Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Frog ACEOs

Title: Frog #6 (Blue-jean frog)
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
Medium: Acrylic
Support: Multimedia Artboard

Title: Frog #5 (Red-eyed tree frog)
Size: 2.5 x 3.5 inches
Medium: Acrylic
Support: Illustration Board

I love frogs. Visiting James Perker's wonderful blog, I just had to paint one. Yesterday, I worked on this blue-jean frog, the first one shown above. If you are interested in Costarican wildlife, you must visit James Parker Art.

The blue-jean frog is one of the most conspicuous of the Costa Rican frogs, measuring only 3/4 to 1 inch. These frogs eat large quantities of tiny ants that contain concentrations of alkaloids, which are important factors of their skin toxin.

The red-eyed tree frog (the second one shown above) is from 2 to 3 inches on average. Young frogs are typically brown in color and turn greener as they mature. These frogs are not poisonous.


42 comments:

Unknown said...

WOW WOW WOW!!! There isn't anything you can't paint Miss Talented is there. I love these. I love frogs too. I just watched a documentary on Discovery that there's a fungus killing and mutating a bunch of frogs in S. America and lower parts of the US. We need to protect these little critters.

Leslie said...

Wow! I love the red-eyed frog! Beautiful.

artbyakiko said...

Sheila, Thanks! Yes, it's sad that these beautiful little creatures are the first to be affected by any change in the environment.

Leslie, thanks for your visit!

Mona Diane Conner said...

Akiko, The blue-jean frog is very jewel-like, beautifully done! I love red-eye tree frogs too, they have such a goofy cartoon look, but are so tiny and graceful at the same time.

What is the difference between multi-media art board and illustration board? I am unfamiliar with it, (unless it's like Crescent rag board?)

Unknown said...

Beautiful Akiko, vibrant colours and gorgeous textures - I love these little guys and it is fascinating to see different creatures pop up in your artwork. It seems all frogs are endangered - we used to go and collect tadpoles as kids, but now you need a licence and they are scarce to find - such a shame!!

artbyakiko said...

Mona, thanks! I used to use Crescent 300 illustration board, which is about 1/16" thick, for most of my ACEOs. It's disadvantage is that it warps as I apply a lot of wash. On the other hand, Multimedia Artboard is like a hard styrofoam. It chips off where it's cut, making it slightly difficult to obtain perfect edges, but NEVER warps. That's why I switched from illustration board to Multimedia Artboard. This red-eyed tree fogs was done in 2007 when I was still using illustration board.

artbyakiko said...

Karen, thank you! It's definitely getting harder to find tadpoles. We have a protected species called "red-legged frogs" where I live. I have never seen them personally, but I know they are here and they protect our city from overdeveloped. :)

dominique eichi said...

You did a great job on these little guys, for a minute I thought I was on James blog. They have such beautiful colors. I still lean toward dogs though =)

Linda said...

Beautiful work, and love Monty, such a sensitive rendering,
Bless you for the comment you left concerning my dear Poppy Lindax

artbyakiko said...

Dominique, I fooled you. lol Thanks for your visit. You must be a dog person.

Linda, thanks for your wonderful comments!

Unknown said...

Wow! I love the colours Akiko you can just imagine them on the arm of the sofa watching TV! Have you ever painted a dragon, they have lovely colours too.

Melody Lea Lamb said...

Really beautiful Akiko! I guess frogs as a subject are "in the air". :)

Gail H. Ragsdale said...

Beautiful frogs Akiko! I especially love the red-eyed frog!

Interesting the difference between illustration board and the multi-media board. A big help!

Kathleen Coy said...

Akiko, your frogs look so real that I just want to reach into my screen and pick them up! I love how wet the skin looks. I ordered some Multi-media Artboard but have been too busy planting flowers to try it yet, lol.

Sarah Sullivan said...

Oh WOWOWOWOW Akiko these are stunning! I loove frogs! Kathleen is right - they look so very real - I wanna hold them!! Sarah

Unknown said...

Akiko, I love love love your little frogs. So much personality. You have such a way with animal portraits.

Vern Schwarz said...

These frogs are so cool. You did a marvelous job on them.

artbyakiko said...

Sam, thank you so much! Your "The Kiss" and "Shy Sally" are amazing as always.

artbyakiko said...

Mel, maybe because this is the month for new baby frogs! :) Thanks for your visit.

artbyakiko said...

Gail and Kathleen, thanks! You should definitely try multimedia artboard, if you haven't yet. I fell in love with this support the first time I used it.

artbyakiko said...

Sarah, Deborah, and Vern, thank you so much for your wonderful comments!!

Dean Grey said...

Fabulous frogs, Akiko!

I love the top one the best. You managed to capture its slick shiny skin brilliantly!

And once again, ridiculously and unbelievably detailed considering these are both ACEOs.

Just great!

-Dean

Michelle said...

How adorable Akiko! I saw this on James' blog and had to jump over (sorry) to your blog and take a closer look! :)

Jala Pfaff said...

Totally awesome.

artbyakiko said...

Dean thanks! I also like the first one better, but still like the eyes of the second one.

artbyakiko said...

Michelle and Jala, thank you so much for your kind remarks!!

Art Fan Ako said...

YOu should have insurance for these types of artwork!!! Awesome, Ako!

artbyakiko said...

Vicki thank you so much!!

L.Holm said...

poison or not they are adorable. I love Jame's blog, and thought for a brief minute I was there :-) Your work is amazing, Akiko. Awesome frogs.

Debra Keirce said...

How sweet they are Akiko!!

James Parker said...

Wow, Akiko...I jes feel right at home with this blog...:-) What a marvelous job you've done on these little creatures. The little blue jeans were real common where I was, and I could walk along the river and rustle a few up...the red eyes are higher up and only out at night. Super work...I'm tickled green.

artbyakiko said...

Liz, Deb, and James thank you so much!

James, I have never seen blue jeans in person. Knowing how small they are, I will fall in love with them for sure if I see them.

Jennifer MacNeill said...

Absolutely amazing!

artbyakiko said...

Jen, thanks for your visit!

Edward Burton said...

I love the frogs, Akiko!

artbyakiko said...

Edward, thank you!

Anonymous said...

BeautifulBye

Anonymous said...

BeautifulBye

artbyakiko said...

Anonymous, thanks!

Alice Thompson said...

Akiko, James Parker sure is a talented writer! I really enjoyed the self portrait swap surprise between him and Adebanji. It's amazing what we learn as we paint something. I'm finding that each new thing I paint really enriches my knowledge further. It's like seeing it again for the first time. Thank you for the science lesson too!

artbyakiko said...

Alice thank you! I've been enjoying your recent nature paintings. Painting processes are amazing tools for discovering so much things that we often overlook.

Vesna said...

OMG...these are soooo GORGEOUS !!!

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