Happy Year of the Horse!

Today is the start of the year of the horse, I hope you have a wonderful one!

I'm a little under the weather this week, so I'm not sure yet if I'll finish my newest horse in time for Tuesday.  Here is an older horse painting that I have up on my website here.  It's an 8"x10" acrylic painting on canvas panel and I also have it available as 8"x10" prints and limited edition ACEO prints.

29 Faces starts tomorrow, it's a challenge of sharing 29 faces in the month of February.  It is my intention to participate, hopefully I'll start to feel better soon...

The Garden of the J. Paul Getty Museum of Art...

Yesterday I took the day to go visit the J. Paul Getty Museum of Art.  It is a wonderful museum, but this is one of the museums I visit less frequently as it is farther away.  I went to a lot of shows where photography was not allowed, but I did take some photos of the permanent collection that I will share on other days.  This is a photograph of their garden from a very high view.  It's a wonderful garden that is beautifully designed.  In this photograph, I love how the trees and their shadows interact.  I do, however, need to go back another day and try again as they had a blue hose out.  I saw it before I took the photo, but I liked the view so much, I decided to take the shot anyway to share with you...

Valentine Hearts, a Koi Fish, & a New Fairy! Original Paintings, Art Prints, & ACEOs!

Rose Immersion Original 16"x20" Painting on Canvas on My Website Here

This Week 8"x10" print here &

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

This week I am listing "Rose Immersion" at my promotional rate as a print and ACEO.  The original big eye gothic flower fairy maiden painting is available for purchase on my website!   I also have additional giclee art and ACEO prints on ebay here.  

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 am just getting started at updating and adding payment buttons to my website.  It's a very slow project, but one I hope to focus on.

This week I also have these original romantic heart paintings just in time for Valentine's Day available that range from light to dark on ebay here.  I have also listed print and ACEO variations here.

This Week "Aiko Koi" Original painting here

5"x7" print here

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

This week I am listing "Aiko Koi" my original koi fish painting, inspired by your vote!  I love koi fish, but this is my first time painting one.  I gave him a little heart shaped design.

Dutch and Flemish Floral Still Life Paintings at the Norton Simon Museum of Art & Waterlily Flower Fairy Maiden...

These three paintings are some of my favorite paintings.  They are full of such grace and beauty.  I will never come close to touching the mastery in these paintings, but they are a source of inspiration to me.

If you'd like to see a contemporary artist whose work is on par with these pieces, I invite you to see Catherine Al-Rubaie's art page Al-Rubaie Art here and her auctions here.  She does some of the most beautiful art that I have ever seen!  She sells out frequently, so I suggest keeping an eye on her art page for updates.

Jan Davidsz. de Heem, Dutch, Vase of Flowers

Jan Davidsz. de Heem, Dutch, Vase of Flowers, Close Up I

Jan Davidsz. de Heem, Dutch, Vase of Flowers, Close Up II

Follower of Ambrosius Bosschaert I possibly Ambrosius Bosschaert II, Dutch, Large Bouquet in a Wan-Li Vase with a Gilt Mount

Follower of Ambrosius Bosschaert I possibly Ambrosius Bosschaert II, Dutch, Large Bouquet in a Wan-Li Vase with a Gilt Mount, Close Up I

Follower of Ambrosius Bosschaert I possibly Ambrosius Bosschaert II, Dutch, Large Bouquet in a Wan-Li Vase with a Gilt Mount, Close Up II 

Jan Brueghel the Younger, Flemish, Flowers in a Gilt Tazza

Jan Brueghel the Younger, Flemish, Flowers in a Gilt Tazza Close Up I

Jan Brueghel the Younger, Flemish, Flowers in a Gilt Tazza Close Up II

I am linking this post with Inspire Me Monday

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

I've started painting my waterlily flower fairy maiden.  In this work in progress view, I've blocked in the background.  The line art is faint and difficult to see, but I do have an easier to see version of the sketch below...

