Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Wordless Wednesday: Oreo the Cat Playing Intently


This is Oreo.  When his person is out of town, I feed him, pet him, and play with him a bit.  All cats have different temperaments, but this one just loves company and playing so very much!  He'll usually pay no attention to his food until he's had a solid dose of attention paid to him...

Although as usual, I'm clearly more Wordy than Wordless today, I am participating in Wordless Wednesday.  To see more Wordless Wednesday links, please visit:
http://www.wordlesswednesday.com/newhome/
http://blog.aquariann.com/
http://www.create-with-joy.com/

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

A Cat Print and Various Listings, Including an Original!


My featured print auction for the week is on eBay here.  It is of a brown and creme cat and is titled "Waiting for You."

Additional artwork prints that I have listed are "To Fly or Not to Fly" a fairy kitten, "Gossamer Moon" a blue and violet gothic fae, "Twirls and Curls" a blue eyed blue haired mermaid and two fish friends, and "Seven" a blue angel fairy.  They're all based on my original paintings and may be found here starting today and ending next Tuesday.

I also have an original cat painting up!  My Nibblefest entry, a grey and white kitten will be up until Thursday.  My "Kawaii Neko" is here.

Except for images that I have yet to upload, 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!

Monday, September 24, 2012

A Section of the Berlin Wall in Los Angeles...

This is something I never expected to see...  Across from LACMA, there were segments of the Berlin Wall.  It was an installation by The Wende Museum.  When I went it was at 5900 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles, CA; however, I'm not very familiar with that museum or if they have additional locations that they display their pieces at.  If you're inclined to go in person, I would check their webpage at http://www.wendemuseum.org to be sure of where it is.

Front Sections of the Berlin Wall

This is the placard they had on the front section of the wall:
"The Wall Project
Presented by The Wende Museum

The Wall Along Wilshire features ten sections of the original Berlin Wall.  Measuring nearly forty feet wide, it is the world's longest stretch of the Wall outside of Germany.  The Wall Along Wilshire was assembled in 2009 as a component of The Wall Project, the Museum's public art initiative commemerating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.  The Wende Museum invited L.A. based artists Kent Twitchell, Farrah Karapetian, and Marie Astrid Gonzalez to participate in the project and paired them with French-born, Berlin based muralist Thierry Noir who was one of the first artists to paint on the Berlin Wall in 1984.  Through their participation, the installation recalls the outdoor "Eastside Gallery" in Berlin, made famous by the international artists whose collective intervention transformed the Berlin Wall into a canvas reflecting real and imagined divisions.  The last four segments contain original graffiti from Cold War era Berlin, including an iconic image of Bimer's green bear.  The Wall Along Wilshire is part of the Wende Museum's permanent collection."


Detail of front sections of the Berlin Wall

This is the placard they had on the back section of the wall:
"Behind the Wall
Presented by the Wende Museum

As part of the Wende Museum's Surveillance Project, Behind the Wall brings together street artists from Los Angeles, London, and Berlin to interpret the role of surveillance in our lives from the Cold War until today.  From left to right, the murals by Herakut, Retna, and D*Face, cover nine segments belonging to the "east side" of the original Berlin Wall - the side that faced the East German death strip and was never painted.  In order to preserve the segments and to prevent moisture from rusting the WAll's inner skeleton, a special water-resistant primer has been applied and the artists' paints provide an additional layer of protective coating.  With continued care, The Wende Museum's Berlin Wall segments will remain a historical and vibrant outdoor canvas that connects contemporary issues with significat historical events that impacted the globe - the East German peaceful revolution, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the end of the Cold War."

Back sections of the Berlin Wall

Detail of back sections of the Berlin Wall

It was really something to see this piece of history in person.
I am linking this post with Inspire Me Monday

Friday, September 21, 2012

A Small Kitten Original Painting and My Desk Configuration...



This week I finished this small grey and white kitten painting for Nibblefest and it's on eBay here.  The theme is cats.  It's an original 5"x7" acrylic painting on canvas panel and it is titled "Kawaii Neko."



I was feeling a bit off, not having painted for a while, so I configured my desk for painting sitting down.  It isn't an optimal set up because if I needed paints that weren't in my pallete, I had to go and get them.  Fortunately my foot is much better then it was.  I am cautiously optimistic that by next week I should be able to paint standing up again, at least for some amount of time.

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

Monday, September 17, 2012

Levitated Mass at LACMA by artist Michael Heizer



A while back I went to LACMA to renew my membership.  I remembered reading about the transportation of the 340-ton granite megalith to LACMA.  It has been installed there for quite some time, but I hadn't taken the time to go and see it in person.


Since I was there, I decided to take a look.  Titled "Levitated Mass" by artist Michael Heizer, the giant boulder is installed on a 456-foot-long slot and surrounded by flat earth.  The slot inclines down fifteen feet deep, using negative form for impact in the experience.  



