Sirena coronada de pétalos (Petal-Crowned Mermaid) by Lisabella Russo

 

Meet a new soul from The Huntington Hollows series: "Sirena coronada de pétalos" (Petal-Crowned Mermaid). 🌸💜

She is a round oil painting on 5.25" paper, beautifully housed in a 10" round ornate metal frame that gives her the feel of a vintage keepsake.

This sweet mermaid features soft brown skin, vibrant purple hair, and soulful, big green eyes flecked with hints of gold. Resting on her head is a massive pink water lily with a glowing golden core—directly inspired by a photograph I took during one of my peaceful walks through the Huntington Gardens.

Her portrait is set against a serene blue background, where the warm gold from the initial gesso layer subtly shimmers through.

✨ "Sirena coronada de pétalos" is currently available. Please send a DM if you are interested in welcoming this delicate soul into your collection!

Ancient Mariner by Jasmine Becket-Griffith and David Van Gough at Death and the Maiden Corey Helford Show

 I had the remarkable fortune to attend Death and the Maiden, the stunning collaborative exhibition by Jasmine Becket-Griffith and David Van Gough at Corey Helford Gallery. Every single piece in the room is a brilliant testament to their masterfully combined styles and unique skills. 🖤✨

Me (Lisabella Russo) standing with one of my absolute favorites from the night, Ancient Mariner (an incredible 18" x 24" acrylic on panel, beautifully framed at 26.5" x 32.5").

The full, breathtaking painting.

A close-up detail of the beautifully delicate angel.

A close-up detail highlighting the powerful imagery of the mariner.

If you are in the Los Angeles area, you must see this magnificent collaborative dialogue in person!

🗓️ The show is open until August 1st, 2026!

📍 Corey Helford Gallery

571 S Anderson St (Enter on Willow St)

Los Angeles, CA 90033

📞 (310) 287-2340

Happy Father’s Day! 🌊

 

Today I wanted to share my painting, CA Coastline. This piece holds a very special place in my heart because it is based entirely on a photograph taken by my dad at Point Dume in Zuma Beach.

My father always had a deep love for the ocean, and he captured the beautiful, sweeping spirit of the California coast perfectly in his photo. Getting to translate his eye for composition into my own traditional painting layers was a wonderful experience, and it's a memory I cherish every time I look at this piece.

Wishing a beautiful and peaceful day to all the fathers, creators, and mentors out there who inspire us to see the beauty in the world around us. 🎨✨

Happy Mother's Day!

 

🐉 Mothers hold our hands for a little while, but they hold the world forever. 💫

I wanted to share this moment of my mother’s hands holding my "Mother of Dragons" piece. To me, it perfectly captures the heart of motherhood—the steady, nurturing strength that supports every wild dream and every brushstroke. 🎨✨

Behind every dragon-sized ambition I’ve ever had, she has been the anchor. Whether she’s accompanying me on a garden adventure or simply being the first to see a new painting, her belief in me is the light I paint by. 🕊️

Happy Mother’s Day to the world-builders, the dream-protectors, and the women who carry so much magic in their hands. ❤️

Happy Cinco de Mayo! 🇲🇽✨

 

Taking a moment this afternoon to dive into #MerMay with a new soul from "The Huntington Hollows" series.

This is a first look at "Sirena coronada de pétalos" (Petal-Crowned Mermaid). Currently, I’ve been focusing on her warm skin tones and those deep green eyes—infused, of course, with a signature golden glimmer. 🧜‍♀️✨

There is still so much magic to come! I’m looking forward to layering in her flowing purple hair and the vibrant pink waterlily with its golden core. Even in these early stages, she’s already starting to find her voice in the hollows.

It’s been a busy morning out with my mother, but settling into these details is the perfect way to spend the rest of my day. 🌸🎨

Are you participating in MerMay this year, or are you just here to enjoy the underwater magic? Let me know in the comments! 👇

A long time ago, in a galaxy surprisingly full of fluff... 💫🛸

 

Happy Star Wars Day! To celebrate #MayThe4th, I wanted to share this little soul from the cliffs of Ahch-To: "The Piteous Porg."