Sketches of Four Horses: Please Vote for which to paint! Plus Fairy Maiden with Waterlily

Edit:  Another really close vote!  Combined between facebook and my blog, number 3 won by one, so that is the one I will strive to finish by Tuesday next.  It is the year of the horse though and I do love horses, so it's entirely possible that 2 will make an appearance at a future time...

Here are the two sketches combined of the flower fairy maiden and her waterlily.  Alex and I decided it would be too busy with the koi fish, so I will hope to incorporate some of them into another painting in addition to the little one I am working on...

These are four horses that I've sketched this week.  I would like to paint one of them this week.  If you'd like to vote on which one, just leave a comment as to which you'd prefer and I'll tally the votes on Tuesday at around four, adding up the votes of my blog and facebook page together.  In the event of a tie, or no votes, I'll just draw one out of a hat.  I might do this weekly with different sketches.  I also may use the sketches and paintings based on the sketches posted in other art at different times.  This painting will be a small 5"x7", with some cropping to fit the format, that I will try to complete between Tuesday and the Tuesday next...


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

Koi Fish Painting Work in Progress & Sketch of Waterlily Fairy Maiden...

Here is a work in progress view of my koi fish that was voted for on Sunday.  At this point I have blocked the background in and I am hoping to have the fish completed by Tuesday...  This week my theme for next week's small painting is horses.

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

http://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/

Here is a sketch of the waterlily fairy maiden I have been sketching.  I think I finally have her to the point where I feel ready to move on to the next stage and put her together with her water lily and koi fish!  She'll probably be significantly cropped, I like to focus on faces, but I wanted to try and get her pose looking right so that I have the option to include more of her if I want to.

I am hoping to have a couple more horses as options for this week's vote on Sunday sketched by tomorrow.

A Couple of Sketches of Horses...

These are two sketches of horses.  I am trying to sketch more often.  As we are entering the Year of the Horse soon, this week my theme is horses.  The top one is white with a golden mane and the bottom one is a golden brown with a white crest.  On Sunday, if you'd like, you may help me choose which horse to paint of the ones I have available that day...

Little Bo Peep is Now Up on My Website & Waterlily Sketch...

Little Bo Peep Original Painting SOLD

Open Edition 5"x7" Giclee Prints & Limited Edition Giclee ACEO Prints Here

Little Bo Peep is one of my favorite paintings from last year.  She is one of the first to be added to my website in a long time!  I love nursery rhymes and I'd like to do some additional paintings inspired by them.  I sold the original big blue eyed blonde haired beauty, but I do have her available as prints and ACEOs!

Every week on Tuesday, I try to list a small original, some giclee art prints, and giclee LE ACEO prints at promotional prices.  Visit here to see what I have available this week!

This sketch is potentially for my waterlily fairy girl painting with koi fish.  I am still working on the sketch of her.  I wanted to post a sneak peek of her today, but I'm having a bit of trouble with her form and hand.  I know I could switch to another girl with another pose, but this one is the one I want, so I'll just have to strive to overcome!

Sunflowers Abound in This Hues of Gold Week, Original Paintings, Art Prints, & ACEOs!

Sunlight Sunbright Original 18"x24" Painting on Canvas HERE on My Website

8"x10" print here

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

This week I am listing "Sunlight Sunbright" at my promotional rate as a print and ACEO.  The original is sunflower painting is available for purchase on my website!  I also have additional giclee art and ACEO prints on ebay here with a theme of hues of gold.

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 am just getting started at updating and adding payment buttons to my website.  It's a very slow project, but one I hope to focus on.

"Petite Fleur de Soleil" Original painting here

5"x7" print here

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

This week I am listing "Petite Fleur de Soleil" my original sunflower painting, inspired by your vote!  I tend to think of sunflowers as beacons of hope, it seems fitting to be my first flower painting of the year.  I also have additional giclee art and ACEO prints here with a theme of hues of gold.  There are many sunflowers, some hummingbirds, a goddess, and Little Bo Peep.  I think it's a lovely group, I hope you will take a look!

LACMA Show Fashioning Fashion II & Original Blue Angel Painting For Nibblefest...

