The start of a study of Durer's Madonna and various ramblings...

It occured to me that I haven't done a study in while, so I pulled out an image of Durer's Madonna.  In his image, there is also a child, but I decided to leave the baby out of my study.  I do like babies, but I don't usually like painting them!

Unfortunately with the death of my printer, this week has been more about researching printers and taking the plunge to get a new one than painting.  This is sketched in with just the barest hints of paint at this point.  The background may read as black, but in actuality it is a very dark brown.  Also, there's the section I accidently painted brown where I'd like it to be blue that I've repainted white so that when I take the cobalt blue out, it shouldn't be overpowered by the brown!

I have a lot of ideas right now about what I want to be painting, my focus is very split!  I'm trying to decide if I should push forward with so many projects at once.  Sometimes that works for me, but at other times my desire to paint everything all at once results in very little getting done on any of them...  It's hard to know if I should let my focus be split or try to force my focus into a more narrow beam...

In any case, even though there's very little painting as of yet on this little painting, it measures 5"x7", I'm still sharing it as the very beginning of a work in progress view.

I'm joining in this week with Paint Party Friday.  To see more participants, please visit:
http://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/

Wordless Wednesday: Sweet Duck (not a recipe!)

To see more Wordless Wednesday links, please visit: 

http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/ 

http://blog.aquariann.com/

http://www.create-with-joy.com/

This week, because it's a bird ;), I also get to participate in World Bird Wednesday

http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/

I took this photo at the Self Realization Center in Malibu, CA.  I tend to take a lot of photographs when I go places, but I'm surprised by how many of the ones I took there that I liked.  At the Center, they had a "quiet" section for the ducks, it was surrounded by plants and while you could peek in (quietly), I think the birds felt comfortable there.  In this photo, I was drawn to how the light was hitting that stretched out wing.   

Today is the final day to bid on Little Owl, my original barn owl painting here.  Unfortunately my fine art printer died, so I was forced to cancel my print auctions, but this original, no reserve, auction is still up!  I've ordered my new printer, I'm looking forward to giving it a try when it gets here...

Little Owl, my small barn owl original painting...

This week I completed this small barn owl painting.  It is an original acrylic painting on canvas panel.  I painted it to participate in the NFAC theme, Birds and Other Feathered Friends, on eBay.

It's here, all of the entries start at 99c, no reserve...

I haven't forgotten about my magnolia painting, but I didn't get a chance to work on it this week, hopefully next week.  I think I've figured out what it needs.

I'm joining in this week with Paint Party Friday.  To see more participants, please visit:
http://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/

Wordless Wednesday: The Princess and the Pea, but with cats...

To see more Wordless Wednesday links, please visit:
http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/
http://blog.aquariann.com/
http://www.create-with-joy.com/

A whimsical puppy, assorted art listings, and a new small original owl painting soon to come...

This is another older piece that I sold the original of at a show.  "Dreamer," the fairy dog napping peacefully on a sunflower has a touch of whimsy.  I haven't added it to my website yet, but I do have it up at eBay here.

Prints additionally listed this week are "Sunlight Sunbright" a vivid sunflower, "Violet Dreams" a Gothic blue angel loosely inspired by Da Vinci, "Red Red Rose" a deep burgundy rose bud, "The Gift" a mermaid with a present for her turtle friend, and "Gentle" my little brown bunny.  They're all here starting today and ending next Tuesday.

Tomorrow I'm going to list a small original owl painting to participate in NFAC, a monthly themed group of auctions that start on the 20th on eBay with a 99c start price.  I'll likely post the image and the link here on Thursday.

Except for images that I have yet to upload (which is getting to be quite a project that I should undertake soon), my art is also available on my website at http://www.lisarusso.com, however I like to sometimes offer some images on eBay at a lower promotional rate for the duration of the auctions!

Also, thank you for your votes, my next floral painting will be a Bird of Paradise!  I'm pretty excited, I haven't painted a Bird of Paradise before...

