just a reminder....

summer is flying by....and so is this swimmingly sweet sale! 

EVERYTHING MERMAID (from compact mirrors to original paintings)...20% off throughout the remainder of summer! so, float on over to my etsy shop and pick up something special for that little mermaid of yours! :)

SUMMER (time) = SALE (time)....

on what else? mermaids, of course! :)

ALL things MERMAID are ON SALE in my shop....ALL SUMMER LONG!!!

{sale includes any CUSTOM MERMAID commissions between now and labor day!}

black friday SALE....

starts NOW!!!

i decided to start my black friday SALE a bit early. i mean why wait til friday to get a good deal?! ;)

all ORIGNAL PAINTINGS in my shop are now 20% off until (cyber) monday at midnight! i am making room for 2015's stash and NEED to clean out my studio. not that i don't like being surrounded by beautiful little mermaids and cute little critters....but I'm willing to share the love and let them find a new home. :) so....

SHOP AWAY, FRIENDS!
www.etsy.com/shop/theenchantedeasel

FINALLY got around....

to adding the birthstone mermaids to my etsy shop as PRINTS with OPTIONAL NAME!

take a peek here...

https://www.etsy.com/listing/164664474/birthstone-mermaid-print-with-optional

february, april and may COMING SOON! :)

sketching the day away...

you know when i first started brainstorming for a series of these 12 mermaid paintings back in january, i had no idea it would take me almost 12 months to complete them. i also had no idea i had neck surgery #3 waiting around the corner this past april. people of ten ask me what does that have to do with my right hand. well, they are clearly ignorant as it has EVERYTHING to do with my hand. EVERYTHING. the cervical spine controls more than we think/know.

it is today that i will finish the last 2 sketches and use the next few months of 2013 to finish the series of paintings (amongst some other things). pain free? not quite. but that never stopped me before and it sure as hell won't stop me now! :)

just a peek....

beautiful little Claret....

sweet little June....

lovely little Citrine....

mysterious little Opal...

at some more mermaids i'm sketching out....

painting the final layers...

of little Olivine, the mermaid for August. based on the birthstone peridot, Olivine is painted in bright and lush shades of yellows and greens.

nothing left to do but her little tail, the shell in her hair and some bubbles, of course...;)

a whole sea full of mermaids....

 one for every month of the year!

that's what's up next!

i thought it would be fun to do a series of paintings of beautiful little mermaids, based on the gemstone of the month.

i always think it's interesting (and inspiring) to see how other artists work...their creative process, if you will. here's a peek at mine...

from tiny little thumbnails to the sketch outline to a little bit of *coloring* (because i like my sketch books to look pretty) :)

from there i will trace my sketch directly from my sketchbook and then transfer it to my canvas, so that the painting remains as close to the original sketch as possible.

can not wait to start paintings these beauties! :)