Happy Halloween: Pumpkins From The Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns at Descanso Gardens

I love Halloween, it is one of my favorite holidays.  Dressing up, candy, and pumpkins; what's not to love?  Last week I went to The Rise of the Jack O'Lanterns at Descanso Gardens, a pumpkin extravaganza!  The pumpkins invaded one of my favorite spaces and made it completely different.  There were so many jack o'lanterns, it was incredible.  These are lots of images, but there were many more, it was difficult to winnow it down to just these ones.  I'm saving some of the Dia de los Muertos themed ones for tomorrow.  I took a few with the flash on to show the design and construction details, I hope you will enjoy them.  Happy Halloween!

Giant Pumpkin Flowers

Giant Pumpkin Flowers Construction Details

Aliens and Space with Pluto in its Rightly Place as a Planet

Humpty Dumpty Sat on a Wall

Elsa from Frozen

The Adams Family

Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe Portrait Details

Dinosaur

Dinosaurs

Dinosaur

Dinosaur Construction Details

The Wizard of Oz

Malificent

Aurora

Chinese Zodiac

Happy Halloween from me to you!

Original Art 11"x14" Big Eye Fairy Painting, 8"x10" Giclee Prints, & LE ACEO Prints available here...

A Photograph of an Iris at Huntington Gardens...

This beautiful iris was blooming at Huntington Gardens the most recent time I visited.  I had not seen this color combination before.  I thought the soft yellow with the whites and soft purple violet color combination was just lovely.  I hope you will enjoy this photo.  

My Snow White Big Eye Fantasy Original Painting! Art Prints & ACEOs!

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

I am listing "Apple of My Eye," an original gothic Snow White with some princess friendly apples.  She has big green eyes and the original has hair touched with a copper iridescence.  I was trying to complete my large white water lilies painting for today, but I'm not quite done with them, hopefully I will have the painting ready to share next Tuesday...

I also have additional giclee art and ACEO prints here  this week from Tuesday to Tuesday 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 have started at updating and adding payment buttons to my website.  It's a very slow project, but one I am working on.

After the auction, "Apple of My Eye" will be available on my website here.

Athena & Her Owl Original Painting Work in Progress...

Here is a work in progress view of my large 16"x20" original big eye Athena Greek goddess (known to the Romans as Minerva) with her little owl painting.  The sketch is down and I have begun painting the sky.  Still quite a ways to go with her, but I think she's starting in a good direction...

Big Eye Angel Fairy Sketch Art & Little Barn Owl Website Update...

Here is a sketch of a big eye angel fairy face.  It is my first sketch, I'll probably do another to refine her further, but I think she's right for the small frame I am doing the painting for; although she will definitely be cropped differently, the frame is nearly square.  I have so many paintings that I want to paint, but I'm very much a mood based artist, I usually work on whatever my heart tells me to work on on any given day...

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

http://bluechairdiary.blogspot.com/

Little Owl Original Painting SOLD

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

Little Owl is a small barn owl.  He has a soft realist impressionist quality and seems lost in thought...  I sold the original, but I do have this available as prints and LE 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!

A Photograph of an Iris for my Garden...

Yesterday I went to the Huntington Gardens fall plant sale.  Although I haven't had good luck with irises, I thought this iris was so beautiful and had such a fragrant aroma, I decided to chance it and take it home.  Irises are one of my favorite types of flowers.  We haven't planted it yet, but I wanted to share it with you.  I'm not even sure how to describe the colors.  I didn't realize that irises bloom twice a year, I thought it was just the once...  This variation of iris is called Bernice's Legacy, if you're in the Southern California area, the sale is still on today and tomorrow.  We also bought some other lovely plants, but I will endeavor to share them another day.  

The Work Before the Art...

Alex of The Strange Art of Ledante is helping me to prep some canvases here.  I bought some hard boards to paint on and I've discovered that I like the smoothness of them.  Canvas can be great, but sometimes I end up fighting with it...  Alex suggested some gesso and sanding, so he's helped me to prepare some canvases to try this way.  Alex used to do traditional art, but is now strictly digital, except when he helps me...

Work in Progress Original White Water Lilies Painting...

Here is a work in progress view of my white water lilies painting.  I have only a few petals left to go, then I have to decide if I want to give the background a little bit of a dark wash on the brightest parts (right now in broad daylight, I think the lily pads steal too much focus).  Then after that I will decide if I need to do any more layers on the petals of the waterlilies and then I'll be done!   

My Black Gothic Big Eye Mermaid Original Painting! Art Prints & ACEOs!