I was looking through my reference images files, and I came across two folders with images from the LACMA show Fashioning Fashion: European Dress in Detail, 1700–1915.  I love fashion and find it very inspiring.  Here are some of the images to the show, I hope that you will enjoy them.  I will post more from this show on other Mondays, although probably not always consecutively.

If you'd like to see what I have up of this show thus far, please click here.

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

I painted this little abstract expressionist angel for Nibblefest, she's on ebay here.  I've named her simply "Blue Angel."  She is my first original ACEO painting.  Due to the small size (2.5"x3.5"), I chose to paint her as simply as possible, I think she has a certain serenity.  Nibblefest auctions start at 99c, no reserve!

More Sketches of Koi Fish: Please Vote for which to paint! & Some Progress on my Sunflower...

Edit:  It was a tie between 1 and 4, both here and on my facebook page...  This week, I will try to paint number 4 between now and Tuesday next.  Thank very much for your input!

These are four of my koi fish themed sketches of the week.  Of the six pages of sketches I did, these are the ones Alex liked the best.  I would like to paint one of them this week.  If you'd like to vote on which one, just leave a comment as to which you'd prefer and I'll tally the votes on Tuesday at around four, adding up the votes of my blog and facebook page together.  In the event of a tie, or no votes, I'll just draw one out of a hat.  I might do this weekly with different sketches.  I also may use the sketches and paintings based on the sketches posted in other art at different times.  This painting will be a small 5"x7", with some cropping to fit the format, that I will try to complete between Tuesday and the Tuesday next...


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

Here is a work in progress view of the sunflower painting that was voted for last week.  I am hoping to have it finished by Tuesday.

The Start of My Sunflower Painting and More Sketches of Koi Fish...

It has been one of those weeks when I've had less time then I hoped to for doing art.  I've started on the sunflower, I still hope to have it finished by Tuesday, but we'll see how it goes.  Here is a work in progress image of it.

Here are some more koi fish sketches.  I've actually sketched around six pages of them.  I need to decide which to use for the larger painting and then pick some of the ones that remain to be chosen between on Sunday for my next small painting.  I didn't really worry about keeping the fish in proportion because I'm planning on putting together my composition in photoshop and one of the beauties about putting together a painting in this way is that I can play around with and resize the individual images.

Also, I found this on facebook and I am so glad that I clicked this!

"Oh Wow! A remarkably simple way to clean your computer screen!

Did you know that every 30 days it is necessary to clean the computer screen from the inside? Many people ignore this fact and do not know how. Manufacturers take advantage of this ignorance to increase their sales. My IT guy shared this and said feel free to share this utility with my contacts.

To clean the screen from the inside, just click this link:

http://lingdao.fr/outils/nettoyeurecran/cleanscreen.swf

Thanks to Kimberly Castleberry for sharing this... "

Sketches of Koi Fish

There are going to be some koi fish in my next larger painting, however when I went through my reference images I couldn't narrow it down much as to which ones, so I'm sketching quite a few of them!  This week for the voting I think it may be choosing between koi fish for my small painting, but I'm not sure which ones will be up for voting.  I need to finish sketching my potentials and decide which ones will go into the larger painting and then offer my favorites of the ones that remain as options.  I think koi fish are so full of elegance and grace.  It is a joy to sketch them.

Levitating Koi Fish at Descanso Gardens...

One of my favorite things to do is to sit and watch the koi fish at Descanso Gardens.  I usually photograph them as I watch them.  I am going through some of my koi fish photographs today to select some of them to print out and sketch for an upcoming painting.  It's hard to decide, there are so many cute koi fish!  This one caught my attention because to me in the photograph it looks a bit like the koi fish is levitating.  In reality, it is in the water, but I thought it was a nifty optical illusion...

Two Original Paintings! A Mermaid with Clownfish & a Clown Fish, Plus Art Prints, & ACEOs!

"Three Friends" Original 11"x14" Painting here

8"x10" Print here

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

This week I am listing "Three Friends" my original black gothic mermaid with clownfish friends painting.  I had so much fun painting the clown fish, I painted one solo!  I also have additional giclee art prints here.  This week my theme is ocean dwelling friends.

