Hippity Hoppitus Bunny Rabbit Sketch...

This bunny rabbit would like to wish you a happy Easter if you celebrate Easter or a happy Spring if you do not!

To view more Sunday Sketches, please visit:
http://www.bluechairdiaryillustrations.com/

A Continuation of Progress on My Peace Lilies...

I spent some time this week working on my peace lily flower painting.  I think it's fairly close to being done now, but I may be speaking too soon, sometimes issues arrive in what I think might be the final moments when I'm actually nowhere near there...  I intend to play with the stamens a little bit and well, of course, paint the stems.  There are also some transitions that I may soften or leave as is, but that depends on the feel after I've addressed the stems and the stamens...

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

California Poppies Flower Photograph...

On Wednesdays, when I get a chance, I like to share a photo that I've taken.  This photograph was taken outside of Descanso Gardens.  It is of some California poppies (Eschscholzia Californica).  This poppy is our state flower in California, it can be seen popping up all around in the spring and summer months.  I have yet to paint one, but it is definitely on my list...

Although I'm somewhat Wordy, I am participating in Wordless Wednesday.  To see more Wordless Wednesday links, please visit:
http://blog.aquariann.com/
http://www.create-with-joy.com/

An Original Pink Saucer Magnolia Flower Painting, Two Hummingbird Sunflower Art Prints, & More!

My featured print auction for the week is on eBay here.  It is titled "Emerald" and is of a hummingbird and sunflowers.  I have additional art prints here, they're based on my original paintings and are starting today and ending next Tuesday.

This week, I also have listed "Violet" another hummingbird amidst sunflowers, "Azure Haired Beauty" a blue gothic angel fairy,  "CA Coast" a view of Point Dume in Zuma Beach, and "Drowning" a self portrait.

Most of my art is also available on my website at http://www.lisarusso.com; however, I like to offer some art on eBay at a lower promotional start rate for the duration of the auctions!

I'm also listing this original painting here and the print is here.  The title is "Elegance" and it is of pink saucer magnolia flowers...

If you miss this seven day auction, this painting also lives on my website here.

Thus far this week, I have been headache plagued and have done very little, I am hoping the rest of the week will be more productive...  I have a couple of ideas, but nothing new on canvas yet.  I'm also hoping to do a bit of work on my peace lilies painting...

A Pair of Work in Progress Views of Little Bo Peep & An Abstract Painting

Most of my painting time this week went to finishing my Little Bo Peep painting for Nibblefest, this is a work in progress sketch I did not get a chance to post.  If you'd like to see her completed, she's on ebay here, or she's also a post down and there's a work in progress sketch below that.  The painting is a 5"x7" acrylic painting on canvas panel.

I also worked on this abstract painting a little bit.  This is layer one, there are sections I like, but I intend to paint over it in additional layers until I feel like I'm done.  I used to do abstracts quite often, but I have to be in the mood to paint them, and I really haven't felt like it for a very long time.  I'm not sure when I'll next feel the urge to work on this one, but this is where it's at right now.  It's an 18"x24" acrylic painting on canvas.  Quite a bit different from what I generally paint these days, but a lot of fun to work on!

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

http://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/

Little Bo Peep Has Lost Her Sheep Original Art Painting...

Here she is!  Little Bo Peep in search of her sheep...  She is on ebay here, I was inspired by the Nibblefest theme of nursery rhymes.  This original painting is 5"x7" and is acrylic on canvas panel.  To see additional Nibblefest entries by other artists, search NFAC on ebay, they begin on the 20th and will be running until the 27th and they all start at 99c no reserve!

Little Bo-Peep has lost her sheep, 

And can't tell where to find them; 

Leave them alone, And they'll come home, 

Wagging their tails behind them.

New arrivals may pop up as 5 day or 3 day auctions, but they'll all end on the 27th, I just barely finished this on time to have her start today...

An Original Snow White Painting, Gentle Bunny Art Print, & More!

My featured print auction for the week is on eBay here.  It is titled "Gentle" and is of a sweet brown bunny rabbit.  I have additional art prints here, they're based on my original paintings and are starting today and ending next Tuesday.

This week, I have listed "Alegria" a pink rose and rose bud, "Cleo" a gothic angel fairy, and "Connected" a pink tulip offered in both a square and a rectangular format.

