Sketching out a little bit of magic... 🍀✨

 

I’m currently in the graphite phase for "Emerald & Ember," my St. Patrick’s Day "girl next door." I wanted to capture a look that is sweet, soulful, and just a little bit lucky.

Even in this rough pencil stage, those signature big eyes are already starting to tell a story. It’s a lot of lines and erasures right now, but the soul of the piece is there. She’ll be getting a few shamrocks of her own before I move her to the easel.

I can’t wait to bring her to life with those deep emerald eyes and fiery red tones! Stay tuned to see her transition from lead to oil. 🎨🧡💚

A Tiny Tide of Love 🌊💙

 

January was for the birds, but February is for the heart. My #Birbfest inspired piece, "Waddle You Be Mine?", is a beautiful bit of both! 🐧❤️

These two Little Blue Penguins (also known as Fairy Penguins, Eudyptula minor) are linked wing-in-wing on this heart-shaped panel. She seems to be saying, "Look at this, my love," while he replies, "I only have eyes for you." Though they are the smallest penguins in the world, these two clearly have enough love to fill the ocean. 🐧✨

💖 The Canvas: This oil painting is brought to life on a "Candy Heart" shaped wood panel (8" x 8.5" with an inner dimension of 6" x 6.5"). Crafted from 1/2" thick Baltic Birch, it features a keyhole in the back for easy hanging—no additional frame needed! I’ve left the edges as beautiful, unpainted natural wood.

🏠 Availability: This original piece is available for adoption! Please DM me directly for details if you’d like the tide to bring these two home to you in time for Valentine's Day. 🌊

Day 31 of #Birbfest2026: The Grand Finale 🦚✨

 

To close out a month of feathers, fluff, and fire, I’m bringing out a personal favorite for the final gallery guest.

Meet "A Fanfare of Feathers." Whether you know them as the Indian Peafowl or the Peacock (Pavo cristatus), they are the ultimate showstoppers of the avian world. After a month spent capturing "Cerulean Spite" and "Tiny Despots," it felt only right to end with this celebration of intricate beauty, color, and pride.

This is a subject I hope to visit again in the future—there is just so much magic in those "eyes" of the train. 🎨

Thank you for joining me on this January #Birbfest journey! From tiny mountain bluebirds to this sprawling fanfare, it’s been a wild, winged ride.

💬 I’d love to know: Which bird was your favorite guest in the gallery this month? 🦅👇

Hosted by @monkeymintaka @birbfest.challenge

Day 28 of #Birbfest2026: Bringing a Tiny Tide of Love 🌊💙

 

Meet "Waddle You Be Mine?"—my final new concept for the January Birbfest challenge.

These two Little Blue Penguins (also known as Fairy Penguins, Eudyptula minor) are still finding their way onto this heart-shaped panel, wing-in-wing. The Little Penguin is the smallest penguin in the world, proving that sometimes the smallest birds carry the biggest hearts. 🐧✨

🎨 The Process: I’m taking my time with this piece to ensure every indigo feather and every bit of their connection feels just right. Currently, the lineart has been transferred and the outer edge is painted.

💖 The Canvas: This work-in-progress is being brought to life on a "Candy Heart" shaped wood panel (8" x 8.5"). Crafted from 1/2" thick Baltic Birch, it features a keyhole in the back for easy hanging once the tide finally brings them home!

Hosted by @monkeymintaka @birbfest.challenge

Day 27 of #Birbfest2026: Head Turned & Heart Melted ✨

 

Today’s peek into the sketchbook features a study of the Red-bearded Bee-eater (Nyctyornis amictus).

Some birds just demand to be drawn, and this one was no exception. With that signature "beard" of feathers and an incredibly fluffy silhouette, I couldn't resist being inspired.

