"Mirror Image" ACEO Acrylic Painting

Mirror Image ACEO

2.5 x 4.5 inches

Acrylics on Colourfix Paper

Here is my latest ACEO. I must say I find doing the acrylic paintings much slower than the coloured pencil on drafting film, but it is always good to try new mediums. I am interested whether visitors have a preference for one medium over another with my art. I find it easier to get a crisp, bright image with the coloured pencils on drafting film, but I feel sometimes those buying art value paintings more. This little painting is available to purchase from my ebay store.

Cheers to all :))

Latest artwork!!

Aren't holidays wonderful for fostering creativity - I was so much more productive in the glorious relaxed mode of vacation than I can ever hope to be in our usual hectic life. I think we should go on holidays more often!!!!! These are the 6 artworks completed whilst we were away:

Party Animal ACEO (2.5 x 3.5 inches)

Coloured pencils, ink and markers on drafting film

MacCheeky ACEO (2.5 x 3.5 inches)
Coloured pencils, ink and markers on drafting film.

The Flame ACEO (2.5 x 3.5 inches)
Coloured pencils and ink on drafting film.

Sweet Dreams ACEO (2.5 x 3.5 inches)
Coloured pencils on drafting film.

Fagan Park Fine Art Miniature (6.5cm x 9cm)
Coloured pencils and markers on drafting film.

Cool Relief Fine Art Miniature (6cm x 8.5cm)
Watercolours on Illustration Board

All ACEO's are available for purchase from my Ebay Store. The fine art miniatures will be saved for Miniature Art Exhibitions.

The Little Fossicker

One of the problems I experience as an artist living in Australia is the lack of available materials and resources we can access as compared to the US and UK. When I first started painting miniature watercolours 3 or 4 years ago, I wasn't happy with traditional watercolour papers and so the search was on for a surface that would allow me to produce fine detail, and also allow for some reworking. I stumbled across Fredrix Watercolor Canvas and loved what this surface enabled me to do with watercolours. But paintings done on this surface don't reproduce into prints very well as they tend to have quite a grainy appearance. At that time, I couldn't find a quality Illustration board in any of our local artshops, and whilst I could have ordered some from the US, this isn't always practical when it comes to ordering large sheets.

The other day, I stumbled across some Crescent Illustration Board in one of our local artshops and decided to redo a little painting of one of our boys when they were young (one of my favourites). The painting on top was done two years ago on the canvas, and the one below was done on the illustration board. Some of you may prefer the canvas, but I must admit I was much happier with the results on the illustration board. We head off tomorrow for our holiday and I will definitely be packing the watercolours for more experimenting.

ACEO - Reflections

This weekend, we went for a drive up the coast to check out potential holiday accommodation for our holiday in July. With holidays in mind, I felt the urge to draw some water and this is the result - this was such an enjoyable piece to do, with the contrasting colours of the ripples in the water. This ACEO is available for sale in my ebay store. Wishing a wonderful week to all :))

Latest ACEO - Butterfly Kiss

One of the dilemmas I always have trouble with, is whether to do a background on my ACEO's. This week I have had fun experimenting with mediums and backgrounds and finally came up with a combination I was happy with. The effect I was after was something like airbrushing without actually using an airbrush. This background was done on the back of the drafting film. After doing the initial sketch on the front, I turned it over and coloured roughly with Faber Castell Pitt Pens in a range of shades. This was then smudged gently with a tissue. The pitt pens are not permanent on the drafting film, but a spray of fixative solved the problem. I was then able to turn the film back over and work happily from the front. I was quite content with the result! This ACEO is available for sale in my ebay store. Have a great week :)

Latest ACEO - Room for Two?

I had a lovely photo session with our new pet mice yesterday - they were so obliging. I loved this shot of one seeming to beckon to the other to join her in the crib, so couldn't resist drawing them. They really are the cutest animals. I watched one of them yesterday who was so busy for ages moving all the bedding material from different parts of their enclosure to this big mountain that she was creating. I would love to know what goes through their heads. We actually have one tan, one black and white and one pure white mouse, but I adjust the colours to suit the picture. This original ACEO is available to purchase from my ebay store. A wonderful day to all of you and hope no-one is close to the bushfires in LA :).

