Paint, Patience, and Chocolate Chips

My art is fueled by chocolate and fae

[amelialeonardsart]

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A post shared by Amelia Leonards (@amelialeonardsart) on Oct 1, 2019 at 11:58am PDT

[amelialeonardsart]

If you found a path in the woods that wound through red ferns and loam, would you take it? If you caught sight of a gateway, of a blue glow in the mists, faint, flickering, would you keep going? And when the ferns reached for you, when strange wolves stared with dark eyes, and when she glanced at you and smiled- would you run? Or stay? Vila are Slavic nature spirits associated with water and forest. I read once somewhere that they and Rusalka are known to hide up in birch trees and drop onto unsuspecting men below. They then proceed to tickle them to death. I think this is utterly fantastic. . . #amelialeonardsart #art #artist #artwork #fantasy #fantasyart #fantasyartist #fantasyartwork #painting #watercolorartist #watercolorart #watercolor #watercolorpainting #fae #fairy #faerie #earth #fern #forestspirit #vila #birch #instaart #instaartist #slavic #folklore #myth (at Rockport, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqFqZqThjW0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=fsvdd3x3vj6h

[amelialeonardsart]

#inktober Day 7: Exhausted A few years ago, I painted a piece with deer carrying forest on their backs. It was about balance, the natural world, and the soul of the woods. But what happens when that balance is destroyed? When the forest is obliterated? Many of these spirits simply fade into the ash and desolation, sinking down, down, down into the waste. But a few stagger on, the seed of renewal carried in their hearts, shaking to dust with each step. Hoping, praying- determined to find a place where life can begin anew. I love the ink bloom that just happened 💕🍃 #amelialeonardsart #art #Artist #artwork #fantasy #fantasyart #fantasyartist #fantasyartwork #painting #ink #inkpainting #inkart #inktoberchallenge #inktober #inktober2018 #day7exhausted #inktoberday7 #fae #fairy #faerie #earth #stag #forestspirit #forest #deer #instaartist #instaart #walnutink (at Rockport, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/BopK8FeBl2c/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=zzxu0b0x3cf2

[amelialeonardsart]

#inktober Day 3: Roasted Charlene was incredibly pleased with herself- she’d broken a personal record, reducing an entitled chauvinist to bone and ash in twenty seconds flat. “I’ll take down the next one in ten,” she snickered. . . . #amelialeonardsart #art #fantasyart #artist #inktoberchallenge #inktober #inktober2018 #inktoberday3 #roasted #fantasyartist #dragon #skull #ink #inkart #walnutink #persist #instaart #instaartist #fire (at Rockport, Massachusetts) https://www.instagram.com/p/BoekHL4BQ1U/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=3qtga22sb96e

[amelialeonardsart]

Hi, your art is just amazing...

Thank you so much! 💕

[amelialeonardsart]

I realized two things today 1- it’s Smaugust. 2- I only ever design dragons based on utahraptors, who are elegant and awesome- but there are other dinosaurs out there. Meet Melvin. He eats cabbages. #amelialeonardsart #art #artist #artwork #fantasyart #fantasyartist #fantasyillustration #dragon #smaugust #painting #watercolor #watercolorart #watercolorartist #watercolorpainting #watercolorstudy #creature #creaturedesign #instaart #instaartist (at Rockport, Massachusetts)

[amelialeonardsart]

I think she might need a fish. Does she need a fish? #amelialeonardsart #art #artist #artwork #fantasyart #fantasyartist #fantasyillustration #selkie #portrait #pencil #pencilart #pencilsketch #pencildrawing #drawing #sketch #sketchbook #fae #ocean #sea #folklore #graphite #instaart #instaartist (at Rockport, Massachusetts)

[amelialeonardsart]

I was thinking about butterflies when I painted this, about spaces where air and water meet. Everyone’s heard that Monarchs migrate great distances, even over the sea, and we think ‘wow, that’s amazing’- but do we ever actually try to imagine it? The ocean is so vast, so rough and wide. They’re so fragile, so impossibly delicate, windblown and wild, wingtips brushing the sea foam. They don’t all survive- we find them washed up on the shore, sad and battered, dull and still. I think that those who live below recognize their struggle. I think that they await the butterflies every year, necks craned back and fins swaying gently on the waves, gazing at the horizon with sorrow and hope. When the monarchs appear, they greet them with joy, celebrating those who survived and lamenting those who did not. Maybe if we took the time to look and think, then we could be so aware, so compassionate.

[amelialeonardsart]

The Oracle, much like the Seer, predicts a myriad of both pleasant and unpleasant things. Unlike the Seer, however, she never feels compelled to lie; she simply speaks, voice a low, droning hum as she spews stories of war, death, misfortune and terror. Does she predict joy, good fortune, and peace as well? Absolutely. But she’s so frightening, her words carry such weight, that she’s only ever seen as a negative, an enemy, a dark, menacing cloud blanketing the sun and blighting lives. She doesn’t understand everyone’s animosity, or why she’s so alone. She only speaks the truth, after all- what harm is there in that? Yes, I was thinking of Cassandra and the Pythia when I painted this, and the Ancient Greek on her ribbons is legit- exxxcccceeept for a few sentences. At least one of them is a rant about an unjust goat in English using Greek characters. Probably should have thrown a 42 in there too. . .