Artist Christopharo...

Art by Christopharo

I met Christopharo years ago through his brother, artist Alex Ledante, and I have been an admirer of his art; but, it is only recently that I have had the honor of seeing some of his most recent works firsthand.

Art by Christopharo

Christopharo has some of his traditional art up at Loft Beats in Pomona as part of a group show and has a solo showing of his 3d artwork in the foyer at Club 340.  The shows are running until the end of the month at least.

Artist Christopharo at Loft Beats

The art of Christopharo has a strong traditional foundation with an innovative edge.  Both his traditional art and his digital art sing with beauty.  

Art by Christopharo

With all of his contemporary flair, his art has a classic art nouveau quality that I am deeply drawn to.

Art by Christopharo

If you have the opportunity to see his 3d art with 3d glasses, it is well worth it; but, even without the glasses, his art is powerful and lovely.

Art by Christopharo

More of his exemplary art may be found on his website http://www.christopharo.com as well as on facebook.

Artist Christopharo at Club 340

I am linking this post with Inspire Me Monday and Magical Monday.

Closer to done...

This week I've made some serious progress on my white magnolia painting.  It is almost, almost, but not quite done.  I have some issues with the core that I want to work out, but I want to hide it from myself for a little while and look at it with fresh eyes next week.  Since I don't feel like looking too closely at that painting right now, I photographed it yesterday from a small distance.  

In this photo, you also get to see the basic layout of my studio.  And yes, you're seeing that correctly, that is a pumpkin in the other painting I'm working on...  Alas you see, I started that painting last October and did not finish on time for Halloween!  Actually it's still not finished now, but I have been working on her.  Since I took that photo yesterday, I've changed the color of her dress and am in the process of changing the pedestal, and once I've done that, she should be done.  However, from this point on, I will keep her under wraps until we get closer to October...

At this point, I'm feeling a little lost for direction.  I'm almost done with the white magnolia, but I can't decide what flower to paint next.  I just know I definitely feel like painting another flower!  Right now I am debating on a tulip, a calla lily, or a bird of paradise.  If you feel like it, please vote for one, or even suggest another!  If anyone votes, I'll compile the votes between my blog and facebook and announce the flower I'm to start on on Monday.  I may or may not use one of the images that I've compiled for my reference image, but I think those have potential.  Please help me to decide what comes next...  

I'm joining in this week with Paint Party Friday.  To see more participants, please visit:

http://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/

Wordless Wednesday: Windmill at the Self Realization Center in Malibu CA

To see more Wordless Wednesday links, please visit:
http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/
http://blog.aquariann.com/
http://www.create-with-joy.com/

A gray horse and assorted art listings...

This is another piece that I sold the original painting of a while back.  This gray horse amidst some yellow flowers print is titled "Turning."  I haven't added it to my website yet, but I do have it up at eBay here.

I think that I must be in a horsey mood as I also listed two other equine prints.  One is "Linked" and the other is "Together," both feature the same horses.  Additionally listed this week are "Reminders" a sailboat in San Pedro harbor, "Pink Ribbons" a pink rose, "Elegance" some pink saucer magnolia flowers, and "Soft Light" a mermaid fairy basking in the ocean depths.  They're all here starting today and ending next Tuesday.

Except for images that I have yet to upload (which reminds me that I should do some uploading :)), my art is also available on my website at http://www.lisarusso.com, however I like to sometimes offer some images on eBay at a lower promotional rate for the duration of the auctions!

Alice Rahon & Gerrie Gutmann from In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures of Women Artists at LACMA

I went to the LACMA show In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States.  Today I am sharing some images of art that moved me.  There were many other pieces in the show I intend to share, but today my focus will be on a handful of pieces by Alice Rahon and Gerrie Gutmann. 

