"Bubble Wrapped"

I guess I was in a silly mood today when I drew this sketch ... I was remembering when the kids were little and I would let them have a bubble bath and they would sink down below the bubbles and pop up! I guess a good title for this sketch could be .... "Bubble Wrapped"...

"Soldier Boy"

 I am so enjoying going through my old albums!  Today I found a photo from 10/4/1993 and decided to sketch what I call "Soldier Boy"....

This "75 Day Sketch Challenge" is fun!

Try it you'll like it too!

Karen Anne

PS  This sketch is available in my IrelandBrady.etsy.com Store in ACEO format.

"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.

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!

"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

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

"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

"Three New Elf's have arrived!"

Happy Holiday Season!  Three new elf's have arrived and joined the Christmas Elf Family!  They are:

"Bell Ringing Elf"

"Santa's Wish List Elf"

"Gingerbread Decorating Elf"

Merry Christmas!

Karen Anne

IrelandBrady.Etsy.com

"Candy Cane Elf"

We are now up to six members of the Christmas Elf's Family!  "Candy Cane Elf" has just arrived in time to share his candy canes with you!

Welcoming in the holiday season!

Karen Anne

"Wreath Decorating Elf"

Hi Everybody!  It seems I've gone and started another series!  This one is my Christmas Elf Family, I have already listed four elf's in My Etsy Shop that you can view by going to the Christmas Themed Section of my shop.  These little ACEO's are whimsical, charming and will bring a smile to your heart!

Our newest member is "Wreath Decorating Elf" and he is one happy little fellow!

Happy Holidays!

Karen Anne

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

OK! - I'm on my way to the finish of my alphabet series with completion of "The Letter K"!  This is the 24th letter, leaving only two more to illustrate!  I have already listed "K" in My Etsy Shop as an Authorized Art Print (8"x10") and as an Open Edition ACEO (2.5"x3.5").

Sandie of Arizona, one of my Etsy Shop's loyal patrons, was the first to guess that I was working on "K" and I am now working on another letter for her.  Out of the two remaining letters, which do you think I am working on right now???

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 only letter remaining 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 K"

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 F"

It is just fabulous to finally finish and feature "The Letter F"! With the completion of this letter I am left with only four letters to illustrate ... E, K, U, and V.  I have recently listed this in My Etsy Shop as an Authorized Art Print (8"x10") as well as an Open Edition ACEO (2.5"x3.5").

Stacy, MagicLoveCrow, has once again been the first guesser (I am beginning to think Stacy is psychic!) and has very kindly selected the twenty-third letter for me to illustrate.  Please venture a guess as to which letter Stacy has chosen!

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 F"

Happy Day!

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 P"

Proudly presenting "The Letter P"!  This is the twentieth letter in the alphabet series, leaving only six letters to complete - E, I, U, F, K, and V.  I have listed "The Letter P" in My Etsy Shop today as an authorized art print (8"x10") and as an Open Edition ACEO (2.5"x3.5").

Stacy, MagicLoveCrow, was first guesser of this letter and has chosen her next letter and stated she wanted to keep everything interesting.  Stacy has done a fine job of keeping things interesting!  Can you guess which letter Stacy chose?

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 P"

Happy Day!

Karen Anne

"The Letter G"

This is a good day to present to you "The Letter G"! We are drawing near to the completion of the "Alphabet Series" with only seven letters to yet be illustrated; those being "E", "I", "U", "F", "K", "P", and "V".   It seems amazing that I have come this far and the distance to the finish is now not that far away.


Sandie, of Arizona (one of My Etsy Shop's wonderful patrons), guessed that I was working on "The Letter G" and has graciously chosen the next letter for me to illustrate.  Which letter do You think Sandie chose?


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 G"

Happy Day!

Karen Anne

"The Letter X"

I guess one could say "X" marks the spot in this posting!  It does mark the eighteenth initial to be completed with only eight remaining to be illustrated.  "The Letter X" is currently listed in My Etsy Shop as an authorized art print (8"x10") as well as an Open Edition ACEO (2.5"x3.5").  

Stacy, MagicLoveCrow, has once again risen to the challenge and surmised that I was working on this particular letter.  Stacy has happily provided me with a new letter which I will begin illustrating later this day.  Since there are now only three vowels and five consonants left, I am not giving out any clues - this time you get to randomly guess which initial I am working on!

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 X"

Happy Day!

Karen Anne