Most of my art is also available on my website at http://www.lisarusso.com; however, I like to offer some art on eBay at a lower promotional start rate for the duration of the auctions!

I'm also listing this original fairytale painting here and the print is here.  The title is "Apple of My Eye" and is of Snow White and a princess friendly apple tree...

I'm still working on my Little Bo Peep painting, I think it's possible I'll finish her on time!  Not quite done yet though...

Edit:  I am linking this with Kristin's wonderful bunny hop, please click here to hop on over and visit more bunnies!  Also, I finished Little Bo Peep, she's on ebay here, if you'd like to take a look...

Little Bo Peep Work in Progress Image...

Here's a work in progress image of my Little Bo Peep painting.  It's where I was at this morning.  Now she has a full head of hair, but I didn't want to stick her on the scanner in case anything is wet...  I still have quite a ways to go on her though!

Little Bo Peep Sketch for Nibblefest...

This sketch is the start of my Nibblefest entry.  The theme this month is nursery rhymes.  I chose Little Bo Peep.  This is actually a composite of more than one sketch put together in Photoshop.  Alex taught me how to use multiply, a layer feature, and it enables me to play around with various compositions and layouts quite handily.  I've started on the painting, but as usual, I am doubtful if I will finish it on time.  The weather is warm here, so things dry really quickly with the acrylics that I'm using, so it's possible, but if I don't finish it in time for a 7 day listing, there's always a 5 or 3 day listing...  One of these months, I am going to get this done well in advance, although I told myself that last time...

To view more Sunday Sketches, please visit:
http://www.bluechairdiaryillustrations.com/

California Native Plant, Bob's Big Bonanza Iris Flower Photograph...

On Wednesdays, when I get a chance, I like to share a photo that I've taken.  This photograph was taken in our yard, I bought this plant at the Theodore Payne Foundation.  If you're interested in CA native plants in addition to their location in Sun Valley, their website is at http://www.theodorepayne.org.  I want for there to be some California native plants in our yard.  I'm not going to uproot any of the plants that are already here, but I would like to add to the mix.  This is an iris flower that they've named Bob's Big Bonanza Iris...

Although I'm somewhat Wordy, I am participating in Wordless Wednesday.  To see more Wordless Wednesday links, please visit:
http://blog.aquariann.com/
http://www.create-with-joy.com/

An Original Egyptian Fairy Painting, Vivid Stargazer Lily Art Print, & More!

My featured print auction for the week is on eBay here.  It is titled "Vivid" and is of a stargazer lily.  I have additional art prints here, they're based on my original paintings and are starting today and ending next Tuesday.

Edit:  I forgot to mention that the original painting of my stargazer lily is on my website here.

This week, I have listed "Hiccup" a young dragon, "Tulip" a yellow and red tulip, "To Fly or Not to Fly" a fairy kitten, and "Timeless Beauty" a white iris.

Most of my art is also available on my website at http://www.lisarusso.com; however, I like to offer some art on eBay at a lower promotional start rate for the duration of the auctions!

I'm also listing this original fairy painting here and the print is here.  The title is "Blood of the Nile" and features a copper hued gothic Egyptian beauty wearing a golden ankh.

I went to the Theodore Payne Foundation, a plant nursery that sells native California plants, and bought some flowers that are said to attract hummingbirds, birds, and/or butterflies...  Most of them are very young plants and won't bloom for a while, but one of them is already in bloom.  If I get a chance, I'll share a photo of that one tomorrow.  I don't have much of a green thumb, so we'll see how it goes.  I wanted to buy much more, but it isn't a very big yard...

Vincent van Gogh Self Portrait and Ann Hoenigswald's "Dear Theo, Thank You for the Paints"

I attented a lecture titled "Dear Theo, Thank you for the paints - van Gogh's choice of materials and some unforseen changes" by Ann Hoenigswald at the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena.  The Vincent van Gogh self portrait was on loan from the National Gallery of Art, Washington.  This is part one of a two part post based on that lecture.  This one is focused primarily on the painting that was on loan, in the second one, I intend to share some photographs I took of his works that are part of the permanent collection at the Norton Simon.

