Happy Halloween 2013 & Cardinal Bird Work in Progress...

This year I didn't do much in the way of decorating, but I did go to Marceline's Confectionery at Downtown Disney.  They had all sorts of delectable Halloween treats!  I hope you'll enjoy my pictures of them and that your Halloween is filled with lots of wonderful treats!

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A little birdie told me it was possible to do an entire painting entirely without blue...  I'm skeptical, but we shall see.  Here a work in progress view of a cardinal bird that I am painting.

Work in Progress, Iris Fairy Maiden Almost Complete...

Here is a work in progress view of my fairy flower maiden "Iris Dream."  At this point I am almost done with her, I still need to paint some of her petals and also paint her top, but I am very close to being finished...

An Original Painting of a Gothic Egyptian Fairy, a Blue Fairy Angel Art Print, & ACEOs!

"Blood of the Nile" Original 10"x10" painting on canvas here

8"x10" print here

ACEO 2.5"x3.5" Limited Edition LE 1st of 25 here

This week I am listing "Blood of the Nile" my original gothic big eye fantasy Egyptian fairy painting.  I also have additional giclee art prints here.

My newest mermaid painting is waiting not so patiently for me to get my act together and get her listing details up, but the time escaped me once more this week... 

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... 

"Azure Haired Beauty" Original SOLD

ACEO 2.5"x3.5" Limited Edition LE 1st of 25 here

5"x7" print here

My featured print for the week is "Azure Haired Beauty," a blue gothic fairy angel.  

I also have additional giclee art prints on ebay here.  There are angels, fairies, a bull mastiff dog, a bunny, a calla lily, and a magnolia flower.

Halloween is just around the corner!  I love Halloween...

Janet Sobel & Helen Lundeberg: Surrealist Artists from In Wonderland at LACMA + Iris Fairy Maiden WIP

A while back, I went to the LACMA show In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States.  Here is a piece by Janet Sobel and two pieces by Helen Lundeberg.  "The Burning Bush" by Janet Sobel was interesting to me, one of her techniques was blowing air bubbles into some of the strands of paint, I've also shown a close up view.  There are lots of hidden faces withing the painting.  I was also fascinated with Helen Lundeberg's pieces, both are self portraits.  In the one with her as a child, the tall shadow is hers as an adult.

Janet Sobel, The Burning Bush

Janet Sobel, The Burning Bush Close Up

Helen Lundeberg, Self-Portrait (with Landscape)

Helen Lundeberg, Double Portrait of the Artist in Time

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

Here is a work in progress view of my flower fairy maiden painting "Iris Dream."  I've done some of the bigger petals now, I think it is starting to come together.

Clownfish in Waiting Sketch...

Here is a sketch of two clownfish.  I haven't decided yet if I'll give my next mermaid seahorse or clownfish friends.  It depends on what works best in the composition.  I've sketched some clownfish and I have some seahorses sketched to use to see what works best when I scan the sketch of the mermaid in.


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

Work in Progress, Iris Fairy Maiden's Hair Revisited...

Here is a work in progress view of my fairy flower maiden "Iris Dream."  I wasn't quite sure about having her hair blonde, I decided to try a different color.  I feel that this light pink is a better fit for how I envision the rest of the painting...

Work in Progress Continues on Iris Fairy Maiden Painting...

Here is another work in progress view of my iris fairy maiden "Iris Dream."  I've started on some of the flower petals now.  Irises are one of my favorite flowers, this one has a combination of peach and pink hues...


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

Work in Progress, Iris Fairy Maiden's Hair...

Here is a work in progress view of my fairy flower maiden "Iris Dream."  I've painted her hair here, but I'm not sure about the color, I'm going to start work on the flower and see what I think...

Work in Progress Continued on Iris Fairy Maiden...

Here is a work in progress view of my fairy flower maiden "Iris Dream."  I've painted her lips, somewhere between a smile and a pout...

An Original Painting of a Mermaid & Her Sea Turtle Friend, a Barn Owl Art Print, & ACEOs!

"The Gift" Original 5"x7" painting on canvas panel here

5"x7" print here

ACEO 2.5"x3.5" Limited Edition LE 1st of 25 here

This week I am listing "The Gift" my original gothic big eye fantasy mermaid painting.  I also have additional giclee art prints here.  There are two additional mermaid prints nestled amongst the other prints.

I wanted to list my new mermaid, but she isn't quite ready for listing; however, I was still in a mermaid mood...

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...

"Little Owl" Original SOLD

ACEO 2.5"x3.5" Limited Edition LE 1st of 25 here

ACEO NFAC Auction Starts at 99c NR!

5"x7" print here

My featured print for the week is "Little Owl," a small barn owl.  I realize I featured him recently, but I've decided to list him for Nibblefest's theme of Owls starting at 99c NR!  This week is my first time offering ACEO Limited Edition Prints and "Little Owl" is the 1st printing.

 I also have additional giclee art prints here.  There are mermaids, angels, fairies, and flowers.

Sylvia Fein & Leonora Carrington: Surrealist Artists from In Wonderland at LACMA + Mermaid WIP

A while back, I went to the LACMA show In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States.  Here are some pieces by Sylvia Fein and Leonora Carrington.  The first piece, Muchacha de Ajijic (Girl of Ajijic) by Sylvia Fein was one of my favorites from the show.  I was also greatly drawn to Green Tea (La dame ovale) by Leonora Carrington.  There are so many wonderful details in that painting.

