Corazón Onírico (Work in Progress) & Mab Graves Drawlloween Official Prompt List

 

I love Halloween season so much! 🎃✨ Every October, the incredible Mab Graves hosts #MabGravesDrawlloween Club, a challenge filled with so much joy, creativity, and community inspiration—and the prompt list is finally here!

Because of my slow, traditional painting process, I won't be able to tackle every single daily prompt, but I’m starting early so I can share as much magic with you as possible. 🎨🦄

Swipe to see a peek at my current work-in-progress! I’ve been building up the underpainting on the big-eyed nymph, while her little unicorn foal is currently sitting as delicate line art over glowing golden gesso.

I’m aiming to share the completed piece, "Corazón Onírico" (Dreamy Heart), on October 5th for the Mythological prompt!

Swipe through to check out the full prompt list in case you’d like to create along, too. Huge thanks to @mabgraves for hosting this incredible challenge every year! 🖤

Complete Sanrio Hello Kitty x Godzilla Happy Meal Toy Collection

 

This isn’t my usual art, but this little collection brought me so much joy that I just had to share! 🦖🎀✨

Here is my complete set of all eight McDonald's Sanrio x Godzilla Happy Meal toys, displayed in their original boxes inside a display case from Five Below.

It all started when my friend Nikki gifted me my very first one. I originally stopped by a few McDonald's locations just intending to help her hunt down pieces for her own collection... only to quickly realize I was accidentally starting one for myself!

What followed was an absolute adventure spanning multiple days, several locations, and an abundance of Happy Meals. As a vegetarian, I owe a huge thank you to Alex and my mom for eating the brunt of all those meals so I could collect the toys! 🍟

Huge thanks to Nikki for setting me off on this epic quest!

Tell me in the comments: Are you Team Sanrio or Team Kaiju? 👇

The Lily Lurker

 

I’ve been taking a quiet little break from social media, but before #Frogust comes to an end, I wanted to introduce you to "The Lily Lurker" from The Huntington Hollows series! 🐸🌸✨

He is a round oil painting on 4.5" paper, presented in an 8" round ornate metal frame that gives him the magical feel of a vintage keepsake.

Could this tiny frog be a prince? This petal peeper looks a bit grumpy at being discovered hiding right in the heart of the water lily—so I'm not entirely sure he’d let you steal a kiss to find out!

His eyes feature a warm golden glimmer that echoes subtly throughout the painting. The surrounding water lily was directly inspired by a photograph I took during one of my peaceful strolls through the Huntington Gardens.

✨ "The Lily Lurker" is currently available. Please send a DM if you are interested in welcoming this tiny nymph of the nymphaea into your collection! 💚

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

Closing August 1st, this is one of my personal favorites—and one of only a handful of still-available pieces—from Death and the Maiden, the stunning collaborative exhibition by Jasmine Becket-Griffith and David Van Gough at Corey Helford Gallery. 🦖✨

This epic work masterfully combines their extraordinary talents into a world of otherworldly beauty. The detailed dinosaurs are exquisite, and the figure is absolute perfection. Seeing this piece in person was an incomparable privilege, and if you are in the Los Angeles area before it closes, I highly recommend experiencing it for yourself!

1️⃣ LOST WORLD by Jasmine Becket-Griffith & David Van Gough (an incredible 24" x 48" acrylic on panel, grandly framed at 39.5" x 63.5").

2️⃣ A close-up detail of the figure’s face.

3️⃣ A close-up detail of the delicate hand work.

4️⃣ A close-up detail of the sweeping dinosaur panorama.

🗓️ Last days to view—closing August 1st!

📍 Corey Helford Gallery

571 S Anderson St (Enter on Willow St)

Los Angeles, CA 90033

📞 (310) 287-2340

 

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? 👇