Vincent van Gogh Banner

Vincent van Gogh started off doing drawings and then moved on to paintings.  He did over 1000 drawings, over 1000 letters, and almost 1000 paintings.  These numbers are even more impressive when taken into consideration that he was only painting between 1882 to 1890.

One Side of a Letter

 Van Gogh wrote fluently in Dutch, English, and French.  He also spoke some German.  He would often sketch within his letters about paintings he was working on.  These letters are available to the public at http://vangoghletters.org.  He wrote frequent and detailed letters to his brother Theo about supplies that he wanted for his art.

Line for the Lecture

He considered his art to be primarily about colors.  Sometimes, due to the costly nature of certain colors, he would use colors he called "the maligned colors" and although he knew they would change with time and he would "lay them in more crudely" as "time will tone them down only too much," it is unlikely that he could have known how much his colors would change.

Vincent van Gogh Self Portrait 1889

Upon looking at this self portrait very carefully, it was seen that the edges of the painting which were preserved under the frame, were in fact a hue of purple.  This self portait was not intended to be a blue background, it was intended to be purple.  I've adjusted it in photoshop to show it as it was shown to me at the lecture.

Vincent van Gogh Self Portrait Adjusted to be More Like Intended Colors

 There were also other areas that changed, for example, where there is only a line in the lips, there once was shading.  This self portrait by van Gogh was one of two that he painted at the same time due to a lack of models while in a self imposed stay at the hospital following a nervous breakdown.  He painted the paintings to prove to himself and to his doctor that he was ready to be released.  The other one was in softer hues.  He said that there was nothing wrong with the other one, but this one resembled him more.

Vincent van Gogh Self Portrait Close Up One

His brother described van Gogh's colors as "carnivalesque."  Ann Hoenigswald said that while van Gogh considered his work to be almost exclusively about color, he was selling himself short and I very much agree that there's much more to his work than his color choices.  His colors have changed, but the power of his brushstrokes and textures draw me in and are awe inspiring to look at.

Vincent van Gogh Self Portrait Close Up Two

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

Cute Orange Fish Trying to Swim Under a Bridge...

On Wednesdays, when I get a chance, I like to share a photo that I've taken.  This photograph was taken at Gui Lin, a very good Chinese restaurant, in Monterey Park.  They have some fish and this little guy was trying to see if he could fit under the bridge...

Although I'm somewhat Wordy, I am participating in Wordless Wednesday.  To see more Wordless Wednesday links, please visit:
http://blog.aquariann.com/
http://www.create-with-joy.com/

A White Bunny Rabbit Original Painting, a Calla Lily Print, & More...

My featured print auction for the week is on eBay here.  It is titled "Stars of the Day" and is of a vibrant calla lily burning bright.  I have additional art prints here, they're based on my original paintings and are starting today and ending next Tuesday.

This week, I have listed "Gentle" a brown bunny rabbit, "Windswept" an abstract angel, "Joyous Duet" an anthurium duet, and "Leda and the Swan" a gothic lolita angel loosely inspired by Leonardo da Vinci.  

Most of my art is also available on my website at http://www.lisarusso.com; however, I like to offer some art on eBay at a lower promotional start rate for the duration of the auctions!

I'm also listing this original rabbit painting here and the print is here.  The title is "Snowy Bunny" and while this white hare is quite comfortable in the winter snow, the bunny could also be welcoming the start of spring.

I did go to see the Van Gogh portrait that was on loan to the Norton Simon, but I haven't had a chance yet to put together my thoughts and images from the visit. I am hoping to have that post up by Monday, but I have a tendency to get distracted at times...

Edit:  I do very much get distracted, I meant to link this up to Aquariann's fabulous bunny hop here quite some time ago, but well, distractions...  Also, this original painting may now be found on my website here.

A Bit More Progress on My Peace Lilies...

I've done a little more on my peace lily painting.  Here's a work in progress picture.  This is just a rough block in.  I love working on one layer at times, but I can rarely call my pieces alla prima, because I tend to go back in and revisit areas.  Acrylics dry so quickly, I can't always get what I'm looking for in one layer.  There are areas I may keep, but we'll see how it goes.

I decided to shift my visit to the Norton Simon from Friday to Saturday because I think the Vincent van Gogh lecture on Saturday might be more interesting.  They're going to share some information from his letters to his brother about his art.

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