The Year of the BUN Coloring Book by Dea Lenihan-- COMING SOON!

The Chinese New Year is celebrated on January 22nd this year, and the Year of the Rabbit will begin.

In honor of this auspicious celebration, my next coloring book, The YEAR OF THE BUN, will be released on that very day.

Filled with bunnies, fairies, and of course, Buns, this book is special because it introduces the Buns best friends, the Mims. Tiny mushrooms of all shapes and sizes, the Mims are always there when the Buns need a friend, and a partner for some mischief.

THE YEAR OF THE BUN will be available where all amazing books are sold.

Here is the cover! 

My New Coloring Book EVERYDAY MAGIC Is Coming Soon!

Finally!

My newest coloring book, EVERYDAY MAGIC, is at the printer.

Preorder NOW

It's been way too long, so thank you for your patience.

Everyday Magic is about the wonder of the ordinary, and the amazing things that happen to all of us in our day-to-day lives.

It all started as I was taking photos of the super moon in Watchung, New Jersey. As a giant tangerine orb rose over the skyline of NYC, I thought to myself that it would be hard to imagine something more amazing. My mind wandered, and I realized that little things happen all the time that we so often overlook. 

Not long after, I was thinking of a friend I hadn't spoken to for a bit, and the phone rang...who do you think it was? Yup. Another example of Everyday Magic.

I started to look for magic...and you know what? The more I looked the more I found.

I thought of a blue feather...on purpose...and a gray/blue feather ended up on my porch the next day.

I had a conversation with a friend about the possibility of UFOs and life on other planets...five minutes later my husband called my out to the deck to see two very strange sets of lights in the night sky. Aliens? No...but it was amazing thinking they could have been until they were close enough for us to realize they were planes.

Some of these magical things that happened were so uncanny it seemed that something otherworldly was intervening, so in the book I represented those moments in the book with images of fairies or elves, or sometimes animals and plants that are part of out everyday lives.

EVERYDAY MAGIC Artist's Edition is available on Etsy for PRESALE AT THIS LINK right now. It has 30 single sided images printed on thick, lovely artist's grade paper. The binding is removable, so each sheet can be colored on a clipboard or desk. No need to cut or rip. The pages can them be replaced inside the binding for safe keeping.

The Amazon Edition will follow a few weeks later, with two copies of each image for double the coloring fun. Both books are 8.5 x 11.

I am currently conducting a COLORING CONTEST. The winner will be featured on the back of the Amazon version of EVERYDAY MAGIC...I hope you enter. Click here to be directed to the DEA LENIHAN Coloring Gallery to enter:  CLICK TO ENTER

Here are some images...hope you like them! With a little hocus pocus, I'm sure you will do your OWN magic and make these images come to life. Coloring isn't as "cool" as Kylie Jenner, but I wouldn't want my magic any other way.

Thank you for reading! 💗xo Dea

Crafty Croc GEL PEN GIVEAWAY

Welcome to the Crafty Croc Gel Pen Giveaway!

This set of 96 gel pens is the last of it's kind--they have been discontinued and I have a set to give.

Just watch the vid below then enter.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Fun Trick to Color Animal Fur and a Special Invitation

Hi to all my coloring friends!

I'd like to invite you to my brand new group, Dea Lenihan COLORING GALLERY. 

I am so grateful that many of you have colored my images, and now I have a place to show them off. You will also find giveaways, how tos, coloring tips, and videos.

                                    
                                    CLICK HERE to Join!

And here is a video with a fun way to color animal fur. Enjoy. xo

Coloring Glowing Glass Lanterns

Here is a quick video with tips about making a lantern look like it has panes of glass. I also show how to make them look like they are glowing.

                                         Colored by Ronda Francis

Enjoy! Hope the videos are helpful.

xo

My Etsy shop: CLICK HERE

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Five Wonderful and Spooky Halloween Coloring Books

Oooo there is a little nip in the air--so that means Halloween can't be too far away!

I have gathered up five wonderfully spooky coloring books for you to enjoy.

1. The Beauty of Horror: a GOREgeous Coloring Book by Alan Robert.
This is for anyone that might be a bit sick of flowers and mandalas. But buckle up! Not for the faint of heart.



                                                                    Click to Buy

2. Jasmine Becket-Griffith Halloween Coloring Book. This is perfect for Becket-Griffith fans, or anyone who loves the dark side of pretty.



                                           Click to Buy


Penelope's Garden, An Enchanted Coloring Book by Dea Lenihan. This book is filled with zombie mice, a nightshade garden, and an adorable witch named Penelope. Spooky cuteness for all ages.



                                           Click to Buy

4. Night Magic Gothic and Halloween Coloring Book by Selena Fenech.  Sweet, sexy, and magical witches, vampires, and more!



                                                   Click to Buy

5. Hanted House by Jade Summer. This easy to color book shows all the spooky rooms of a haunted house. Old fashioned Halloween fun!



