A Photo of a Very Cooperative Butterfly on a Flower at Descanso Gardens...

Usually my primary photo subject matter at Descanso Gardens is flowers.  This time I was able to also capture this butterfly.  It was a very cooperative butterfly and spent a long time visiting these delicate purple flowers, I was able to photograph it as it went from flower to flower.  I know neither the name of the butterfly or the flower it so loved, but it gave me joy to photograph them, and I am sharing that with you.

My Drawing of a Cheetah Bear from Jim Benson Norton Simon Workshop & Spider WIP...

Here is a charcoal drawing I did at artist Jim Benson's workshop on contrast at the Norton Simon Museum of Art.  My drawing looks a bit like a combination of a Cheetah and a Bear, I call it my Cheetabear...

In the workshop, he talked about how with contrast you compare and contrast and contrast refers to difference.  High contrast has a high degree of difference and low contrast has a low degree of difference.  For example, high contrast has sharp edges and focus, while low contrast has blurred edges and is out of focus.  He also talked about using contrast in the foreground vs. the background, with the higher degree of high contrast marks in the foreground and the lower contrast mark making in the background.  It was a fun and interesting workshop!

I am also participating in Sunday Sketches.  To view more Sunday Sketches, please visit:

http://www.bluechairdiary.com/blog/

Here is my work in progress view of my spider.  I meant to post him yesterday but I woke up too late and had to leave.  At this point I've just done the background, I am hoping to have him done by Tuesday and then start work on the bunny, but it remains to be seen how much time this arachnid will need for me to complete him.

Waterlily Fairy Maiden Work in Progress...

Here is a work in progress view of my waterlily fairy maiden, the canvas is 16"x20".  I've been working on her hand.  I feel the shadow cast by her dress on her hand may be a bit too intense, so when I next work on this garden guardian, I may try to make it a bit more subtle.

Tomorrow I will try to post an update on the spider painting.


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

A Photo of Me Visiting the Japanese Gardens at Huntington Gardens...

Yesterday I went to visit Huntington Gardens, it was the first time in many years.  I spent more time being lost on the way there then at the gardens so I didn't get to see much on this trip.  This is a photo of me by the bridge in the Japanese Gardens.  I did get a membership, so I shall be returning, hopefully with more time to spend there!  Huntington is huge, in addition to many gardens, it has galleries of European and American art.  I am looking forward to exploring Huntington and sharing more pictures from there in the future.

Original Art Deco Gothic Fairy Painting! Art Prints & ACEOs!

This Week "Paned Wings" Original 5"x7" Painting here

5"x7" print here

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

This week I am listing "Paned Wings," an original big eye painting of a surreal gothic art deco nouveau fairy inspired by your votes.  It took me a bit longer then I'd intended to finish her, but here she is!  I also have additional giclee art and ACEO prints here with a theme of fairies and fairy 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...  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.

LACMA Show Fashioning Fashion IV & A Work in Progress View of My Fairy...

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/

Here is another work in progress view of my fairy.  I'm still working on her lips and may add a bit more shading and then on to her hair.  I am hoping to have her ready by tomorrow, but we'll see how today goes.

Sketch of an Angel Fairy...

Here is a sketch that I may or may not develop further.  It is of an angel fairy.  I didn't have a lot of time, but I still felt like doing a little bit of art...


I am also participating in Sunday Sketches.  To view more Sunday Sketches, please visit:
http://www.bluechairdiary.com/blog/

The Lineart on a Canvas Panel for My Spider Painting...

Here is the lineart on the canvas panel for my spider painting.  It has diverged a bit from my initial sketch, Alex at The Strange Art of Ledante suggested that I make the limbs a bit different and gave me some help.  He says there's a point at which you may want to move away from the reference to make a stronger painting and as he tends to be right with great frequency about art related matters, I went with his suggestions...

Edit: I am also participating in Sunday Sketches.  To view more Sunday Sketches, please visit:
http://www.bluechairdiary.com/blog/

Tulips at Descanso Gardens & Temporary Suspension of Sketch/Painting Voting...

This week will be a week of many outings.  I think I'll only be home a couple of days this week and next week won't be much better, so until I get caught up on the paintings that were voted for, I'm going to temporarily suspend my sketching/painting challenge to myself...  I went to a lecture at Descanso Gardens in La Canada and both the tulips and the cherry blossoms are in bloom.  This is only the case for a brief while, so if you are local and love flowers, hop on by!  This photograph was actually taken last year, I haven't had a chance yet to sort through my pictures from my most recent visit, but I hope you will enjoy this vibrant burst of spring!

Original Snow White Painting! Art Prints & ACEOs! Fairy WIP!

This Week "Apple of My Eye" 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 "Apple of My Eye," an original big eye painting of a gothic Snow White.  I also have additional giclee art and ACEO prints here with a theme of fairytales and myths.

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.

Here is an updated work in progress view of my fairy painting.  I had hoped to have her done by today, but I am still in the process of working on her shading.  