[amelialeonardsart]

I realized that I never posted the triptych all together!! AHHHH! These aren’t quite the full pieces, I had to jam them together in layout, but I think this still conveys the general idea. Left to right: Shaman- earth and water Magician- alchemy of earth, air, fire, and water Seer- fire and air So question: right now they’re printed up separately- should I also try to print them together on one sheet of paper? Deep thoughts welcome. . . #amelialeonardsart #art #artist #artwork #fantasyart #fantasyartist #fantasyillustration #triptych #shaman #shamanic #shamanicart #magician #magic #mage #seer #sphinx #butterflies #elements #earth #air #fire #water #watercolor #watercolorart #watercolorartist #metaphysical #instaart #instaartist (at Rockport, Massachusetts)

[amelialeonardsart]

So, um- this happened, in the midst of all the super serious pencil fae. She is the most graceful and dainty of meowmaids, and is being sent to a lovely childhood friend for her birthday! #amelialeonardsart #art #artist #fantasyart #fantasyartist #fantasyillustration #mermaid #mermaids #cat #catsofinstagram #meowmaid #watercolor #watercolorart #watercolorstudy #watercolorartist #whimsical #greetingcard #handmadecard #pun #silly #cute #instaart #instaartist (at Rockport, Massachusetts)

[amelialeonardsart]

I’ve been sitting in my little corner of the store trying to think of something brilliant and witty to say about this, but you know what? Screw that, I’m going for blunt: Love is love. Fae know this, and they cannot fathom how a person could possibly condemn another for loving the way they do- seriously, they’re nature spirits, they embrace and embody the truth of the natural world! And they have no tolerance for oppression, hatred, and repression. Love to everyone who is struggling, who has been told that they or their love is ‘wrong’ or ‘unnatural’ or ‘shameful.’ Please keep being yourselves, please keep loving. And Happy Pride Month 💕 #amelialeonardsart #art #artist #artwork #fantasyart #fantasyartist #fantasyillustration #junefae #junefae2018 #loveislove #pride #pridemonth #fae #faerie #fairy #dryad #tree #earth #elemental #pencil #pencilart #pencilsketch #pencildrawing #drawing #sketchbook #sketch #instaart #instaartist (at Rockport, Massachusetts)

[amelialeonardsart]

An old one but still one of my favorite studies- I mean, antlers, borzois, and fluff. What’s not to love!? The realm of the fae is said to be guarded by Cwn Annwn- Hounds of Annwn. Traditionally they’re all white with red ears (symbolizing death and blood), but I’ve always drawn them in lots of different ways. There are probably different types, right? #amelialeonardsart #artist #art #artwork #fantasyart #fantasyartist #fantasyillustration #fae #faerie #annwn #cwnannwn #junefae #junefae2018 #water #watercolor #watercolorart #watercolorstudy #watercolorartist #painting #borzoi #fairy #antlers #instaart #instaartist #celtic #folklore (at Rockport, Massachusetts)

[amelialeonardsart]

It was all the rage in the Victorian and Edwardian periods to paint the personas of different plants as fairies. Pixies usually- the small, flitting, tinkerbell-esque fae that people usually think of when they hear the word “fairy”. So sure, I thought, I’ll give it a try. This is the spirit of nightshade. She’s unpredictable- the nightshade family is huge and includes many things we like to eat, so she can be nurturing and helpful. Unfortunately, some of the plants are also incredibly toxic. So she’s both things- a giver of life and a taker. I think it depends on her mood. Is it death or is it eggplant? Won’t know till it’s too late. . . #amelialeonardsart #art #artist #fantasyart #fantasyartist #fantasyillustration #folklore #fae #fairy #faerie #junefae #junefae2018 #pencil #pencilart #pencilsketch #pencildrawing #sketch #sketchbook #graphite #flower #nightshade #instaart #instaartist (at Rockport, Massachusetts)

[amelialeonardsart]

Tinuviel was dancing there To music of a pipe unseen, And light of stars was in her hair, And in her raiment glimmering. Finished! It was a fun study, I liked all the indigo 😂. It was a little weird to paint her while drawing fae though- as I mentioned before, the fae that pop into my head are very different from Tolkien elves. I like to think that they’d get tea occasionally though, maybe share some chocolate and kombucha. #amelialeonardsart #art #artist #artwork #fantasyart #fantasyartist #fantasyillustration #watercolor #watercolorart #watercolorartist #watercolorpainting #painting #tinuviel #luthien #elf #tolkien #tolkienelves #silmarillion #dance #instaart #instaartist #traditionalart #traditionalartist (at Rockport, Massachusetts)

[amelialeonardsart]

I was going through a less than stellar time a few months back, and this creature kept darting in and out of my mind, slinking and skulking and skittering through the shadows. I didn’t realize until I started painting her that she’s a guardian- there’s an Irish Gaelic word, Caomhnoir, that means guardian/steward/protector. So maybe I can call her that? And then there’s Aingeal Coimhdeachta, which literally means “the angel who walks beside you”. Angel bit aside, I like the ‘walks beside you’ concept, might go with that. The fae who walks beside me, lol. She likes warm summer nights, tooth dominoes (don’t ask), and collecting the bones of people who mess with those she protects. ☠️ #amelialeonardsart #art #artist #artwork #fantasyart #fantasyartist #fantasyillustration #junefae #junefae2018 #fae #fairy #faerie #creature #celtic #guardian #guardianspirit #painting #watercolor #watercolorart #watercolorartist #watercolorstudy #watercolorpainting #folklore #instaart #instaartist #magical (at Rockport, Massachusetts)

[amelialeonardsart]

This is cheating, but I found an old fox fae thing that I don’t think I ever posted here (?). I don’t know much about him aside from that he’s a shaman, a trickster, and is very smug about everything. #amelialeonardsart #art #artist #artwork #fantasyart #fantasyartist #fantasyillustration #fae #fairy #faerie #junefae #junefae2018 #pencil #pencilart #pencilsketch #pencildrawing #drawing #sketch #sketchbook #tonedpaper #graphite #instaart #instaartist #fox #foxfae (at Rockport, Massachusetts)