Today prompt is “Summer Views” I had not much time but I managed to paint a view of my native hometown Napoli (Naples) where I was born in my native country Italy! I painted this by memory of a view so familiar to me and in my treasured memories. I haven’t visit back in a while but I am sure it all still the same. This is a beautiful view of the Naples Gulf and of the ancient Castle in the sea named Castel Dell’Ovo, one of the symbols of the City, on the background there is the Volcano Mount Vesuvius very well know for the history of Pompeii. in Italian is called Vesuvio luckly is sleeping! 😉 ❤
Details about my watercolor paintings: My watercolors is outlined with black and white ink pens. I used French Artists Watercolors Sennelier l’Aguarelle, Ink pens used COPIC Multiliner Black ink #03 and 05 . A Alvin Draft/Matic #03 Limited Edition Pink Mab Graves Pencil. Pentel Aqua Brush – I painted on Bee Paper for watercolor 140lb, 100% cotton, cold pressed, size 6×9 inches .
❤
To see my World Watercolors Month 2017 Collection of daily paintings please visit myGallery
All my watercolor paintings for the World Watercolor Month 2017 are available for preorder in Limited Edition Fine Art Prints only #31numbered and hand signed Prints. For details visit the Gallery page linked above’
This is a late post and this painting is for the prompt “Cooling Off” since I took the photo in evening, the light wasn’t great sorry about that, but I will retake the photo tomorrow with daylight and make a switch with a better photo on this post! This painting is a watercolor and graphite her face is graphite I like the combination! This painting since has birds is also my monthly entry for #drawabirdday .
Details about my watercolor paintings: My watercolors is outlined with black and white ink pens. I used French Artists Watercolors Sennelier l’Aguarelle, Ink pens used COPIC Multiliner Black ink #03 and 05 . A Alvin Draft/Matic #03 Limited Edition Pink Mab Graves Pencil. Pentel Aqua Brush – I painted on Bee Paper for watercolor 140lb, 100% cotton, cold pressed, size 6×9 inches .
❤
To see my World Watercolors Month 2017 Collection of daily paintings please visit myGallery
All my watercolor paintings for the World Watercolor Month 2017 are available for preorder in Limited Edition Fine Art Prints only #31numbered and hand signed Prints. For details visit the Gallery page linked above’
“Forest Goddess” a Step by Step watercolor painting FAQ and Tips.
Today post feature the release of my new painting titled “Forest Goddess”!
Who follow me on Instagram @carolinarussoart had already seen some images of this painting posted as WIP “work in progress”. Today I am releasing the finished piece and posting all the photos here. This is a post different from my usual. And if you are a beginner artist or a creative you will find some good tips. From time to time I have been asked many interesting questions about my creative process while working on a watercolor painting. Today I will use this post to share my answers to some of these questions and write about the steps I take while creating my paintings. This isn’t a tutorial but I will guide you through my process and giving some good tips that works for me. I have just completed this painting “Forest Goddess” and while working I took several photos to show you the work in progress from the starting sketch to the end, which will help to illustrate my answers to the questions. For this post I have selected three interesting and helpful questions for now I will answer and give a tip to these ones, maybe in the future I will make a FAQ page.
1) Question: What does inspire you?
I get asked this question a lot, isn’t the first time that I answer that inspiration for me can come from anything, I can be looking outside the window, or reading, or while I am walking in nature or browsing on internet and more. Anything can inspire and it can happen anytime, anywhere I have just be ready to receive my inspiration and transform it in a tangible painting!
>Tip:A good thing I always do and this is my tip for you is to always carry a small notebook or sketchbook a pencil and a pen to take notes or for a quick sketch, take it with you especially when you’re on the go out of home or travelling, because when an inspiration or idea strikes your mind, it will go away very fast as it came, so it need to be captured on any sort of paper if you want to work on it later on! This is good to do, not just for artists, but also for writers or anyone that has a creative mind and makes creativity a part of their daily life.
Stage 1 Inspiration and pencil sketch –For this painting I was inspired looking at images of wildlife, trees and animals and I got in the mood to create an ethereal goddess inspired by the beautiful nature of the forest. Here below you can see my pencil sketch and how my inspiration of this beautiful imaginary Goddess begin to come alive. I made my sketch on watercolor paper because this is the medium I chose for this painting.
2) Question: Do you paint/draw from your imagination or from what you see around you? This is a good question! I actually draw or paint very often from my own imagination or from memories I have, I also love drawing from what I see around me. It depends of what I am drawing or creating. Sometimes I use reference photos if I am sketching something realistic or something that I never sketched before. To be precise on a realistic drawing I refer to images. But many times I paint straight with the watercolor on paper without even make a prior pencil sketch. I like to do that especially with flowers. I like to let the watercolor flow and create the shapes then guide of my brush. When I paint faces I prefer to make my pencil drawing first and then lay the watercolors. In “Forest Goddess” painting I made the drawing from my own imagination reference. I love to bring imaginary faces to life that’s how I made the pencil sketch that you see in the photo above. I haven’t used any reference photo for her face. Drawing faces without reference isn’t easy especially for beginners, you need to practice a lot and get familiar with face shapes, eyes, nose, lips, facial expressions, it takes time and practice to memorize and be able to create faces without photo references.
