What is an ACEO?

Using magnifier to paint detail
Originally uploaded by AllisonStein

Most of my recent paintings have been in a size format called "ACEO", i.e. "Art Cards Editions and Originals". ACEOs are essentially miniature paintings in a standard size of 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches -- the same size as a trading card or gaming card. Other than that, they can be in any media and on any subject. Some ACEO artists even work in fabric and clay!

My ACEOs are usually created in watercolor and ink. Here is my process:

• Paper: I start with a 9x12 block of 140 lb. professional-grade acid-free watercolor paper, usually Arches cold pressed or Fabriano rough. The 9x12 block enables me to work on 8 or 9 images at one time. Of the 9, I may get 2 or 3 that I feel are my "best work". (If I only have 8 images, I use the 9th section to test colors and tonal values.)

• Sketch: Using a 2H pencil, I mark off the boundaries of the individual paintings and sketch an image into each one. Sometimes I work with variations on a theme; sometimes the images are completely random.

• Underpainting: I add an underpainting using a water-soluble pencil or watercolor paint to establish tonal value.

• Painting: My next step is to execute the painting. I use Daniel Smith watercolor pigments, which are highly pigmented and so very yummy to use. I love the Daniel Smith PrimaTek mineral pigments, especially those made from gemstones such as lapis, turquois, and amethyst. I've also become quite fond on their iridescent gold, which I've been using on dragon scales and moonbeams.
  
  When working at this small size, I sometimes use a lighted magnifier to see where to place the tiniest of details, such as the highlight in the eye of this seadragon (pictured). This particular piece was already trimmed out of its 9x12 sheet because I had finished several of its companions and matted them for a show.

• Inking: After the paint dries, I add a touch of ink to define detail and make the image "pop". I currently use Micron acid-free ink pens, but I've also used Faber Castell and Prismacolor markers. I also add my mark - my stylized initials and the year - in gold ink.

• Trim: When the art is complete and dry, I remove the page from the watercolor block and trim along the boundary lines, which gives me a final 3" x 4" painting. If I sell the painting as an "ACEO", I trim it down to the official 2.5" x 3.5" size and insert into a hard plastic protective sleeve. (I use the same "toploaders" that card collectors use.) If I mat the painting to display at a show, I leave it untrimmed, and the raw edges are hidden under the mat.

• Title: On the back of each, in pencil, I add a title, the copyright notice, date of creation, and my signature.

So there you have it. I enjoy working in the ACEO format, as it gives me a chance to play with ideas as well as achieve a sense of completion in a short period of time.

My Etsy Shop updates....

I've updated my Etsy site with four items:

1. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12292541
2. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9325736
3. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=13240610
4. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=8454218

I didn't do it! ACEO

"I didn't do it!" by Allison Stein.
ACEO 2.5 inches x 3.5 inches, watercolor on Arches 140# cold pressed paper.

I posted this little darling to my ETSY shop last week. I used a combination of watercolor and watercolor pencil. The texture was created with salt. I love the expressiveness of the eyes and the color, but I do believe I've reached the limit of how big I should make them.

Joining With Kindred Artistic Souls....

I've just joined Etsy's ACEO Street Team. Come visit the group blog: http://acetsy.blogspot.com/

What's For Dinner? ACEO

What's For Dinner? ACEO original watercolor

Secret Smile - ACEO

Secret Smile, ACEO watercolor original on Arches 140# paper

Where's My Peeps? ACEO

Where's My Peeps? ACEO watercolor on Arches 140#

All I Survey.... ACEO

New ACEO, posted to my etsy store tonight. Watercolor on Arches 140# paper.

Playing Catch-Up....

Posting several ACEOs created over the past month or so. All were created using watercolor on 140# paper. I've posted all of them to My Etsy shop (see right column for link).

(above) "Valentine? What Valentine?"
ACEO 2.5x3.5 inches, watercolor on 140# paper

(above) "Gift From The Heart",
ACEO 2.5x3.5 inches, watercolor on 140# paper

(above) "I Will Find It!",
ACEO 2.5x3.5 inches, watercolor on 140# paper

(above) "Just One Sniff",
ACEO 2.5x3.5 inches, watercolor on 140# paper
(above) "Hello in There!",
ACEO 2.5x3.5 inches, watercolor on 140# paper

(above) "Heart, I Haz It!"
ACEO 2.5x3.5 inches, watercolor on 140# paper

Three ACEOs

Three ACEOs to ponder. All of which should be posted soon in my Etsy store.