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...

"Oh Fishy" Original 5"x7" Painting here

5"x7" print here

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

This is another original painting that is up this week in addition to my black gothic mermaid with clownfish!  I also have additional giclee art prints on ebay here.  This week there are mermaids, clown fish, and seahorses.  My theme this week is ocean dwelling friends.

LACMA Show Fashioning Fashion I & Mermaid with Clownfish Work in Progress

I was looking through my reference images files, and I came across two folders with images from the LACMA show Fashioning Fashion: European Dress in Detail, 1700–1915.  I love fashion and find it very inspiring.  Here are some of the images to the show, I hope that you will enjoy them.  I will post more from this show on other Mondays, although probably not consecutively.

If you'd like to see what I have up of this show thus far, please click here.

I am linking this post with Inspire Me Monday

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

I've been working on my mermaid with clownfish painting and my little clown fish solo painting.  In the work in progress piece with the mermaid, I think I am now pretty much finished with her face and I'm on to her hair...

Sketches of an Iris, a Sunflower, an Orchid, and a Calla Lily: Please Vote for which to paint!

Edit: Voting is concluded, my next small painting will be #2, the sunflower!  Thanks very much for your input, I hope to have it completed by Tuesday next.

These are my yellow flower themed sketches of the week.  There is an iris, a sunflower, an orchid, and a calla lily.  I would like to paint one of them this week.  If you'd like to vote on which one, just leave a comment as to which you'd prefer and I'll tally the votes on Tuesday at around four, adding up the votes of my blog and facebook page together.  In the event of a tie, or no votes, I'll just draw one out of a hat.  I might do this weekly with different sketches.  I also may use the sketches and paintings based on the sketches posted in other art at different times.  This painting will be a small 5"x7", with some cropping to fit the format, that I will try to complete between Tuesday and the Tuesday next...

The choices are:
1. Yellow Bearded Iris
2. Yellow Sunflower
3. Yellow Orchid
4. Yellow Calla Lily

To see larger versions of these sketches, please scroll down.


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

Sketch of a Yellow Calla Lily...

This sketch is of a yellow calla lily.  If you're wondering why all of the flowers I've posted this week are yellow, well, it's only that I have a bit more yellow on my palette than I will need for the paintings I am currently working on.  I hate to waste paint!  Anyway, this is part of my challenge to myself to sketch more frequently.  On Sunday I'll post the sketches for the week and, if you'd like, you may help me choose which one to do a small painting of...

Mermaid with Clownfish Painting Work in Progress, Solo Clownfish, & Orchid Sketch...

Here is a work in progress view of my mermaid with clownfish painting and a small clownfish painting that I've started.  I'm trying to complete at least one small painting a week.  I'm very inspired by the people painting 30 paintings in 30 days, but I'm not nearly fast enough at this point, so I'm trying for one a week.  Although she looks very similar to the last time I posted her, I've finessed the mermaids skin tones a bit.  I have a little more do to on her skin before I move on to her eyebrows, eyelashes, and lips.  Of course she also needs her hair done, but it may be a little while until I get there...

In this photo you can see my easel crammed with paints in the holding area, I have to put some of those back in their drawer soon!


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

Here is a sketch of a yellow orchid.  It is a potential option for next week's small painting.

Sketch of a Yellow Sunflower...

This sketch is of a yellow sunflower.  This one is dipping down with its own weight.  There's something really appealing about sunflowers to me.  They're so bright and vibrant.  This is part of my challenge to myself to sketch more frequently.  On Sunday I'll post the sketches for the week and, if you'd like, you may help me choose which one to do a small painting of...

Sketch of a Yellow Bearded Iris...

One of my goals is to sketch more frequently, I think if I sketch more often, my skill and speed will improve.  This sketch is of a yellow bearded iris.  This week I have a sketching theme of flowers.  On Sunday I will post them as a group and take input on which flower to paint.  I also want to paint more frequently for the reasons stated above.  I'm going to try to do a small painting a week in addition to working on my other projects.  I hope to do this often, but how often and how successfully will depend on a variety of factors...