                                            Click to Buy

With three spooky/witchy books and one straight up horror and a haunted house--how can you go wrong!

Each of the designers listed has more coloring books to buy--check them out!

Happy (very early) Halloween shopping everyone!

xo

What Coloring With One Graphite Pencil Taught Me

I was tired after Christmas, but not tired enough to fall asleep.

Watching TV is never enough for me on its own, so I either doodle, draw, write, or...you get the idea.

But I was determined to take the day off, so as I was watching The Sopranos then The OA, I picked up one of my own coloring books and a pencil.

At first it was a bit like doodling on a newspaper or magazine, and I had no predetermined outcome on my mind. I just wanted to relax.

Then I got into it.

Picture as seen in coloring book.

Colored with one Pentel GrapGear500 0.3 2B lead

The pencil is a mechanical is a GraphGear Pentel 500 with 2B 0.3 lead. You can buy it here: Pentel GraphGear 500 Automatic Drafting Pencil Brown (PG523E) 

The book is Coloring Dreams. It is printed by CreateSpace and has 14 one sided images. You can buy here:  Coloring Dreams: 8 x 10 Version with Borders

 I learned that using just one pencil is not only enough to color, it is super relaxing. (I found it to be even more relaxing than using colors, and can be just as striking.)

I learned to appreciate the images in a coloring book as art, and how to use shadows and light to make the image stand out, and even look beautiful.

I learned that 2B lead has a huge variation in depth of color, and that I love to use softer lead.

I also learned that if the lead is thin enough you can use a softer lead in a mechanical pencil and get a big variety of results.

I am not saying to get rid of your colored pencils, but maybe to give this a chance.

I loved it.

Gorgeous Garland Coloring Book and Gel Pen Giveaway!

Hi everybody!!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

I am celebrating by giving away my Gorgeous Garland Coloring book. It has 56 pages to color (14 image with three copies each), enough garland for a six foot Christmas tree.

Just color, cut, and create your own garland.

Watch the video and sign up below! Follow guidelines to qualify.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good luck!

An Invitation to Color Along and Mini Pumpkin Drawing Tutorial

Please join us tomorrow for a coloring tutorial and a mini fall tutorial. 

The demo will show how to draw and color a realistic pumpkin. If you have Penelope's Garden coloring book--great! We will be using a page from the book. But never fear--if you don't, just grab a black marker or pen and your favorite colored pencils because the first five minutes will show you how to draw a realistic pumpkin.

If you would like to download a page from the coloring book please click HERE and pop over to my Etsy shop.

If you would like to use the free color along page click HERE.

If you would like to buy the coloring book click HERE.

And if you would like to learn to draw the pumpkin at the start of the hour and use it to color just bring a black pen or marker, Sharpies are great, and get ready to draw!

CLICK HERE to join!

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Color on!

xo

Penelope's Garden Coloring Book Video Review

Thank you Jennifer Shaffer Art and Reviews for the lovely video review of PENELOPE'S GARDEN! Click below to watch.

Happy coloring everyone!

You can buy PENELOPE'S GARDEN right HERE

What is YOUR Coloring Personality?

This personality list was created by me for fun. I have NO credentials for creating personality tests, but I have been told it is accurate. 

Let's see if it is true for you too.

The Perfectionist: Everything you color is beautiful, but you are never happy with it. You like iced tea, coffee, or anything with caffeine. You may have every type of eraser known to man, but none of them work well enough for you. You love organizers and date books but never use them.

The Lone Ranger: You like to close out the world when you color. You may have a whole area or even a room dedicated just to coloring. Your taste in music ranges from a little bit country to a little bit rock and roll. You love scented candles.

The Over Indulger:  You might not stop for your cup of Starbucks, but it is very hard for you to pass up a great new coloring book, or pencil, or gel pen. You'll color in your pajamas, with the kids, alone, or with kitty on your lap. You are a bit afraid of spiders and kind of like it when you get the hiccups.

The Little at a Timer:  You think about coloring a LOT, but many times your find yourself finishing one leaf, a flower, or even just an outline. But that does not bother you a bit! It takes you a while to finish but the results are worth it. You like fuzzy slippers and a robe and would love a visit to the spa.

The Stalker:  You watch some of the coloring groups from afar but have never posted. You admire many of the pictures and feel a bit nervous about posting yourself. If you look carefully at your pictures you'll see you prefer cool colors with a pop of warmth. You love the holidays and always look forward to dessert.

The Picture Jumper: You have plenty of books, and you have started many pictures, but you have only finished a few. You are very excited to start, but soon see something new and can't wait to start on it, leaving your other picture half done. You love cookies and can't understand what all the fuss is about yoga. 

The Old Schooler:  You started coloring WAY before coloring was cool. You had the 64 color Crayola set of crayons when you were a kid, and possibly the scented markers. You may have even colored on Saturday mornings as you watched cartoons. You are addicted to pizza and wish it tasted like it did in the 70s.