This Week "Three Friends" Original 11"x14" Painting here

8"x10" print here

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

I am listing "Three Friends," an original gothic black mermaid with some of her clownfish friends.  She has big brown eyes and her clownfish friends love to be near her flowing hair...

I also have additional giclee art and ACEO prints here this week from Tuesday to Tuesday with a theme of mermaids and mermaid sea 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 have started at updating and adding payment buttons to my website.  It's a very slow project, but one I am working on.

A Photograph of a Cloudy Sky and Some Palm Trees Outside of my Home...

I'm looking at photographs of the sky for a background for my Athena and Owlie painting.  I took this photograph outside of my home, obviously I wouldn't use the palm trees or the telephone line, but I thought it was a pretty scene and the clouds have potential.  I hope you will enjoy this photo...

Big Eye Angel Fairy Sketch Art...

Here is a sketch of a big eye angel fairy face.  I'm going to do a small angel fairy painting for an upcoming show, but I haven't decided yet on which face to use.  This is one of my options...

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

http://bluechairdiary.blogspot.com/

Emerald Green Ruby Throated Hummingbird and Violet Purple Hummingbird Together Yet Apart

Emerald Original Painting SOLD

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

Violet Original Painting SOLD

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

I painted a Violet purple hummingbird and an Emerald green ruby throated hummingbird with sunflowers together on one canvas, but at the time, my camera couldn't capture the image at a high enough quality to capture the image.  I loved the painting so much that I scanned it into the computer as two separate images and that is how I am sharing them...  I sold the original, but I do have this available as prints and LE 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!

Marigolds Flower Sketch Art & Big Eye Gothic Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead Femme Website Update...

Here are a couple of sketches of some marigold flowers for a painting I'd like to do.  I'm thinking the top marigolds would have a horizontal composition or the bottom marigolds would have either a vertical composition or perhaps square.  I haven't decided yet which to do or which way to go...

Remembrance Original 11"x14" Painting, Open Edition 8"x10" Giclee Prints & Limited Edition Giclee ACEO Prints Here

Remembrance is a Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead inspired piece.  This big eye surreal gothic beauty has Catrina calavera sugar skull makeup and red roses in her blue black hair.  This piece available as an original, as prints, and Limited Edition ACEOs!  There is some texture in the background of the original painting.

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!

A Photograph of a Hummingbird at Rest at Huntington Gardens...

This photograph is of a hummingbird taking a little break at Huntington Gardens.  On one of my visits, I found an area where they loved the flowers.  I managed to get some photographs of them at rest and some flying.  Humming birds are ever so quick, I feel fortunate when I manage to get even one good shot, I think this was one of my best shots of the day.  I hope you will enjoy this photo...  

Tomorrow I'm going to LACMA, I'm not sure I'll have a chance to post, but I should be able to on Friday.

My Little Owl (Athene noctua) Original Painting! Art Prints & ACEOs!

This Week "Owlie" Original 10"x13" Painting on Wood here

8"x10" print here

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

I am listing "Owlie," an original realist Little Owl (Athene noctua) painting.  He was sketched as a potential companion for the goddess Athena in another painting that I am working on; but although he didn't quite work for that, I loved him so, I decided to paint just him...

I also have additional giclee art and ACEO prints here this week from Tuesday to Tuesday with a theme of winged friends; there are birds and dragons...

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

Athena Minerva Goddess + Owl Sketch Art & Steampunk Harvestman Spider Website Update...

I think that this sketch of the goddess Athena / Minerva with her owl companion is very close to being ready to transfer to canvas.  I've been working on getting her face right, sketching various owls, combining the two...  Sometimes getting the sketch right can take me quite a while, but I think it's worth it to have a sketch that really works for me before I start painting...


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

Harvestman Original 5"x7" Painting, Open Edition 5"x7" Giclee Prints & Limited Edition Giclee ACEO Prints Here

Harvestman is of an opilione arachnid.  When I started the painting, I thought he was a spider, but I learned otherwise.  I think he'd make a fine addition to a steampunk or fall or Halloween decor!  The style is a steampunk realism.  This piece available as an original, as prints, and Limited Edition 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!

White Water Lilies Original Painting Work in Progress...

Here is a work in progress view of my large 18"x24" original white water lilies painting.  I've done a few layers on the bottom water lily, but I'll probably go back to it and finesse the shading a bit once the top waterlily is painted.  This is based on one of my photographs.  I love waterlilies, Alex asks me how many water lily reference photographs do I need to take, I'm not sure that I'll ever have enough...

Work in Progress Little Owl (Athene noctua) Painting + Halloween Fairy Website Update...