When I go to an art exhibit, I wander through the show looking at the art and trying to absorb the impact it has in that present moment.  If they allow photographs, I snap a pic of the art and the placard next to it, but I don't usually spend a lot of time reading when I'm at the exhibit.  When I'm there, I want to be immersed in the art itself and less so the details of the artists themselves.  Obviously there are some artists I know more about when I go into a show than others, but I like to try to let the art speak for itself.  

However, when I come home and look through my images, I look at the information on the corresponding placards.  Sometimes I find I have more information on some artists then others.  That is the case with these two artists.

Alice Rahon, Balada para Frida Kahlo (Ballad for Frida Kahlo), 1956-66

Alice Rahon was born in France, 1904-1987, and was active in Mexico and in the United States.  Frida Kahlo and Alice Rahon met in 1939 in Paris and became friends.  Balada para Frida Kahlo is in homage to Frida Kahlo from Alice Rahon. To Frida Kahlo, the color cobalt blue meant "electricity, purity, and love." 

Alice Rahon, Orion Ballet: Juglar (Orion Ballet: Juggler), 1946

Concerned with the thought of the annihilation of the human race after World War II, Alice Rahon designed wire marionette characters.  These characters, such as the Juggler and the Androgyne, represent a cosmic ballet linked to the constellation Orion. Displayed in clear plastic cases scattered throughout the exhibit, her pieces seemed so full of movement to me. 

Alice Rahon, Orion Ballet: L'Androgyne (Orion Ballet: The Androgyne), 1946

All that I know of Gerrie Gutmann, 1921-1969, was that she was born in the United States.  I love her delicate line art and I am intrigued with the details in her art.  Her Self-Portrait is colored pencil on paper and her Torso Interior is colored crayon on board.

Gerrie Gutmann, Self-Portrait, 1946

Gerrie Gutmann, Torso Interior, 1946

I am linking this post with Inspire Me Monday and Magical Monday.

Work in Progress White Magnolia Painting, wip 3

Amidst some of my finished florals, I found this in progress painting hiding.  I haven't done that much to it this week, but I did make some progress!  It's been a very long time since this unfinished white magnolia painting was hidden amongst the finished ones!

I'm joining in this week with Paint Party Friday.  To see more participants, please visit:
http://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/

Wordless Wednesday: Cruise Dog, Lowest Maintenance Dog Ever...

To see more Wordless Wednesday links, please visit:
http://blog.aquariann.com/
http://www.create-with-joy.com/

A bearded purple iris and assorted art listings...

I twisted my arm and put up some listings for this week...  I sold the original of this purple bearded iris titled "Standing Tall" some time ago at a show and rediscovered it recently amongst my image files.  I haven't added it to my website yet, but I do have it up at eBay here.

As it is not a standard size, I've also offered it cropped as a 5"x7."  Additionally listed this week are "CA Coast" a painting inspired by Point Dume in Zuma Beach, "Deep in Thought" a pensive blue angel, "Gossamer Moon" a crescent moon winged fairy, "White Lily" a delicate flower, and "Lost and Found" a Greek goddess Hera inspired painting.  They're all here starting today and ending next Tuesday.

Except for images that I have yet to upload, my art is also available on my website, however I like to sometimes offer some images on eBay at a lower promotional rate for the duration of the auctions!

Lilacs in the Descanso Lilac Grove at Descanso Gardens, La Canada, California

The most recent time I visited Descanso Gardens in La Canada, the lilacs were in full bloom.  They had some available in the gift shop, but the plants grow quite large, so they would not fit in my garden.  I did enjoy their beauty and their fragrant aroma while I was there.  

Apparently Southern California is warm for some lilacs.  Dr. Walter Lammerts, a UCLA plant biologist, developed some lilacs for our comparatively warm winters in the 1940s. In 1945 Descanso founder E. Manchester Boddy hired Dr. Walter Lammerts to continue his research.

These beauties are but a small sampling of the diversity of lilacs at the Descanso Lilac Grove.  They say there are 500 plants and 170 varieties!

I am linking this post with Inspire Me Monday and Magical Monday.