printed on an 8.5"x11" sheet of acid free paper and the printed area measures 8"x10.25".  I took one of my "The Letter B" ACEO's (with white background), placed a piece of double-sided tape on the back of the ACEO centered it on the blank center of the print and affixed it to the top of the print.  I then trimmed off the edges of the print to fit an 8"x10" frame and the result is what you see in the example I photographed and included here as a sample.

I think it turned out rather well and plan to list it in My Etsy Shop.  I would really like to hear what you think about this idea.

"Zentangle Design for mounting a favorite ACEO"

"Framed example with ACEO affixed to the center"

"Another example with Basket Full Of Posies"

I am not sure what I should call this, do you have an idea or thought?  A mounting design for an ACEO?

Thanks!

Karen Anne

"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

"A Zentangle Sunrise"

Happy New Year!

I have been so busy during the holidays that I had very little time for art work or even getting on the internet to see what is happening in the lives of family and friends.   After the hustle and bustle of Christmas activities I finally made time to pick up my pen and see where it would take me.

In this illustration I had nothing in particular in mind and just began putting pen to paper, the finished result is an amusing little piece I call "A Zentangle Sunrise".  I will be posting it later in My Etsy Shop as an authorized art print (8"x10") and reduced ACEO format size of 2.5"x3.5".

Happy 2011 to all!

Karen Anne Brady aka Ireland Brady

Eureka! "The Letters E & U" ....

EUreka!  With the completion of "The Letter E" and "The Letter U" I have finished "The Alphabet Series"!

I began my quest to complete a zentangle alphabet series on 9/18/2010 and finished this project on 11/21/2010.  One letter takes approximately 2 to 3 days to complete.  Many a day I would wake around 6AM and be so drawn to the letter I was illustrating that I would work on it until 5 or 6PM that evening.  Each letter has been lovingly drawn using India Ink on plain white paper, then carefully cut out.  After which I painted a water color background and applied the completed letter to the dried water color.  

I have listed the letters "E" and "U" in My Etsy Shop available with color backgrounds and plain white backgrounds as authorized art prints (8"x10") and Open Edition ACEO's (2.5"x3.5").  

So, with no further ado, I happily share with you ....

Happy Day!

Karen Anne

"The Letter V"

I feeling victory coming on with the completion of "The Letter V"! This is the 23rd letter in my alphabet series, only 3 left!  E, U, and K.  I have listed this in My Etsy Store as an authorized art print (8"x10") and as an Open Edition ACEO (2.5"x3.5").  In addition to that, I am now making all the letters available with a white background as well!  

Chris, Paint1Chris, was the first guesser of "The Letter V" and she has kindly chosen from the vast amount of remaining initials, the letter of her choice.  What letter do you think Chris chose?  

Once again, if you are the first guesser of the letter I am currently working on, you will not only be able to choose the next unknown (to others) letter but you will also receive a complimentary Open Edition ACEO of your alphabet choice upon completion of the entire series!  Please limit your guesses to one per day.

"The Letter V"

Karen Anne

"The Letter I"

I invite you to inspect "The Letter I"the latest addition in my alphabet series! "I" is the twenty-first letter to be illustrated, leaving only five initials to be completed!   I have listed this in My Etsy Shop and it is available to you as an Authorized Art Print (8"x10") or as an Open Edition ACEO (2.5"x3.5").

Sandie of Arizona, one of my Etsy Shop's fantastic customers, was the first guesser of this initial and she has favored us with her choice of a new letter to be illustrated.   There are now only five letters left to choose from, they are E, F, K, U, and V.  Which one of you will be first to guess which letter Sandie favored us with?

If you are the first guesser of the letter I am currently working on, you will not only be able to choose the next unknown (to others) letter but you will also receive a complimentary Open Edition ACEO of your alphabet choice upon completion of the entire series!  Please limit your guesses to one per day.

"The Letter I"

Happy Day!

Karen Anne Brady

"The Letter W"

Wha-Hoo! I have complete a whimsical "The Letter W""! My trek through the alphabet is proving to be an enjoyable adventure.  A great part of this journey are the wonderful people who have joined along in this series sojourn.  Seventeen letters are now completed and only nine remain to be illustrated, three vowels and six consonants. 

Pam, AlwaysArtistic, was first guesser of this letter and has chosen a new letter for me to begin illustrating.  This is a fun letter that brings to mind fond memories of a age old childhood game.  Can you guess which letter Pam chose for me to complete?

If you are the first guesser of the letter I am currently working on, you will not only be able to choose the next unknown (to others) letter but you will also receive a complimentary Open Edition ACEO of your alphabet choice upon completion of the entire series!  Please limit your guesses to one per day.

"The Letter W"

Karen Anne

"The Letter Q"

Happy Thursday!  

And here is the latest letter in question, "The Letter Q"!  "Q" is the 15th initial in my Alphabet Series, only 11 initials are now left to illustrate!  "Q" is now listed in My Etsy Shop as an authorized art print (8"x10") and as an Open Edition ACEO (2.5"x3.5").

Lorrie, DivineDesignStudios, discerned that I was working on "Q" and has chosen a letter of her choice for me to illustrate now.   The letter Lorrie chose is also the first letter in the name of eight states within the USA ... any thoughts on which letter that is?  If you are the first to guess, you will be the one to choose my next initial, plus you will receive a complimentary Open Edition ACEO of the letter you choose.

"The Letter Q"

Happy Day!

Karen Anne

"The Letter M"

HooRah!  The 13th letter is now completed and I am half-way through the alphabet, it's all downhill from here on out!  I am happy to share with you "The Letter M", which is now listed inMy Etsy Shop as an authorized art print, size 8"x10", and as an Open Edition ACEO, size 2.5"x3.5".

I have decided that whoever is the first to guess the unknown letter I am illustrating, besides getting to choose the next letter for me, will also receive a complimentary Open Edition ACEO of the letter(s) they choose.   For those who have provided me with letter choices in the past, I have noted their picks and will be sending ACEO's to them as well. 

Stacy aka MagicLoveCrow guessed I was working on "M" and has provided me with her choice for our next letter in the alphabet series.  Can you guess Stacy's choice?  Clue:  This letter is sometimes used in reference to three basics.

"The Letter M"

Happy Day!

Karen Anne

"The Letter O"

This is my eleventh letter of the alphabet, "The Letter O", we are almost half way through!  HooRay!  I have listed "The Letter O" in My Etsy Shop this morning.  It is available as an 8"x10" authorized art print as well as the reduced ACEO Open Edition format of 2.5"x3.5".

Lorrie (aka DivineDesignStudios) discerned that I was working on this letter and has already chosen the next letter, a letter that is dear to her heart.  Clue: this new letter is a consonant.  Do you know which initial Lorrie chose?

"The Letter O"

Happy Day!

Karen Anne

"The Letter Y"

OhBOy, OhJOy!  I have just finished my 10th letter of the alphabet, as chosen by Stacy (aka MagicLoveCrow), and so present to you "The Letter Y"!   I have listed "Y" in My Etsy Shop earlier today as An Authorized Art Print, size 8"x10"; as well as the reduced ACEO Open Edition size, 2.5"x3.5".

Debbie, aka CraftyMoose, was the first person to guess I was working on "The Letter Y" and has chosen the letter I am currently illustrating.  Can you guess which letter of the alphabet Debbie chose?  Clue:  It's a vowel.

"The Letter Y"

A Good Day to all!

Karen Anne