The Librarian:  You may have dozens of books or only a few, but the ones you have are placed carefully on shelf or stacked where they are easy to view and accessible. You won't rip the pages out of the books to color even if it is much easier to color that way. You love cinnamon and have taken pictures of clouds or seashells.

The Combo: You are little bit of everything--or maybe none of the above! You can't be put into any of the above categories, and you might have a great love for animals and watching movies.

So tell me what category (or two) YOU fall into. 

Have fun! xo Dea

Buy my new best selling Halloween coloring book HERE.

Or and older one HERE.

PENELOPE'S GARDEN is a #1 Hot New Release on Amazon

Penelope's Garden is climbing the charts.

Jump aboard the slightly spooky, very cutie coloring train. Buy now! Penelope is a perfect Halloween present for the little ones.

Have fun and thank you!

CLICK HERE to buy!

ENJOY!! Happy Halloween!

PENELOPE'S GARDEN Coloring Book Is HERE!

Penelope the Witch is here in her first coloring book PENELOPE'S GARDEN.

Frolic through the pumpkin patch, help her water the nightshades, and count all the tiny mice in her enchanted garden. Don't forget to pet Midnight! xo 

CLICK HERE to buy on Amazon

CLICK HERE to buy from my website 

Enjoy!

Witches Brew Tea While You Color

Today as I set up my area to start another drawing, and realized that part of my drawing ritual involved tea. 

In the summer as I sit with the doors opened overlooking the cove I drink iced tea. But now there is a bite in the air and I find myself putting on the kettle.

As I waited for the water to boil I moistened the rim of the teacup and dipped it into a plate covered with brown sugar--kind of like an autumn margarita. Then I added spice to my cup of Afternoon Tea by Crabtree and Evelyn. Just a pinch of allspice, nutmeg, and cloves. I added a star anise and stirred with a cinnamon stick.

This nice warm tea was just what the doctor ordered on such a cold and blustery day. 

So grab your colored pencils and your favorite Halloween coloring book, or my new one if you like, PENELOPE'S GARDEN, and get to coloring with a nice warm cup of Witches Brew Tea.

Enjoy!

Here is a quickie video with instructions for delicious Witches Brew. If you make it tell me if you like!

xo

Coloring with Polychromos vs. Conte Pastel Pencils

Here is a video where I color one tomato with Faber Castell Polychromos pencils and one tomato with Conte pastel pencils.

I originally thought I would just do it for myself--then I figured, why not share!

Nothing fancy and far from perfect coloring technique--just a quickly. 

Interesting results!

xo

Here Comes Halloween and Penelope the Witch

Jack o'lanterns, ghosts and ghoulies, and things that go bump in the night! 

We are entering that delightfully shivery time of year when the days grow shorter and darker, and the veil between the worlds thins. The perfect time of year for Penelope the witch to make her debut!

Cute enough for even the most faint of heart, but still surrounded by pumpkins, bats, and even a Venus fly trap or two, this little witch may steal your heart.

Working diligently to get her done for you by October 1st so you can light your pumpkin scented candles and drink your Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte while you color.

Penelope picking Love Heart Daisies for a potion

 Please tell me if you like her, or if you can think of anything you would like to see growing in her midnight garden.

xo

Coloring Dreams SALE for ONE WEEK

COLORING DREAMS is on sale for one week at a discounted back to school price.

Save $4 and make your Coloring Dreams come true!

BUY from WEBSITE

 CLICK HERE for smaller framed 8 x 10 version

CLICK HERE for larger full page 81/2 x 11 version

Congratulations CORRINA LORRAINE! Winner of the Coloring Dreams Giveaway!

I am happy to announce the winner of the Coloring Dreams giveaway is CORRINA LORRAINE!

She will receive the first copy of Coloring Dreams, and a 24 set of Prismacolor pencils.

Please stay tuned! Coloring Dreams is the first book in The Coloring Club, where members receive a beautiful coloring book by artist Dea Lenihan delivered right to the front door, along with an art supply that is suited to the book of the month. 

So once again--CONGRATULATIONS CORRINA!

P.S. Please keep on eye on your email--everyone that entered is getting a small gift from me. 

xo Dea

Colorful April Giveaway ~ Five More Days!

Happy April!

I am happy to announce that the April giveaway is a kickoff to the new venture, Coloring Book of the Month Club. 

This first book is called Coloring Dreams and will be given with a set of 24 Prismacolor pencils.

Cover!

Prismacolor pencils are known for their vibrant and long lasting colors, and they are a favorite of many.

The details of the Coloring Book of the Month Club will be released in the near future. 

In the meantime enter the contest. The book will be released in early May. If you would like to be on the alert list please leave your name and email address below. 

Good luck!

xo

a Rafflecopter giveaway

March Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to Heather Demonteverde!

She is the winner of our Fancy March Giveaway. Now she will be able to light that delicious citrus pomegranate candle and draw to hear hearts content.

Stay tuned for April's giveaway ~ a lovely coloring book, drawn by ME, and pencil set!

Congrats again Heather!

xo