Pretty Cleo, 2.5"x3.5" ACEO, watercolor on 140# Arches

"Pretty Cleo" is another attempt at an image I posted a few months ago. She's a cutie, isn't she?

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The Twilight Castle, 2.5"x3.5" ACEO, watercolor and watercolor pencil on 140# Canson

This ACEO started as I contemplated castles and landscapes. I need to start adding more environments to my work. My imagination apparently inhabits a barren, rocky world that has specatular sunsets.

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Smokey Joe, 2.5"x3.5" ACEO on 3"x4" paper, watercolor on 140# Canson

"Smokey Joe" started as a practice piece, experimenting with wet-in-wet on Canson paper. He's such a well-mannered kitty.

Dragons, Dragons

Archon Orange Dragons 1 and 2, approximately 3x4, watercolor on Arches 140#

Here are two more dragons, doodled while at my artist alley table at Archon/Nasfic in August. If I do this again next year, I really need to bring a lamp. The hallway was dark, and I had trouble seeing what I was doing. Thus, these little guys are a bit gnarly and awkward.

Two dragons

Archon Green Dragons 1 and 2, approximately 3x4, watercolor on Arches 140#

Two of my dragon doodles, done while at my artist alley table at Archon/Nasific in August. The size got away from me. They were intended to be ACEOs, but they got too big for their britches.

Penciled Peppers, 3 views

Penciled Peppers 1, 4x6, watercolor pencil on Canson 140#

Penciled Peppers 2 and 3, 2.5 x 3.5 (ACEO), watercolor pencil on Canson 140#

I stumbled on a great deal at the outlet store -- a set of 24 Derwent watercolor pencils for a pittance. Here is a 4x6 pencil painting of three peppers, drawn from life. (And they were tasty, too.) I also did two small ACEO-sized pencil paintings of the peppers, from different angles.

Lessons learned:

1. Painting from life is easier than painting from the imagination.

2. Painting with pencils is a layering process and takes a long time.

4 Contemplations on Fruit, ACEO

Contemplation on Fruit, 1 - 4, 2.5" x 3.5" watercolor on Arches 140#

I doodled these Contemplations on Fruit while sitting at my artist alley table at Archon last month. I'm not sure where these little guys came from, but I find them intriguing.

Castle Glow aka The Red Keep ACEO

Castle Glow aka The Red Keep,
2.5"x3.5" watercolor on Canson 140#

This started as an exercise in graded wash, and turned into a castle in the warm glow of late afternoon.

Learning Mode: Trees and Small Figures

A Walk In The Snow, 2.5"x3.5", watercolor on 90# Bienfang

Last week in watercolor class, my tutor taught me to paint wet-in-wet trees on the horizon, and small figures. This is a practice piece using those techniques.

More Sitting Pretty (ACEO)

Sitting Pretty Purple, 2.5"x3.5", Watercolor on Canson 90#

Another mini-painting on the Sitting Pretty theme. Limited pallette, using quinacrodone rose, ultramarine blue, and viridian. Quin rose and ultramarine mix a beautiful purple that granulates. The eyes are hansa yellow. The gray is mixed from ultramarine and burnt umber.

Sitty Pretty (ACEOs)

Sitting Pretty Green & Sitting Pretty Orange

(2.5x3.5) Watercolor on 90# Canson

More small paintings. These are color studies for a larger painting. Both have Paynes gray underpainting. The underpainting on the orange dragon seemed terribly dark when I started, but I think it turned out okay.

Party Boys (ACEOs)

Party Lizard (top) and
Party Dragon (bottom),
12/30/2006, 2.5" x 3.5" (ACEO), watercolor on 90# Canson

These two party boys are helping me with an experiment in shading. On top, I used multiple glazes of a single color (sap green) to simulate shadows. On the bottom, I used an underpainting of diox purple to create shadows under the sap green.

Notes for later: I think I prefer the richer darks the underpainting provides. Next time, I'll try using Payne's grey instead of diox purple. The yellow ballon is too bright, but a glaze of burnt sienna should tone it down. The wings are a little too low on the back, and need more structure.

Pear (ACEO)

Pear 12/27/2006
2.5" x 3.5" (ACEO), watercolor on 90# Canson.

For Christmas, my sister sent me a box of pears from Harry & David. They were so beautiful, I needed to paint one.