Mixed-media artist Jeannine Chappell has dabbled in art for decades. Her style and creativity have evolved over the years as her art has, too, but her use of digital effects is what separates her work from the rest.

“I like challenges,” Chappell said.

Her solo show at the Sequim Museum and Arts Center “Owls and Others” on exhibit through July 28 showcases her work combining traditional sketching and watercolor techniques with Photoshop where she adds layers to create a detailed and vibrant piece with hints of abstract elements.

“The thing I love the most is composition,” Chappell said.

“(Photoshop) allows me to expand what I would be able to do on paper.”

Chappell has been an artist since her early 20s, she said, and while she took art classes in her junior college she is mostly self-taught. It wasn’t until her husband suggested she tried using Photoshop with her artwork when she finally tried the computer application and has used it ever since. Her artwork has been on exhibit in the Bay Area in California and now at the Blue Whole Gallery as well as Sequim Museum and Arts.

An artist reception will be held for First Friday from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, July 6, and an artist discussion where she will talk about her art and process at noon on Saturday, July 7, at Sequim Museum and Arts, 175 W. Cedar St.

Chappell said she enjoys challenging her work with different compositions from creating horizontal pieces to long, vertical pieces. Her work also has been adapted into books, hanging art and into a calendar.

While Chappell has found a niche combining traditional and digital art, she also has a unique subject matter revolving around owls, cranes and other animals.

“I find (owls) to be fascinating subjects,” Chappell said.

She believes owls are beautiful, powerful and mysterious animals that she has been photographing and creating artwork around for 10 years. She also has visited rescue centers to take photographs of owls where she usually draws inspiration from for her artwork.

One of her favorite pieces, “Barn Owl 12” was a photo taken of an owl named “Wookie” at a rescue center in Marin County, Calif. She said sometimes she takes “artistic license” with her artwork, such as in this piece where she expands her creativity through Photoshop capabilities.

While art has always been a passion Chappell has pursued on the side, she had a career in architectural design where much of her creativity has transferred over from. Art also has served as a form of therapy in her life after her son died when he was hit by a drunk driver in Oakland seven years ago.

She illustrated the book “This Has Happened” with poetry written by David Brehmer, her son’s friend and survivor of the crash who was with him in the car the night they were hit.

“I wanted to emphasize the healing power of art,” Chappell said.

The book illustrates what Chappell experienced after her son’s death and Brehmer’s poetry expresses his thoughts and images after the wreck. Months later, the two combined their works into this book that is a collection of two separate, but parallel responses to the same situation.

Chappell and her husband moved to Sequim last year from the Bay Area in California and have been a part of the Sequim community since.

To learn more about Jeannine Chappell, visit www.jeanninechappell.com/.

Much of Jeannine Chappell’s artwork takes inspiration from photos she’s taken of barn owls, such as this one named “Wookie” from a rescue center in California. Submitted photo

Jeannine Chappell said one of her favorite aspects of art is creating composition in each piece, using both traditional sketching and watercolor techniques with Photoshop application. Submitted photo