Artist Alex Ledante, the Movie Tim's Vermeer, & a Fairy WIP

A Certain Sense of Liberty by Alex Ledante

Alex Ledante is one of my favorite artists and while I was watching the movie Tim's Vermeer, it occured to me that it has been a while since I've shared any of his inspiring art.  His website is here and his facebook page is here.  He also runs weekly auctions here.

Keeper of Secrets by Alex Ledante

Alex is a classically trained artist who now works entirely in the digital realm.  When I first met him, he did a lot of his work traditionally, but that is no longer the case.

(Portrait of) Grimaldi by Alex Ledante

He is a continuous source of inspiration to me.  I have the honor of watching him create sometimes and it is amazing.  He uses his creativity to create art I couldn't even dream about without his vision.

Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Alex Ledante

The movie Tim's Vermeer is about the inventor Tim Jenison and his exploration of recreating Vermeer's "Music Lesson” painting.  Tim is founder of NewTek, a video technology company and he had a theory about how Johannes Vermeer created his art using technology.  Vermeer's art has no underlying sketches, it seems to materialize magically.  Tim's theory involved the use of lenses and very carefully, meticulously applied paint.  I was highly skeptical initially, but I found myself agreeing with his theory as I watched this documentary film produced by Penn Jillette and directed by Teller.  It reminded me of Alex's work because it used technology to create great beauty.

Tim's Vermeer Movie Poster

I am linking this post with Inspire Me Monday

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

Here is a work in progress view of my fairy, not any painting progress yet on the spider, I am still working on improving the sketch before I go any further with it...

Sketches of Four Rabbits: Please Vote for which to paint! Bunnies, bunnies, it must be bunnies...

Edit:  Combined between facebook and my blog, number 1 was the winning bunny that I will strive to paint.  2 and 4 came in very close on the votes...  Thanks very much for your input!

Here are four of my bunny rabbit sketches from this week.  I would like to do a small painting of one of these four 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.  I had been attempting to finish them in a weeks time, but I seem to be off by at least one week, so while I will definitely endeavor to do the painting selected, I am not sure when I will finish.


To view more Sunday Sketches, please visit:
http://www.bluechairdiary.com/blog/
Also, the lovely Alexandra of Sunday Sketches is having an Easter giveaway!  Hop on over to take a look...

A Dutch Bunny Sketch & Another Fairy Femme Work in Progress View...

This is a sketch of a Dutch bunny.  One of the rabbits I had as a child was a Dutch bunny, although mine was an adult when he came to me.  I think rabbits are great pets, but probably best for households with older children.  Some of them startle very easily.  They are, however, excellent listeners!

Here is another work in progress view of this fairy.  I've finished with the background and wings and have started with her eyes.    I hope to have a work in progress view of the spider on Monday although my brother is coming to visit tomorrow, so I'm not sure I'll get there by then...

A Work in Progress View of a Fairy Femme & Another Bunny Sketch...

Here is the start to my fairy that was voted on last week.  I've finalized the lineart and painted the background.  The wings are next.  The line art is a little hard to see here, but she should start taking form more as I continue to work on her.

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

Here is another bunny sketch.  This little rabbit is very sweet.

As far as the giant cookie goes, I am definitely eating it, but it is huge!  I ate part of it yesterday and I'll likely eat part of it today.  It's a good cookie, but I think the best chocolate chip cookie that I've had that I've bought came from Marie Callender's; which is a bit of a surprise since they specialize in pies...

A Bunny Rabbit Sketch and a Visit to Marceline's Confectionery...

Here is a sketch of Maximillion, reference photograph courtesy of David Reeves Payne.  This little bunny is such a cute little fluffy fellow!  I didn't know about this type of rabbit before this, but he is a Lionhead rabbit.

Yesterday I took the day to go to Downtown Disney to visit WonderGround Gallery.  They currently have some original Jasmine Becket-Griffith paintings and I love her art!  The originals are far out of my price range, but I bought some of the little prints for me and a couple of adorable magnets for my mom.  I also stopped at Marceline's Confectionary and bought this gigantic Mickey Mouse chocolate chip cookie.  I thought it was so cute!  

Original Gothic Mermaid Painting! Art Prints & ACEOs!

This Week "Song of the Siren" Original 5"x7" Painting here

5"x7" print here

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

This week I am listing "Song of the Siren," an original painting of a gothic mermaid inspired by your votes!  She was initially going to be an angel, but I was very much in a mermaid mood, so she is a very serene mermaid...  I also have additional giclee art and ACEO prints here with a theme of mermaids and sea 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 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.

Lop Eared Bunny Rabbit Sketch & Steampunk Bunny by Sue Beatrice

I love bunnies.  I had pet rabbits years ago.  They are so sweet and cute!  Here is a sketch of a lop eared bunny.  My sketching theme for the week is rabbits.

I also love this steampunk rabbit by Sue Beatrice.  Her website is here and her facebook page is here.  Her works are very inspiring!

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

Sketches of Four Spiders: Please Vote for which to paint!

Edit:  Combined between facebook and my blog, number 4 was the winning spider that I will strive to paint between today and Tuesday next, athough I may need more time then that.  Thanks very much for your input!