I decided on a full-body graphite sketch with his head turned, capturing that curious, almost shy expression they get when they're scouting for their next meal. There’s something so endearing about the way their feathers ruff out! ✏️🌸

Hosted by @monkeymintaka @birbfest.challenge

Kindling the New Year: The Year of the Fire Horse 🏮🔥

 

As we gallop toward the Lunar New Year, I’m proud to reveal my latest piece: "Kindling the New Year."

2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse, a cycle defined by high energy, independence, and unbridled passion. This portrait captures that "Obsidian Ember" spirit—the deep, earthy brown of the horse’s coat contrasting with a Molten Core glowing from within. 🐎✨

May this piece spark the fire you need to chase your biggest dreams this year!

✨ The Details ✨

Title: Kindling the New Year

Medium: Original oil painting on paper.

Size: 2.75" x 3.5" (Art) | 4" x 5.5" (Framed).

The Frame: Housed in a vintage metal filigree frame with a "lightly singed" finish to evoke the heat of the fire theme.

🏠 Availability: This original piece is available for adoption! Please DM me directly for details if you need a little fiery spirit to adorn your walls for 2026.

#LisabellaRusso #KindlingTheNewYear #YearOfTheFireHorse #LunarNewYear2026 #ChineseZodiacArt #FireHorse #EquineArt #PopSurrealism #ArtDrop #DarkAesthetic #FantasyHorse #OilPainting #VintageFrame #ObsidianEmber

Kindling the New Year: Fire Horse WIP 🔥🐎

 

Here is the starting point for my 2026 Chinese New Year painting, titled "Kindling the New Year." 

There is a powerful magic in the shadow and spark of the Fire Horse. For this piece, I wanted to focus on the "Hearth of the Horse"—that internal furnace that drives us forward even in the darkest times. Painting this fiery glow against the deep, dark tones of a dark brown horse feels like capturing a secret, ancestral strength.

🎨 The Process: This is an oil painting on paper with a radiant golden gesso background. This is currently at the lineart stage, and I intend to let that gold shine through in the final background to frame the "ember" within the horse’s chest.

I hope to share the finished piece with you this Sunday, January 25th. A little light to carry with us into 2026. ✨

Day 22 of #Birbfest2026: A Floofy Study ✨

 

Today’s peek into the sketchbook features a study of the Galah Cockatoo (Eolophus roseicapilla).

There is something absolutely beguiling about the presence of a Galah. I couldn’t resist attempting a full-body portrait to capture that iconic, floofy crest and their gentle, curious expression.

While there is always more to learn when studying such a complex subject, this graphite sketch has me dreaming of the studio. I can already see these forms being translated into delicate pink hues and soft greys in oil. ✏️🌸

Day 20 of #Birbfest2026: A Curly-Headed Avian ✨

 

Today’s peek into the sketchbook features a study of the Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus).

As the largest member of the pelican family, these birds have such an impressive presence. I wanted to focus this graphite sketch exclusively on a portrait to capture those iconic, wild curly feathers on the head and the elegant extension of the neck.

There is so much character in that open beak! I’d love to do a full-toned drawing of these fantastic birds at some point to really explore the light and shadow on those textures. ✏️☁️

Hosted by @monkeymintaka @birbfest.challenge

🖤 Feline Femme: Meow-Mento Mori 🐈‍⬛

 

A Valentine for the dark at heart. "Meow-Mento Mori" explores the fragile chambers of affection on an anatomical heart panel.

Featuring a big-eyed Gothic femme with heavy, downturned kitty ears, this piece is a deep dive into Anatomical Affection. Her ice green-blue gaze carries the weight of "Vows in Ventricles," reminding us that love is both a biological beat and a spiritual longing. 🥀

Even in the afterlife, you’ll always have her heart.

✨ The Details ✨

Title: Meow-Mento Mori

Medium: Original oil painting on an anatomical heart panel (Baltic Birch).

Size: 5.5" x 8" (1/2" thick).

Features: A keyhole in the back for easy hanging—no frame or hardware required.

🏠 Availability: This original piece is available for adoption! Please DM me directly for details if you need a wistful big-eye kitty girl for your collection.