It was certainly impressive and inspiring in its own way.  It is located on the Resnick North Lawn and no admission ticket is required.  The piece is part of their permanent collection.



I am linking this post with Inspire Me Monday
http://www.create-with-joy.com/

Thursday, September 13, 2012

A White Lily Flower and Various Other Prints...



My featured print auction for the week is on eBay here.  It is a white stargazer lily set against a soft blue sky.

Additional artwork prints that I have listed are "Violet Dreams" a blue angel, "Gentle" a brown bunny rabbit, "Azure Haired Beauty" a blue fairy, and "Turning" a grey/gray horse.  They're all based on my original paintings and may be found here starting today and ending next Thursday.

Except for images that I have yet to upload, 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!

I'm going a wee bit nuts with my foot not being completely mended yet, but I suppose I should just look at it as being a work in progress...

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Wordless Wednesday: White Day Lily Flower



This white daylily flower was part of a birthday bouquet given to my mother.  I love lilies, they make such excellent models!

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

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

True Heroes Art Benefit Show at the EVE Gallery

Yesterday I went through my photos from the show trying to decide which to use and what to say about the show.  When it came to the words, I found myself at a loss.  This show was to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation to fund treatment and research.  I still can't find the words.  I was so moved by the generousity of spirit and caring of everyone involved with this.  Usually I write more, but this time I will mostly let the pictures speak for themselves.

The True Heroes

Wonder Woman by Lisa Isabella Russo (me :) )

A view of one of the walls just jam packed with art!

One of my all time favorite heroes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Alex Ledante

Candy-O by Grasiela Rodriguez

Artist Rafael Navarro doing art in person at the show for the benefit!

Super Marilyn donated by Christopharo

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Original donated by Stan Sakai

I'm a bit late, but I'm linking this with Inspire Me Monday


Thursday, September 6, 2012

A Sketch of a Fawn...



I think this little fawn is trying to nap, tucked into a little baby deer ball...  It's been a while since I've posted one of my sketches, so I decided to post this one.

Thanks for all of the concern about my foot.  It is improving, thank you.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Wordless Wednesday: Glowing Swan



I took this photo at the Self Realization Center in Malibu, CA.  In this photo, this swan is being touched by the light in such a way that it seems like it's glowing.

To see more Wordless Wednesday links, please visit: 

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

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

A Mermaid, a Super Hero, and a Handful More Prints!



My featured print auction for the week is on eBay here.  This little mermaid with long flowing purple hair has a gift for her sea turtle friend!

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, so I have decided to list a print of "Strength and Beauty" my Wonder Woman inspired piece here.  I donated the original to the EVE Gallery for a show to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Association on Saturday September 8th.  Additional information about the event is here:  https://www.facebook.com/events/475576692452562/.  I've also decided that a percentage of prints sold from this image will go to benefit organizations dedicated to helping with childhood cancer treatment and research.

Additional artwork prints that I have listed are "Pink Ribbons" a pink rose, "Zen Water Lily" a pink and yellow water lily, and "Crossings" San Pedro CA sailboat 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 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!

I am also participating in aquariann's mermaid blog hop here, please stop by and visit for more lovely denizens of the ocean!

Monday, September 3, 2012

Ghost Night at the EVE Gallery


Lisa Isabella Russo (mine! :) )

In China, the seventh lunar month is called "Ghost Month."  "Ghost Day" is on the 15th day of that month.  It is thought that our realm and the realm of ghosts have a barrier that is not in effect on that day and ghosts may come to visit.

GHOULA was there...

It is a day of celebration.  In honor of the spirit of that day, on Saturday September 1st, the EVE Gallery and GHOULA hosted Ghost Night.

Alex Ledante

GHOULA is an acronym for Ghost Hunters of Urban Los Angeles.  They're a group that meets on the 13th of every month at establishments reputed to be haunted to celebrate the local ghostly lore in addition to other events.

Alex Ledante

At the last minute, I submitted a print for the show.  I didn't mention it in advance because I wasn't sure if my art was ghostly enough to fit the theme, but I brought it anyway since I was submitting my Wonder Woman piece for their charity event next weekend.  I was thrilled when I went in to see it up on their walls.

Thom Bossard

The gallery was filled with people who came to see the art and share and listen to ghost stories.  This is but a small sampling of the artwork that was there.  The art was quite varied, some of it quite chill inspiring indeed!  It was a splendid evening.

Thom Bossard, topmost piece


I am linking this post with Inspire Me Monday
http://www.create-with-joy.com/


Grasiela Rodriguez, long piece on the left right next to my small print plus additional pieces that I neglected to note the artist's name....

In other notes, I managed to trip over my own foot and sprain it Saturday night...  I had a full painting week planned, but since I paint standing at an easel, definitely not today!  It is starting to feel better though, so I am hopeful for later in the week.