my first mixed media *experiment*....

ophelia's nocturne
6x6 mixed media on canvas panel
©the enchanted easel 2016

this summer i wanted to try my hand at some small mixed media pieces. i decided to start with a theme of sorts as far as a color palette went....i chose just a few to start with...red, orange, teal and brown. from there two little creatures were born. ophelia here is the first.

mixed media was kind of new for me. i have so many art supplies laying around my home that instead of looking at all of them, well i wanted to try to actually USE them. my paintings/commissions are acrylic on stretched canvas so i never really get to play with my oil pastels or my inks (OMG-can we say "obsessed" now?!) or my tons of scrapbook papers and supplies, etc.

one day i sat down in between commissions and said "what the heck...let's give it a shot!" and so i did...and had a blast doing so. i used everything from paper to water soluble graphite pencils to palette knives to my fingers for this piece. even got some old sheet music from my keyboard ("ophelia" from tori amos to be exact-hence the name of this little owl) and went to town with that. a total blast this was-from start to finish.

PRINTS are available here and the ORIGINAL painting is also AVAILABLE. contact me here if interested. hope you love her as much as i do...owls just say "fall" and "halloween" to me. one of my favorite times of the year!

the making of "silence of the snowdrops"...step by step!

i thought it would be interetsing and fun to take a look into the creative process of my paintings...from thumbnail to sketch to paint palette(s) to the finsihed piece. i know i absolutely geek out looking at other artists WIPs so i thought i'd create a new album after each painting of the step by step process i use (and have used for YEARS) and share it with everyone. i work traditonally...pencil, paper, paint, canvas. i have much respect for the digital artists of the world yet for me, the passion and love will ALWAYS be in the traditonal tube of paint. old school...and proud. 

for a look at the full album and step by step instructions, please click on over to my Facebook page...and perhaps give it a "like", if you would be so kind! :)

PRINTS of this beauty here. ORIGINAL PAINTING is AVAILABLE. contact me, if interested. 

farewell 2015....

www.etsy.com/shop/theenchantedeasel

thanks for a very productive year and an even bigger THANK YOU to everyone who purchased my art, as i am constantly humbled each and every time. 

looking forward to new paintings, drawings and just a super creative 2016! oh, and if i could get SNOW in there....;)

MANY BLESSINGS TO ALL FOR A VERY HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR!

DECEMBER DISCOUNT DAYS...DAY 22!

so, today is officially WINTER!!! well, i am ecstatic about that as it is and always will be my favorite season. however, i may have a bone or two to pick with Mr. December. this month has been more like spring than any December i can remember....and that bums me out. hopefully, at some point. Jack Frost will decide to pay me a visit. i miss him.

on a happier note....today is officially the first day of WINTER!!! and this beauty is today's FEATURED DRAWING! the lovely and pristine, Crystal.

{on a side note, i'm wearing RAIN boots to the post office today instead of SNOW boots. can i just say how wrong that is?! :( }

***last year on this day, i was snapping pics with Jack Frost....my forever love.***

DECEMBER DISCOUNT DAYS...DAY 18!

hard to believe we are already 18 days into December....and it's not feeling one teeny tiny little bit like winter here on the east coast (very upset about this). on that note, today's FEATURED ORIGINAL DRAWING has more of a spring vibe to her (fitting for 65 degrees...in December). beautiful little Blossom is 40% off today.

{thinking winter thoughts....:)}

DECEMBER DISCOUNT DAYS...DAY 9!

40% off day 9's FEATURED ORIGINAL DRAWING....the happy little Glacia.

{proof indeed that winter is wonderful! :)}

DECEMBER DISCOUNT DAYS...DAY 5!

on this 5th day of December, the lovely Camellia is today's FEATURED PIECE.

an ORIGINAL DRAWING listed at 40% off....for ONE DAY ONLY.

{happy Saturday, everyone!}

a little late with this one....

camellia~original drawing
7x9 graphite/tinted graphite on bristol
©the enchanted easel 2015

but better late than never, right? :)

this little beauty goes by the name, Camillia  and is the the final drawing in my series of 3 flower/summer girls.

with today being september 1st already (and i'm perfectly ok with that-c'mon football and PEYTON and fall, of course) well, i'm kinda late with this little lady but it's been a busy august and she's been done for quite a while actually....just forgot to post her. so....

better late than never! :)

Camillia (along with her lovely little companions, Flora and Blossom) is/are FOR SALE as the ORIGINAL DRAWING(S) in my etsy shop. i also have a trio of winter girls listed for sale here...of course being the snow bunny i am, these three are my personal favorites. either way, hop on over to my shop and have a look. if you'd like to purchase the trio of either the summer/winter girls, please send me a convo through etsy and we can work out a happy price for all three beauties.

{did i mention i'm super stoked for FALL, FOOTBALL and PEYTON?! :)}

flowers in her hair....

©the enchanted easel 2015

and a few new drawings...underway.

{it's been a crazy couple of weeks....new drawings, commissions and my lovely little lily (see pic below) all trying to get done at the same time. busy, busy, busy....and loving every single second.}

lily...in progress
©the enchanted easel 2015

Sunday afternoon sketching....

working on a little custom drawing for a very special girlfriend from school...she's going through some tough times and needs a little "pick me up".

sweetness to the rescue! :)

warm winter wishes (drawing #2)....

glacia~graphite on bristol
©the enchanted easel 2015

love, glacia

xxx

ORIGNAL DRAWING FOR SALE IN MY SHOP!

also, glacia has little friend by the name of crystal who is also FOR SALE here.

2 sweet little winter girl drawings down...1 more to go. :)

warm winter wishes...

crystal~graphite on bristol
©the enchanted easel 2015

love, crystal

xxx

ORIGINAL DRAWING FOR SALE, IN MY SHOP, NOW!

{little crystal is 2015's first drawing....and she has two friends to join her....COMING SOON! :)}

✨ sunday night superstar! ✨

©the enchanted easel 2014

just a peek at some new art for 2015!

working on a few ORIGINAL DRAWINGS that will be FOR SALE the first week of 2015...looking forward to the new year and the new opportunities it shall bring! :)

so....

i'm thinking a penguin would make the perfect pet for me...considering we both LOVE arctic weather! :)

sweet little alaska...a very stylish and fashion savvy penguin, if i do say so myself. 

{probably taking a page from my book, she is...;)}

she will be available FOR SALE very soon (as a PRINT)...and for the first time all year, i will be offering the ORIGINAL PAINTING-FOR SALE as well.

arctic cuteness~coming soon! :)

thursday morning thumbnails....

©the enchanted easel 2014

some arctic adorableness is on the way....:)

happy thursday, friends! 

on the easel this week...

the pantone color of the year, emerald.

this is may's mermaid, little esmerelda. 

10 mermaids down. 1 1/2 more to go. yay! :)

what's better than a hug...?

why an OCTOPUS hug, of course ;)

meet little Viola and her octopus bestest buddy, Ollie. she is February's amethyst haired mermaid. and, what's at the easel this week.

let it be known, i'm not a purple fan...BUT they are kinda cute ;)

©the enchanted easel 2013

©the enchanted easel 2013

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! :)

next on the easel.....

mysterious little Opal, October's mermaid.

and her jellyfish friends, of course :)

illustration friday~jungle

how could anyone resist this cute little baby cheetah (and his dragonfly friend)...?!
nothing scary here :)

ORIGINAL DRAWING~SOLD but there are PRINTS available here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/96990268/baby-cheetah-on-branch-with-dragonfly