summer is almost over....

and i've been working hard on a few new pieces at once. busy little bee...and loving it! 🐝😊

remember these two (link to PRINTS in caption)...? had a blast last summer working on a couple mixed media animals. my first time trying something a bit different (but still cute, i might add 😏). well, i decided to give it another go with at least 2 more (another owl and a cute fox friend). been working on those (pics and video below)....

autumn serenade

ophelia's nocturne

also, i've been sketching out what i'd like to be the painting in which i close out the year 2017. peeks below...(btw, music in video is my most favorite pianist ever, mr. david benoit. oh how i love him so.💙🎹)

summertime endeavors...

been a busy little bee the past month-working on multiple projects at once...and that's just the way i like it. 😊

some drawings/sketches...

started a new painting....

...and finally, making some new pendants for september release in my etsy shop.

speaking of my etsy shop, i am currently running HUGE 50% OFF SUMMER CLEARANCE SALE on some older works (ALL ORIGINALS) so that i can clear out my studio to make room for the new! take a click on over and check out some of the pieces i have FOR SALE from "back in the day". 😉

multitasking kind of two weeks....

{been working on a few things at once...hence my lack of blogging in almost 14 days}

beginnings of a new painting....

new things coming to my etsy shop soon....

busy day in the studio, multitasking like a boss...

nursery art commission beginnings....

quick little brainstorming session....

bits and pieces....

from the last 12 days (a.k.a my *excuse* for not blogging for almost 2 weeks-yikes!).

matting and framing donation prints....

peeks, peepers and petals....

backgrounding blues and greens....

black and blue....

owl, birds, tree, flowers....

turner's initial pantings
©the enchanted easel 2015

oh, and some initials too. ;)

{these three custom paintings are on the easel this week....and,  just about DONE! if you would like something special created for your little one, please contact me through my website and i will surely accommodate you. i "heart" custom work.}

new series....

©the enchanted easel 2014

in the making.

i am crazy in love with all things japanese...from the culture to the food to the super cute art such as the company sanrio (hello kitty) and anime. oh, and let's not forget my obsession with cherry blossoms and the absolutely breathtakingly beautiful sakura trees. i mean even my fragrance is japanese cherry blossoms. as i said, obsessed. really need to go to japan once day...

anyhoo, i've been wanting to do a little series of kokeshi dolls for quite a while and i had these thumbnails drawn up since this past november. how tight do i work?! gosh, i could probably save myself the drawing step in between and just sketch these right onto the canvas, using these thumbnails as my guide. but....i'm too OCD for that (and love drawing just as much as painting) so i'm going to whip out 4 8x8 sketches and then transfer them to the canvas.

can not wait to paint these! :)

©the enchanted easel 2014

a peek at little sakura {big surprise with the name}...

in between painting the final mermaid...

a custom order came my way. name panels for a baby girl named Mia. and oh how i LOVE doing custom work. especially for babies :)

below are the sketches and color palette i will be using. the theme-butterflies and gingham....in purple. the letters will be much thicker on the finished panels, but you get the point...

can't wait to get started on these! :)

MAD LOVE....

for this man! who DOESN'T know that about me?! i swear little kids that i taught 6 years ago or so will tell you "ms. nicole loves peyton manning!". no kidding...

i loved him well before we ever had those horrific neck surgeries/fusions in common. and, i'll love him even after he retires. he's a total CLASS ACT and deserves EVERYTHING good to come his way. you would think after all those surgeries (and they are PURE HELL to live through and recover from- since you're dealing with a bunch of nerves in the cervical spine) that he would have just given up and retired. but no, he comes back ten times stronger and more determined than ever.

the amount of respect and admiration i have for him goes well beyond any words that i could ever convey except to say...this man is EVERYTHING.

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....

over in the nursery art world....

http://nicolesnurseryart.blogspot.com/2012/09/todays-buzz.html

mutli-tasking....

at it's finest!

working on 2 custom piece at once. this one for a little girl named lauren who loves her ladybugs.

and the latter one, a painting for a baby named grady (whose family are big phillies fans). myself being the die-hard atlanta braves fan that i am....well, let's just say i'm tying not to *accidentally* make him a brave ;)

ok...so....

i've been terrible at updating this blog in the last couple of weeks....lots of custom work (and that's a GREAT thing!)

i am currently working on some custom pieces....2 boys and 1 for a little girl....who LOVES herself some ladybugs. and don't we all....;)

one of the little boy piece's i am working on his for a baby named shane who loves trucks. i decided to incorporate some airplanes and toys and blocks. that way i could place his name on the blocks....not like he would ever forget it or anything....

the other boy piece i am working on is for my a newborn named grady. his nursery is all about the great american game of baseball. still in the process of finishing that sketch...almost done.

and last, but certainly not least, i am working on a piece for a little girl named lauren. she has this *thing* for ladybugs. so, her mom sent me over some pics of her bedding and i incorporated the flowers into the sketch.

shane and lauren's sketches are below. almost done grady's....

whew! lots to do!

***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~winter

ok...i'm so biased here. but this week's i.f. theme might be my favorite! I LOVE WINTER..LOVE IT!!! this illustration was meant to be made into a rubber stamp, but time did not allow for it. oh well, there's always next year:) i sketched it first in pencil and then hand-inked it with my good ole' rapidograph pens...the BEST!:) i am hoping to turn it into a full-blown color painting SOON!
below are a few other sketches and designs i felt fit the topic of "winter". did mention it's my favorite season...?;)