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.