Here is a work in progress view of my Little Owl (Athene noctua) painting.  So far as I've worked on him, I've been calling him "Owlie" or "Owl of my Heart," but I'm not really set on a title yet...


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

Hallofaerie Original 11"x14" Painting, Open Edition 8"x10" Giclee Prints & Limited Edition Giclee ACEO Prints Here

Hallofaerie is a big eye fairy with a pumpkin, combining my love of Halloween with my love of the fae.  This piece available as an original, as prints, and Limited Edition 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! 

A Photograph of Peach Roses at Descanso Gardens...

This photograph is of some peach roses that were blooming at Descanso Gardens.  I thought they had a very soft and delicate beauty.  I hope you will enjoy this photo...

Tomorrow I'm going to Huntington Gardens with my mother, I'm not sure I'll have a chance to post, but I should be able to on Friday.

My Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead Original Painting! Art Prints & ACEOs!

This Week "Remembrance" Original 11"x14" Painting here

8"x10" print here

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

I am listing "Remembrance," an original gothic big eye surreal fantasy painting inspired by Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead.  This is my first Día de Muertos inspired piece.  She has big brown eyes, calavera makeup, blue black hair, and two red roses in her hair.  DDLM / DOTD is a holiday that originated in Mexico that celebrates those we have lost...

I also have additional giclee art and ACEO prints here this week from Tuesday to Tuesday with a theme of big brown eyes...

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

The Flower Vendor (Girl with Lilies) by Diego Rivera at the Norton Simon Museum of Art + Dia de los Muertos WIP...

The Flower Vendor (Girl with Lilies) by Diego Rivera

This is one of my favorite paintings at the Norton Simon Museum of Art.  The Flower Vendor (Girl with Lilies) by Diego Rivera of a flower vendor surrounded by calla lilies really speaks to me.  Diego Rivera was a Mexican artist, married at some times to Frida Kahlo, who did a lot of political art.  This is one of his works that inspires me the most though.

I am linking this post with Inspire Me Monday

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

Here is a work in progress view of my big eye Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead painting.  I'm not sure if I'll manage to finish her by tomorrow.  I'm farther along with her hair then I am here, but I still have both of the roses to go...  I'm going to try, but we'll see how it goes...

Fairy Angel Face Sketch Art + Deco Nouveau Mermaid Website Update...

This sketch is of a big eye fantasy fairy angel face.  She has a cautious look to her, perhaps she is peeking into the mortal realm...

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

Twirls and Curls Original 11"x14" Painting, Open Edition 8"x10" Giclee Prints & Limited Edition Giclee ACEO Prints Here

Twirls and Curls is a mermaid with an art deco nouveau feel.  She has big blue eye and long blue hair.  She also has some fish friends swimming by.  This piece available as an original, as prints, and Limited Edition 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! 

A Photograph of an Orange & Yellow Rose at Descanso Gardens...

This photograph is of an orange and yellow rose that was blooming at Descanso Gardens.  I thought it was quite beautiful.  I hope you will enjoy this photo...  

I'm working on my Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead painting, I am hoping to have an update on her on Monday and I am hoping to have her finished for Tuesday...

Work in Progress Big Eye Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead Painting + Egyptian Fairy Website Update...

Here is a work in progress view of my big eye Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead painting.  I'm pretty much happy with the eyes, but I have more work to do on her neck and shoulders.  Even when I've worked with the shading a bit, I'm not sure if she needs something more there; maybe a bit of her blouse, a necklace, possibly a tatttoo.  Or the possibility exists that when I've entirely finished with the rest of the painting, she may not need anything at all, so I'll wait until later to decide for certain.  I can put her into photoshop and pre visualize the options when I'm further along...  

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

http://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/

Blood of the Nile Original Painting SOLD

Open Edition 8"x10" Giclee Prints & Limited Edition Giclee ACEO Prints Here

Born of Egypt, this big eye fairy has exotic eye make up and a beautiful Ankh.  Her wings are translucent and beautiful, she has a dreamlike surrealist quality.  I sold the original, but I do have this piece 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! 

Photo of me at the Americana...

Here's a photograph of me at the Americana in Glendale.  I've always wanted wings, one of these days maybe I'll buy some, but I loved this area they had set up.  I've put this photo into my auctions...  I love the one I had there, but this is more current.

Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead Painting Work in Progress...

Here is a work in progress view of my big eye Dia de los Muertos / Day of the Dead painting.  The lines are a bit faint, but it should become more clear as I progress further.  I've used a texture medium overlaid with a wash of paint for the background.  It is an 11"x14" painting on panel, I'm not sure if I'll finish her before Dia de los Muertos of this year, but I'm going to try...