Here are four of my spider sketches from this week.  I would like to do a small painting of one of these four 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 (although I seem to go over on amount of time needed to complete the painting pretty regularly...).

The ones Alex thought were my best options for the group ended up being three from yesterday and one from the first day...  Thank you Diane for the wonderful reference selection!


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

Four More Spider Sketches...

Here are four more spiders for my spider themed sketches of the week.  These are the last of them.  One is a mecha steampunk spider and I think the one below it is a steampunk spider too!  For tomorrow, I'll choose which to submit to vote upon and which one to select for my Little Miss Muffet painting that's still in the early concept stage right now.  I sketched so many of them because my spider loving friend Diane kindly selected most of these and she has a much better eye for spiders than I do...  Starting on Monday or Wednesday at the latest, I intend to be sketching bunnies, although there still will likely be a work in progress post and the final version post that will feature spiders.

Calla Lily in My Garden Photo & Two More Spider Sketches...

Here is a photograph of the first calla lily to bloom in my garden.  My aunt and uncle gave us calla lilies to plant.  I took this photograph during a lull in the rain during the storm last week, I was a bit worried about them, I definitely do not have a green thumb...  This week the skies have been clear and the plants seem to be doing okay!

Here are two more spiders for my spider themed sketches of the week.  Usually I'm not fond of anything with more than 4 legs, but spiders are very important at keeping the other bugs at bay.  This week spiders, next week bunnies...

Mermaid Work in Progress...

Here is another work in progress view of my mermaid painting.  I am almost done with her, but I've decided to list her next Tuesday instead of today.  Then I'll also push back the other fairy girl to the Tuesday after that, so she can be listed in conjunction with the spider painting.  Spiders are so far from my usual subject matter that I don't want to only have the spider as my original that week.  Well, that, and I have a headache today and haven't any focus at all...

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

My Mermaid Painting Work in Progress & Two More Spider Sketches...

Here is my work in progress view of one of the faces voted upon.  I've done the background, but I am not completely finished with the tail, I may not do much more with it but I will definitely add some spray to it in the foreground.  I am hoping to have her done by tomorrow, but I'm not 100% sure about that.  If I don't finish her today, I'll try to post another wip tomorrow.

Here are two more spiders for my spider themed sketches of the week.  This week spiders, next week bunnies...

Original Gothic Mermaid Cathedral Painting! Art Prints & ACEOs!

This Week "Underwater Prayer" 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 "Underwater Prayer," an original painting of a gothic mermaid by an under the sea church with big blue eyes!  I also have additional giclee art and ACEO prints here with a theme of mermaids.  

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.

I didn't get a chance to finish my newest mermaid inspired by your votes in time for today, but I will strive to have her completed by Thursday.  I will try to post a work in progress image of her tomorrow.

Two Spider Sketches & Thoughts on What's Upcoming...

This week my sketching theme is spiders.  I know it's an unusual subject matter for me, but I think it's important to mix things up a bit once in a while.  Also, I promised my spider loving friend I would do this theme at some point and while I'll paint the one voted upon, I also want to select one for Little Miss Muffet...  Next week my theme will most likely be bunnies (I probably would have done bunnies this week and spiders next week, but I don't have my reference materials together for rabbits this week and my friend Diane kindly selected an assortment of spiders to use as reference quite a while back).

I'm very behind on my little 5"x7" for this week.  As much as I'd like to have her done for tomorrow, I think it's unlikely.  I know I say that every week but while I'd like to be optimistic, I'd greatly surprise myself if I do get her done in time for tomorrow.  Her eyes are closed so it's possible, but I've also decided to make her a mermaid (I feel like it has been too long since I've painted a mermaid) so there's a tail involved...  I will do a listing theme of mermaids and strive to get the new one done, but I think it's more likely she'll be done by Thursday.

Also, it's very much my intention to return to sharing some of the things which inspire me on Mondays, but my schedule has been a bit off lately.  I saw a very interesting film that I'd love to ramble upon, but the little painting of the mermaid is beseeching me to paint her...

Sketches of Four Faces: Please Vote for which to paint!

Edit:  Combined between facebook and my blog, number 3 was the winning face that I will strive to paint between today and Tuesday next.  I'm also very drawn to 2 and 4, so you may also be seeing them at some point in the future!  Thanks very much for your input!

Here are the four last sketches from the 29 faces challenge this month.  I would like to do a small painting of one of these five 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 see larger versions of these sketches, please scroll down.


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

29 Faces All Together...

Here is a compilation of all of the faces for the 29 faces challenge.  The challenge was to share 29 faces in February.  It was definitely a challenge for me, but I enjoyed the challenge.  Some days my sketches went more smoothly then others.  Most days I posted sketches, but some days I posted paintings.  Some of which were older pieces, some were brand new paintings inspired by the challenge.  I have so many paintings that I want to paint inspired by this challenge and I'm still working on some from last September too!

Tomorrow I'll post the four sketches from this week to vote on for which one I'll try to paint between Tuesday and the Tuesday afterwards...