Photographed here amidst the glow of my Hello Kitty fairy lights, there is something so captivating about those massive, glass-like eyes—they were practically made for the "big eye" style! I wanted to capture that quintessential look of tiny, feathered concern that stole everyone’s hearts (and famously saved them from becoming a Wookiee’s snack). 🐧✨

✨ The Details ✨

Title: The Piteous Porg

Medium: Original oil painting on a cradled basswood panel.

Size: 4" x 4" (7/8" depth).

Features: Natural, unpainted wood edges for a clean, modern look.

🏠 Availability: This original piece is currently available for adoption! Please DM me directly for details if you need a little "Force-Sensitive Fluff" for your walls.

May the Force be with you today—whether you’re a Jedi, a rebel, or just a very worried bird on a remote island. 🌌

Are you Team Porg or Team Ewok when it comes to the "fluffiest" side of the Force? 👇

Happy May Day! 🌷✨

 

While the tulips at home have finished their dance for the year, I’m still feeling so inspired by the vibrant colors I captured during my last visit to Descanso Gardens.

A bit of floral inspiration—and a little peek at what’s currently emerging on my easel! 🐸🪷

This is a very early look at "The Lily Lurker," part of my ongoing Huntington Hollows series. He’s a small study in water-soluble oils, and right now, I’m letting that golden gesso foundation do the heavy lifting before the final layers of green and petal-pink take over. He’ll eventually be housed in a lovely round frame to match the curves of his garden home!

May your month be full of new growth, fresh color, and a little bit of garden magic.

What is blooming in your corner of the world today? 👇

The Mother of Dragons: Ancient blood and a new dawn. 🗝️🔥

 

I am so thrilled to share the finished reveal of "Silver & Smoke." This piece has already been adopted by a wonderful collector, but I couldn't wait to show you how she looks in her final cathedral frame.

There is something so powerful about the contrast between her ethereal white hair and the gleaming gold of her dragon companion. I wanted her big blue eyes to carry the weight of a kingdom, framed in this ornate black cathedral to give the piece a sense of history and mystery.

The details: The iridescent gold of the dragon's eye and the soulful gaze of the Khaleesi herself. 🐉✨

✨ The Details ✨

Status: ✨ ADOPTED ✨

Title: Silver & Smoke

Medium: Original oil painting on paper

Size: 4" x 6" (Art) | 7" x 10.5" (Framed)

Even though she’s already found her forever home, I’d love to know: Which do you prefer—the fiery personality of a dragon, or the quiet mystery of a forest dryad? 👇

Sylvan Reverie: The Forest Awakens 🌿💜

 

There is no better day than Earth Day to introduce you to this guardian of the woods. She is finally complete. 🌎✨

This 6" x 12" x 1.5" oil on wood panel has been a journey of textures—from the earthy grain of her antlers to the silken flow of her purple hair. She represents a love for the diverse beauty found in nature, carrying a warm brown skin tone and deep, luminous dark brown eyes that glow against the forest shadows.

Because she’s painted in layers of water-soluble oils, her colors seem to shift with the light—vibrant and regal in the sun, quiet and soulful in the shade. On a day meant to celebrate our planet, she serves as a reminder of the magic and mystery tucked away in the deep, quiet corners of the wild.

🏠 Availability: Sylvan is looking for her forever grove! DM me for adoption details.

Monday in the Studio: Fire & Gold 🔥✨

 

While the forest is prepping for Earth Day, there’s a different kind of magic waking up on my easel. Here is a little progress shot of 'Silver & Smoke'—my Mother of Dragons piece for May! 🐉

I’ve been using the golden gesso base to build up the warmth and as the base layer of her dragon companion. It’s a challenge to balance the 'classic' dragon colors with the soft, wide-eyed soul of the piece, but I’m loving every minute of it.

Mark your calendars: The finished reveal of 'Silver & Smoke' will be this Saturday! 🗓️