my little mixed media *experiment*...

so, last week i was doing some cleaning/organizing (i do that often-major OCD girl here) and i found tons of paper (which i LOVE) and all kind of little art goodies that i had laying around. i decided to stop looking at them (so perfectly organized) taking up space and actually USE them (there's a novel concept...) and now i seem to have gotten myself into a  full fledged mixed media painting.

originally intended to be an abstract...

mixed media fun...

background mix of papers and acrylic....

a tangerine haired mermaid decided she'd like
to be the featured attraction
of the *experiment*...

{'cause i can never just "experiment" (OCD+perfectionist=all or nothing). more pics to follow...in between other paintings, that is.}

Fine Art America.....

does it again! another beautiful (tote) bag!

i have yet to find another vendor who does as FABULOUS of a job as FAA. in my on line travels, i have seen many vendors/POD (print on demand) companies that offer tote bags but with the image only sitting as a small rectangle/square in the center of the bag therefore leaving the rest of the bag as just bare canvas. what i love most about FAA's bags is that the image/painting encompasses the whole entire bag. they offer 3 different sizes~13x13, 16x16 and 18x18. the bag above is 16x16. it's the perfect mid size bag for me to cart around my pencils and 9x12 and 11x14 sketchbooks. in the pic below, the mermaid is the 13x13 size and the fire goddess is 18x18. i have several of these bags and they are gorgeous...every single one of them. good quality canvas and excellent printing quality. clear and precise and the color is spot on.

so, click on over to my shop at FAA and get one for your little girl or even for yourself. oh, and don't let my horrendous photography skills scare you away. i'm just a painter. :)

my heart....

those who know me know that i am a sucker for little kids. healthy ones, sick ones, underprivileged ones....all little kids. perhaps it comes from spending 16 years of my life as a preschool teacher, which is much more than just "teaching"...it's an almost maternal-like *job* (and i use the word "job" very loosely-as it never was anything of the sort for me).

ok, before i get too sappy here (happens with stories like this), if you could please take a moment and send this precious little angel a Christmas card, i have a feeling it would make the entire rest of her year! and please, feel free to share this link with everyone you know. the more, the merrier! :)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/girl-lost-family-fire-christmas-cards-presents/story?id=35675085

{one of the joys of painting for children....hope she loves them!}

DECEMBER DISCOUNT DAYS....DAY 3!

ok, so i love me a pink haired mermaid. enough said!

{today's FEATURED PRINT is this beauty...cute little turtle included.}

illustration friday~mermaid

slow and steady~commission
11x14 acrylic on canvas
©the enchanted easel

with this week's IF theme being *mermaid*, well i thought this commission from last August was rather fitting. it's one of my favorites to date. must be the pink hair....:)

PRINTS (AND OTHER TREATS) FOUND HERE

{ps and btw, fine art america makes AWESOME tote bags. just sayin'....}

nothing like a little shameless self promotion....

when carting around your sketchbook and pencils! ;)

{thanks, fine art america for a wonderful print job and super cute bag...minus the poor photography skills on my part, that is.}

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-nicole-esposito.html

compact cuteness is here!!!

so happy to say that the compact/pocket mirrors i had ordered are finally here....and 2 are already SOLD!!! shop them HERE!!!

***SNOW WHITE AND RIBBONS UNDONE (the little red head with the bow-top right pic) ARE SOLD ALREADY! MORE ARE ON THE WAY!***

illustration friday~pet

slow and steady
11x14 acrylic on canvas
©the enchanted easel 2014

an adorable little sea turtle...the perfect pet for a beautiful pink haired mermaid.

{this piece, a commission for last year and one of my favorites to date. it's the pink hair...;)}

PRINTS (AND OTHER GOODIES) FOUND THROUGH THE SHOP LINKS HERE.

mirror mirror on the wall....

©the enchanted easel 2015

so, i'm a little excited for these. ok, maybe a little *too* excited. but those who know me know i LOVE me a good mirror...especially when it's pocket sized and has a pretty picture (or in this case, a painting) on it! :)

ordered a few of these and will be posting them FOR SALE as soon as they arrive!

{so, the pink haired mermaid....kinda love her. such a girl...;)}

slow and steady....

slow and steady
©the enchanted easel 2014

not only wins the race...but the heart of a beautiful, strawberry pink haired mermaid. :)

these two cuties were shipped off to new york this past monday and are ready to be welcomed into their new home in a baby girl's nursery.

{that pink hair...be still my heart. ;)}

PRINTS AVAILABLE THOUGH THE SHOP LINK FOUND HERE:

www.theenchantedeasel.com

new york bound!