Sylvia Fein, Muchacha de Ajijic (Girl of Ajijic)

Sylvia Fein, The Lady Magician

Leonora Carrington, Green Tea (La dame ovale)

Leonora Carrington, Green Tea (La dame ovale) Close Up

Leonora Carrington, Fina mosca (Delicate Fly)

Leonora Carrington, Self Portrait

I am linking this post with Inspire Me Monday

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

Here is a work in progress view of my mermaid painting "Looking In."  I'm almost finished with her.  I hope to have her done by tomorrow, but there's a little more shading that I'd like to do.

Fairy Angel and a Cat Sketch...

Here is a sketch of a fairy angel with a cat.  On a separate sketch I'm working on her face and plan to merge the two in photoshop, but I'm not happy with her face yet.  I also haven't decided what size I want this painting to be.  I've been wanting to do this idea for a while, but there's a lot that's still up in the air with this concept.  


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

Continued Work in Progress on Iris Fairy Maiden...

Here is a work in progress view of my fairy flower maiden "Iris Dream."  I've done a bit more shading and also her eyebrows and eyelashes.  I wanted to also get her lips done in this session, but I don't want to rush them, so they will wait for another day...

Work in Progress on Iris Fairy Maiden Painting...

Here is another work in progress view of my iris fairy maiden "Iris Dream."  Acrylics dry so quickly that I tend to work one section at a time so that I can do some blending.  Sometimes I do come back though as the painting gets further along to add more. 

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

Work in Progress on Iris Fairy Maiden's Eyes Painting...

Here is a work in progress view of my fairy flower maiden "Iris Dream."  I've painted her eyes.  I like to paint the eyes fairly early on because I feel like it helps me to focus...

Work in Progress on Iris Fairy Maiden Painting...

Here is a work in progress view of my fairy flower maiden "Iris Dream."  I think the next thing I will paint will be her eyes...

An Original Painting of a Fairy & Her Fox Squirrel Friend, a White Lily Art Print, & More Prints!

My featured print auction for the week is on ebay here.  It is titled "White Lily" and is of a white lily.  I also have additional giclee art prints here.

They're all based on my original paintings and are starting today and ending next Tuesday.  This week I've selected angel fairies, flowers, and a lucky still life.

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 listing this original painting here and the print of it is here.  The title is "More Than One Way to Fly" and it is of a big eye fairy and her fox squirrel friend who have just missed their hot air balloon...

I am very excited about Halloween coming up!  I love costumes and sweets, so Halloween is one of my favorite holidays!  I didn't get a chance to do a painting specifically for Halloween this year, I had some other deadlines and I'm sometimes not fast enough to get everything done that I want to get done.  I am in the sketching stage for a fall painting though...

Julia Thecla, Lee Miller, Bona, Jeanne Reynal, & Louise Nevelson: Surrealist Artists from In Wonderland at LACMA + Fairy Maiden WIP

A while back, I went to the LACMA show In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States.  Here are five of the pieces that grabbed my attention at the show by artists Julia Thecla, Lee Miller, Bona, Jeanne Reynal, and Louise Nevelson.  I'm sharing two close ups, one from Julia Thecla's soft and delicate piece that I think gets lost in my full photograph, and one from Louise Nevelson's piece.  Although there's no way to judge the scale of Louise Nevelson's piece, it was gigantic and towered above me.

Julia Thecla, In The Book She Reads

Julia Thecla, In The Book She Reads Close Up

Lee Miller, Solarized Portrait of Dorothy Hill (Profile)

Bona, Paisaje en rojos (Landscape in Reds)

Jeanne Reynal, The Widow

Louise Nevelson, Sky Cathedral/Southern Mountain

Louise Nevelson, Sky Cathedral/Southern Mountain Close Up

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

Here is the start of my fairy flower maiden "Iris Dream."  At this point of the work in progress, I've just sketched in the iris and the fae and painted in the background.  The line art is fairly faint and difficult to see because I don't want it to shine through the paint when I get to some of the lighter areas.

Fairy Flower Maiden Sketch...

Here is a sketch for another fairy flower maiden.  It is a more refined sketch of one of the rough sketches I did for the 29 faces challenge.  Not all of my sketches become paintings, but I've chosen this one.  I scanned this one into photoshop to help pre-visualize the completed painting.


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

Itty Bitty Bit of Work in Progress on Porthole Mermaid Painting...

Here is a teensy bit of a work in progress update on "Looking In," my porthole mermaid painting.  I only had a tiny amount of time to work on this painting, so I painted her lips.  Some days the time slips away from me and I want desperately to paint.  I wanted to forge ahead quickly, but these days that isn't how I usually paint...

Almost Complete Rose Fairy Maiden Painting Work in Progress...

This rose fairy maiden painting is almost complete.  I was going to give her the hint of a blouse, but I've decided not to.  There are pencil marks on her shoulders that I'm going to cover over with more skin tones.  She is titled "Rose Immersion" and is a garden guardian.


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

Petals Revealed Work in Progress Fairy Rose Maiden Painting...

I have started on the petals on my fairy rose maiden painting.  I think the edge of the bangs are a little too heavy handed when compared with the petals I have started on the rose on this work in progress, but I'm going to finish the rose before I decide about that.