My Photograph of Peach Water Lily Flowers at the Norton Simon...

In addition to having a wonderful art collection, the Norton Simon Museum of Art has a beautiful pond that you may walk around.  I took this photograph of this peach water lily a while back.  I love to paint water lilies, so whenever I get the opportunity to photograph them, I try to do so.  These flowers are not in season here right now, but one of the lovely things about photographs is that they can be enjoyed at any time.  I hope that you will enjoy this photo!


You may see some of my finished paintings at http://www.lisarusso.com if you'd like.

Still Life by Francisco de Zurbarán at the Norton Simon Museum of Art + Website Update...

I took this photograph of "Still Life with Lemons, Oranges and a Rose" by Francisco de Zurbarán at the Norton Simon Museum of Art.  I feel it has a powerful draw.  To Catholics of the 17th century, this painting would have had deep symbolic religious meaning.  It is the only signed and dated piece by this master of the Seville school of painting.  I find its beauty inspiring.

Al-Rubaie Art is a contemporary master when comes to still life paintings.  She does some of the most amazing paintings I have ever seen, if you have a chance, take a look at her magnificent paintings.


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"An Auspicious Collection" Original Painting SOLD

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

This is one of my rare still life paintings.  I was inspired by the theme of five random things.  It has a lucky cat, a cherry, a pretty ribbon, a pear, and a heart shaped nut shell...  The piece has a soft realist feel.  Although I no longer have the original, 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! 

St. Cecilia by Guido Reni at the Norton Simon Museum of Art + Big Eye Angel Fairy WIP...

St. Cecilia by Guido Reni 

St. Cecilia by Guido Reni is one of my favorite pieces at the Norton Simon Museum of Art.  She is the patron saint of musicians and was said to hear the singing of angels.  She is here with a violin, she was reputed to be able to play all instruments.  I love this painting so much! 

St. Cecilia by Guido Reni Close Up I

St. Cecilia by Guido Reni Close Up II

St. Cecilia by Guido Reni Close Up III

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This is a work in progress view of my angel fairy.  I've worked on the wings a bit.  This is actually a very small piece,  it measures approximately 4.5"x4" for a specific endeavor, but we'll see if I finish it on time...

Music by Jean-Honoré Fragonard at the Norton Simon Museum of Art + Athena with Owl WIP...

I love this painting by Jean-Honoré Fragonard that hangs in the Norton Simon Museum of Art.  It is thought that the woman may be Erato, a muse of music and lyric poetry.  During a lecture I attended, the speaker said that this painting would likely be hung high, perhaps above a doorway.  It has a beautiful soft focus that I love.

Music by Jean-Honoré Fragonard

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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.  I think I'm almost done with the background at this point (although the painting is showing a bit darker here then it actually is on my monitor)...

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.

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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...

Buddha Sculpture at the Norton Simon Museum of Art + Big Eye Angel Fairy Face 16...

If you go downstairs at the Norton Simon Museum of Art, this Buddha sculpture is visible from one of their windows.  There is a huge window and there is a bench in front of it.  I took this photograph from that bench.  Also in view are some of their other pieces, it is an inspiring place to sit and reflect.  It's usually less crowded there than in the upstairs gallery and it is very worth seeing, it is one of my favorite places at the Norton Simon.

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This is face 16 for the 29 faces September challenge.  She is a big eye angel fairy or possibly mermaid sketch.  I think she is a bit sassy.  For 29 Faces, the challenge is to share 29 faces during the given month.

Teresa by Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun at the Norton Simon Museum of Art & Waterlily Fairy Maiden Painting WIP...

Teresa, Countess Kinsky by Marie-Louise-Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun

This painting is part of the permanent collection at the Norton Simon Museum of Art.  It is titled Teresa, Countess Kinsky and it is by Marie-Louise-Élisabeth Vigée-Lebrun, alternately spelled LeBrun or Le Brun.  It is a large and regal painting touched with delicate beauty.  I love this painting and I hope you will enjoy it...

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I've done some work on my big eye waterlily garden guardian.  I've been working on the hair of this gothic fairy maiden.


If I finish this on time, I will likely be including her in the No Themes & No Limits show in Pomona on Saturday June 14th.  Additional show information is here.

Temple Wrestler at the Norton Simon Museum of Art & Mermaid Painting WIP...

I think this temple wrestler sculpture from Cambodia at the Norton Simon Museum of Art is full of energy.  Their collection of paintings is so magnificent that I sometimes forget that they have an exceptional collection of Asian art downstairs.  This wrestler may be going on a trip, so give them a call if you specifically want to see him in case he's already gone...

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I've done some work on my big eye mermaid painting.  At this point in the work in progress I feel I still need to shade her a little bit more and then I'll paint her features.  The hair is blocked in white via photoshop for the moment just to show approximately where it will go, it will be more of a fuschia color once I've painted it...