illustration friday~tribute

i thought this was appropriate for this week's IF prompt *tribute*....my mad crazy love for mr. manning!

can't wait for football season to start!!!! 

~HaPpY HoLiDaYs~

love Pippa and Peppermint, the candy cane striped zebra :)

my holiday 2012 card featuring my alter ego (Pippa) and her adorable little Christmas companion, Peppermint.

since i have such a LOVE of candy canes and all things peppermint, i just couldn't resist coming up with this cute and festive little zebra.

proof that you don't have to be an elf....or a reindeer to deliver some good ole' fashioned holiday cheer!

HAPPY HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

LIMITED EDITION PRINTS (WITHOUT THE TEXT) SOLD HERE~

https://www.etsy.com/listing/116813241/seasons-greetings-love-pippa-and

a candy cane striped zebra named peppermint...?

you betcha ;)

just about done my painting for my holiday 2012 card. here's a little mug shot of pippa's buddy peppermint, the candy cane striped zebra.

only in nicole's world...;)

santa's little helpers....

here is my holiday 2012 card design (which i am currently painting).

it's pippa and her little friend peppermint, the candy cane striped zebra :)

yes, animals such as this exist in nicole's world for sure! besides, i have such a crazy love for candy canes and all things peppermint, that i just couldn't resist putting it into a little character ;)

so, pippa and peppermint....santa's little helpers for 2012. because you don't have to be an elf or a reindeer to lend a helping hand!

a preview of some Chrismas....

CUTENESS! :)

a sneak peek at my Christmas card design for this year. starring my adorable little Pippa!

~HaPpY HoLiDaYs~

love, pippa....and a *secret* friend of her's (not pictured here)
xxx

trick or treat, love pippa...and licorice :)

welcoming in fall is my sweet little character pippa...and her black bird friend licorice. pippa (who we all know is really ME-hence the uggs she usually has on) is dressed in her pumpkin costume and ready to hand out candy to all the little trick or treaters at the pumpkin patch. with the help of licorice, of course....;)

i wanted to do a painting of this, but time does not really allow for it. so...i took out my favorite *tools*...the tinted graphite pencils by derwent. OMG....i am so in love with these pencils. it's ironic because i seem to be known for (for a lack of a better phrase) for my use of bright and bold color in my paintings. yet, i am totally crazy about the look of tinted graphite. and, i'm truly a pencil girl at heart so these pencils really make me happy. AND...they are water soluble as well, so i often use a water brush pen (like a did here) filled with clear water and very gently add some water to the drawing and....POOF....magic!:)

anyway, not that i have gone off on my tangent about these pencils, i want to say that pippa here is available FOR SALE as a LIMITED EDITION print in my etsy shop found here

https://www.etsy.com/listing/111274719/trick-or-treat-love-pippa-and-licorice

and because i like to "share the love", here's a link to the FAB derwent graphitint pencils. if you try them, leave me a comment, as i would love to hear your feedback on them!

http://www.pencils.co.uk/product.aspx?mid=733

happy (early) halloween! love, pippa/me...and licorice ;)
xxx

FINALLY!!!

today is the day i have been waiting for since mid march when peyton signed on to be a bronco! super excited bec as well all know, i have mad love for this man! they just don't make 'em like this anymore....

good luck peyton! love, pippa (and me) ;)

illustration friday~teacher

pippa is all dressed and ready for her first day of school. and super excited to meet her new teacher!

just a quick little sketch i worked up for this week's illustration friday. and because all who know me know pippa is my alter ego, that tells you that yes, i did go to catholic school.

see photo below for proof...:)
2nd row, 3rd in from the right.

illustration friday~carry

now THERE'S a clever way to carry some apples....;)

a recipe i did last october for the wonderful nate and salli over at www.theydrawandcook.com

it can be seen in full size view here....http://www.theydrawandcook.com/recipes/pippas-pink-ladybug-apples-by-nicole-esposito

enjoy!:)

NEW WEBSITE UP AND RUNNING....

 thank GOD! now i can go back to PAINTING :)

i am proud of myself for putting this site together all by my little self. and let me tell you, it was no easy task. like tuesday...i put in 20 hours...STRAIGHT! yeah, i'm determined like that ;)

have a look and let me (and pippa) know what you think....
www.theenchantedeasel.com

***NEW WEBSITE COMING SOON***

well, because i am on a mission to constantly better myself and my work, i promised myself i would re-design/re-do my website every year around this time.

and so it appears the time has come once again. and i just love making new *projects* for myself and making my plate so full that i can barely sleep at night because my head is bursting with idea after idea after idea....well you get the point...;) really no big surprise considering as a small child i had a hard time *resting*. it's the over-abundance of drive i suppose. but hey, NO COMPLAINTS from me! i'm a big believer in pushing yourself to be the best you can possibly be....

and for me, that is constantly growing as an artist and illustrator. so....within the next week, i will be re-doing the website over at www.theenchantedeasel.com (which is now "under construction"). i just wanted to feature little pippa and change up some of the layout and colors. oh, and i did i mention they went and changed their software?! let's just say that i have my work cut out for me!

although i do have a bachelor's in graphic design (as well as fine arts) i am NO FAN of web design....or any computer design. i'm old school...pencil, paintbrush, canvas, sketchbook. because....that's just how pippa and i roll...;)



oh, and new website means new blog. like i said, i love a full plate!:)

illustration friday~secret

ok....so it's not really a *secret*...but my sweet little character Pippa is really ME!;)

i thought i would share some sketches of her as i am currently in the process of re-doing my website and the art work for the home page, bio page and contact page will feature Pippa :)

also, there's a sketch of Pippa in her new little Peyton Manning jersey....as a Bronco now, of course. because as we all know, Peyton is MY MAN! FOREVER! no matter where he plays, i will ALWAYS be his #1 fan!

ok....don't get me going about Peyton...;)

illustration friday~vocal

is there anything more 'vocal' than my love for peyton manning?! of course not!;) so...

i thought little pippa here, in her brand new broncos jersey, was indeed fitting for this week's i'.f. prompt 'vocal'.

she is clearly ready to shout loud and clear how much she loves peyton and is excited to be sporting some new team colors.

good thing i look good in navy blue and orange because...pippa is really me:)

LOVE YOU PEYTON!:)

pippa's ready for some FOOTBALL...and PEYTON;)

like everyone who knows me didn't know this was coming!

pippa loves peyton:)

ALOHA!!!

greetings from hawaii!!!

here is my submission for the Kraft contest over at the wonderful website They Draw and Cook http://www.theydrawandcook.com/recipes/maui-luau-sandwich-by-nicole-esposito

Pippa, her new friend Peyton (like the name is a surprise with my mad love for Peyton Manning) and their bongo playing pig Penelope all invite you to try Kraft's Maui Luau sandwich. with yummy ham and swiss and a sweet touch pineapple (amongst a few other goodies).

let's hope the judges like it...

ALOHA!!!

love, Pippa

xxx

xxx

...because it's my favorite day of the year :)

happy valentine's day!

love, pippa....and me :)

xxx

busy as a CUTE little bee...:)

just a quick little sketch of pippa....as a CUTE little bumble bee :)

hoping to get to painting this one day soon....

HaPpY VaLenTiNe's DaY Love, Pippa xxx

here is sweet little Pippa....just in time for valentine's day....my favorite "holiday" :)

she is FOR SALE as a REPRODUCTION in my shop here

http://www.etsy.com/listing/91844674/happy-valentines-day-love-pippa

it's never too early for LOVE!!!