Latest ACEO - Shabby Chic Cat

I seem to have the artistic equivalent to writer's block at the moment. Sometimes I can't get to sleep at night with all the ideas flowing through my head, but at the moment, it is kind of the opposite, where I feel like I have come to a dead end. Hopefully this is just a phase and the creative juices will start flowing again soon. I am interested to know if other artists have the same blank phases, and how they become inspired again. Thankfully, this little ginger cat caught my eye, and I couldn't resist drawing him. He is available for sale in my ebay store.

Angel of Peace

It seems every time we turn on the news, we are bombarded with doom and gloom and negativity, whether it is the swine flu, the war in Iraq, or the downturning economic climate. I have this little angel sitting on the dresser in my bedroom and felt inspired to draw something uplifting and positive. Art is a wonderful form of escapism, where we can escape the harsh realities of every day living and focus on the beauty that surrounds us everywhere, and hopefully convey that to fellow art lovers. This ACEO is available to purchase in my ebay store :)

The Art Student

Well we bought our three little mice: Milly, Molly and Mandy (three girls so we don't get babies!), and they are a source of delight for the kids - until the novelty wears off. Here is the first artwork featuring Milly in amongst some pencils. Your challenge is to see if you can find the tiny paintbrush I have hidden somewhere in the picture. It took my husband and kids ages to find it, but I suspect it may be easier on the computer screen. This ACEO is available to purchase from my ebay store.

Latest ACEO - Hide and Seek

This is my latest ACEO - had so much fun drawing little mice, that I thought we might add to our extensive family pet collection to get a couple of mice, so I have ready little models - hope they don't smell too much, but they are very cute.

I was interested, and I must admit, a little disappointed to see the Innocence ACEO did not sell on ebay, so have moved it over to Etsy. That is the first of my ACEO's not to sell in a while, maybe because it was too much like a portrait. I have always started my ACEO prices from a reserve of between $20 and $30 aud, so thought I would try something different with this latest one and start the bidding at 95 cents, to see if it attracts more interest. I guess there is always a risk in doing this, that it does sell for only 95 cents, which really doesn't make 6-8 hours of work worthwhile, but will be an interesting process. This ACEO may be purchased from my ebay store.

Completed Eyes of Steel

Here is the completed piece - there is something so awesome about Big Cats - so beautiful and yet intimidating, I love to draw them. This ACEO is available to purchase from by ebay store. Wishing everyone a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by :)

WIP - Eyes of Steel

When selecting subjects, it is always the eyes that I am drawn to and the unnerving gaze of this gorgeous leopard fascinated and inspired me. A detailed outline was done using dark umber in the Prismacolor Verithin range. The background has been inked in with Matisse acrylic ink. And then, as always, I start with the eyes, which are only pencilled in at this stage. When the artwork is almost completed, I will go over the blackest areas with ink.

With Love

Here is my latest ACEO which is now available to purchase on ebay. Some of the animals I love to draw are not available here in Australia, such as hamsters, and so then I rely on the generosity of photographers on sites such as flickr to allow me to use their images as reference photos. I would like to dedicate todays blog to one of those photographers "Pyza" whose reference photo http://www.flickr.com/photos/chmurka/2837700806/in/set-72157604318432847/ I used for this artwork, and several of the pieces I have done that include hamsters. It really is worth checking out her photostream to see her gorgeous little hamsters and the delightful photos she takes of them. She obviously adores these little animals like children, and I cannot view her site without breaking into a big smile. A big thankyou to her for allowing me the honour of drawing her little pets.

Finished Innocence

Here is the finished piece of little Miriam - what an angelic face she has! This original ACEO is available for sale in my ebay store and will be available for sale as Ceramic Tile Art, Framed Tile Art and Keepsake box just in time for Mother's Day.

Venetian Carnivale Mask Art Tutorial

I have always had a fascination and love for the Venetian Carnivale Masks - there is something so magical and mystical about them, not to mention all the work that goes into the detail on these beautiful masks. My aim is to do a series of artworks based on these masks and here is the first one. You can view a tutorial on materials used and a brief outline on how this artwork was completed at http://www.miniatureartbykhull.com/tutorial_ii_21.html.

Commissioned ACEO size Pet Portraits

This week marks a big one for me, as after 23 years of nursing, I am going to take a break and concentrate on art full time (between raising our four boys). I have enjoyed my years nursing but art is my current passion and interest and sales of my miniature art have taken off more than expected, which I am absolutely thrilled about. Recently, I have promoted ACEO sized commissioned portraits of people's beloved pets. This little fellow, Willie, was one of my first and I am having an absolute ball. If you would like a miniature portrait of your pet, visit either my ebay or etsy store.