©the enchanted easel 2014

these two are off to the big apple...and i'm feeling a little bittersweet about it. kinda fell in love with these sweet little faces the last couple of weeks.

it's always such a bittersweet feeling when you let go of an original painting (for me, anyway). i don't know why...maybe because each one of them are like my babies (if i had them). i get so attached. however, nothing makes me happier than custom work and knowing that some sweet little child will be smiling for a long time to come. yep, that's the best part of my *job*...and i use that world very loosely as it NEVER feels like work to me.

{PRINTS COMING SOON!}

strawberry pink hair....

©the enchanted easel 2014

{and you know I'm living vicariously...;)}

custom painting, just about done.

©the enchanted easel 2014

this beauty....

©the enchanted easel 2014

on the easel this week.

a custom mermaid....and a very cute, very enamored little sea turtle.

{so, take that mr. hare. slow and steady definitely wins this race...or at least the heart of a very beautiful little mermaid. :)}

sketching swirly strands...

©the enchanted easel 2014

of mermaid hair!

custom painting in the works the next week or so. and guess what it is? *hint-i have painted lots of them in the last year...and they have great hair days every day, despite the fact they live in the water...or so the myth goes.* give up? i am painting yet another MERMAID. no complaints though...i LOVE painting hair. and this little beauty in the works? she will have PINK hair. not just any pink, but my signature strawberry pink. and hey, let's face it...don't we all dream of having super awesome, super strawberry pink hair? it's ok, you don't have to answer that...;)

bring on another mermaid! the easel is awaiting!

{a peek at the thumbnail process below. that's how it all begins folks...with a pink ink joy pen. :)}

©the enchanted easel 2014

best part of my *job*....

there is nothing sweeter than seeing my work in a nursery. it literally moves me to tears.

and what makes it even more amazing is that moment you really connect with a client and they are kind enough to send you pictures such as these.

truly, nothing sweeter.

PRINTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR BOTH PIECES HERE:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/theenchantedeasel

couldn't help but share...like a proud momma, as my painting are my *babies*. :)

i think she's found her *sea*mate....

"seanmates"
11x14 acrylic on canvas

meet the beautiful brunette mermaid, Gwen...and her adoring seahorse companion, Finn. it appears after all that *sea* searching, she's finally found her *sea*mate. ;)

this was a custom painting i finished up last week for a sweet baby girl named...Gwen. can't wait for her to receive it and hang it in her nursery! so, off to Illinois she went today.

however, PRINTS ARE AVAILABLE HERE:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/186204686/seamates-reproduction

*who wouldn't want to be loved by such a super cute little seahorse...;)*

nothing like a little seahorse love...

©the enchanted easel 2014

on the easel this week, a custom painting in the works...for a mermaid loving little girl. :)

i "heart" custom work!

©the enchanted easel 2014

©the enchanted easel 2014

meet Crystal...

April's mermaid based on the gemstone, diamond and...THE FINAL MERMAID in my series of 12!!!

i've actually had this done for over a week and meant to post earlier, but the time got away from me. for all of you who know me personally, you know i began this series back in January. wasn't anticipating 11 months to paint 12 mermaids, but life threw me a curve ball in April and i wound up having a third c-spine/neck surgery. (AND GOD WILLING, THE LAST ONE!). well, the c-spine affects the nerves in the hand and arm, so finishing up these beauties after April certainly hasn't been easy. and while i'm not pain free (and may never be), well, these were truly a labor of love. i made a promise to myself that all 12 of them would get done, pain or no pain. and, well here i am..12 mermaids and 3 c-spine surgeries later!

looking forward to a much better year in 2014 as well as some new art and a bit of a upgrade in style. certainly not going to lose that "anime" feel my art has, just going to switch it up a wee little bit...;)

Crystal is available here as an ORIGINAL PAINTING~

https://www.etsy.com/listing/171780697/crystal-mermaid-orignal-painting

and here as an optional personalized PRINT~

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

the rest of this month will be spent working on some new ideas/sketches for the upcoming new year!

CAN. NOT. WAIT.

putting the finishing touches....

on a bling-loving mermaid named crystal.

the FINAL mermaid in the series of 12!!!

just about done....:)

on the easel this week (and next week)...

the FINAL mermaid in the birthstone series i began back in january. didn't think it'd take 12 months to complete 12 paintings...but a third c-spine surgery will do that to ya. however i'm a driven and determined little thing and i will overcome. always! :)

meet little Crystal, April's mermaid...based on the diamond. ironically i end the series with the month i had surgery. go figure...

this one is being painted in a mix of cool blues and grays...a very WINTRY palette (and we all know how much i LOVE me some WINTER!!!).

this will also be 2013's last painting, as i plan to spend decmeber (my FAVORITE month) sketching out lots of new ideas for new paintings in 2014. super stoked for some new work and a new year...and a fresh start! :)