>Tip: Practice a lot observe everything in detail, challenge yourself to draw daily not just to train your imagination and memory but also your hand. At first keep drawing easy things, many times with photo references, then when you feel more confident, try drawing without photo reference and see how much your memory works from your imagination. I don’t want to discourage anyone but keep in mind that takes time, consistency and perseverance. Don’t stress about it enjoy the process it’s not a race, just love what you’re doing and you will see how far you go.
Stage 2 start painting with watercolor – At this point my painting is at the begin of stage two. After the pencil drawing I am starting with the watercolors on the face. I decided that I wanted to use a very delicate palette because I want this portrait to look ethereal and I limited myself to use just three or four colors the most. In my imagination I have seen her figure very delicate, light, airy, heavenly, and the dominant color was white that’s how she appeared in my mind. She is wearing a headpiece symbolizing the nature and it is a crown made of small roses and thin branches. She has beautiful long hair moved by a light breeze and is wearing a white celestial dress trimmed with gold. I painted this portrait leaving the background purposely white to give lightness showing the beautiful grain of the watercolor paper.
On this photo you can see that I started to paint her hair playing with the tones of gray creating light and darker shades to emphasize the hair movement. At this stage I have been pretty pleased with the lightness of the outcome and got struck on what to do next. I loved this barely use of watercolor in contrast with the pencil sketch and I have been debating if keep going on with my usual style adding the use of ink pens and line work. I loved already how it was just like this and I was afraid to ruin it with the definition added by the pen work. I had to think…I took a break of a couple of days to go back on later and see how I would feel about it.
3) Question: What do you do when you get stuck on a painting?
Every artist get stuck at times it’s normal and part of being an artist. When you get stuck means something and you need to listen when this happens. The first thing you need to do is leave everything and “STOP” walk away from your artwork put it away where you cannot see it. Take a deep breath and go to do something else, leave your studio, go out to have a walk, do something that distract yourself. Come back only when you’re ready to look at it again, it can be after one hour or days only come back when you feel ready to give it a serious look, contemplate in silence and observe, then ask yourself what is needed in your painting and you will get the answer, your painting will tell you just looking at it.
>Tip: When you get stuck take a break “Stop” everything for a while do something else. Come back later when you’re ready and listen what your painting is telling you. Never give up on a painting, if you’re not ready go back to it again later.
Stage 3 decisions and final touches: At this point I was at stage three I came back to my painting after being a part with it for several days! And I have decided to go on with the ink pen and doing some fine line work, I used Copic Multiliner pens with #0.1 and #0.03 tips this will leave the painting just more defined but still have a feeling of lightness. I also used touch of gold ink on the head-piece the thin branches of her crown are in gold ink and on the dress neckline there is a gold trim. I gave a touch of white ink just to give more contrast in her hair.
At this point my painting is finished! I am really pleased with the outcome and I hope that you like it too. Today I release the Limited Edition Art Prints for this new painting and it would be available for pre-order here on my Blog first.
One last question for this post….
4) Question: Why did you chose the medium of watercolors? During the past 20 years, I evolved in my passions, experiencing my artistic visions and taught myself other skills and art forms that I love to work with such as digital art and photography. Watercolor painting came to me naturally into my life. I never took a watercolor class. I also enjoy acrylics and mixed media, but my favorite medium when I paint is watercolors. I love the fluidity, transparency and elegance of this beautiful medium. Experimentation with different media and exploring new techniques is something that I always loved to do. I like to explore the horizons of my creativity and see where it takes me.
Tip: Don’t be afraid to tray new mediums and form of art, there is a lot out there to experiment and work with. Open your horizons to find your voice.
In this last photo you can see what art supplies I used to create my painting I will list them here in the “Details”!
Details about my watercolors: My watercolors usually are outlined with black and white ink pens. I used French Artists Watercolors Sennelier l’Aguarelle, Ink pens used COPIC Multiliner Black ink #01 and 0.03 . White and Gold Gelly Roll (Japan) pens. A Alvin Draft/Matic #03 Limited Edition Pink Mab Graves Pencil a THINEX Vintage Pencil Carmine Red 425T. Pentel Aqua Brush – I painted on Bee Paper for watercolor 140lb, 100% cotton, cold pressed, size 6×9 inches .
❤
You can see more of my Paintings visiting my GALLERYthere are several Galleries here on my Blog you find them in the drop down menu under Watercolors.
❤
All my collections of watercolors paintings and illustrations are available for Pre-Order in Limited Edition Art Prints here on my Blog!
Some of them are also available on my Etsy Shop CarolinaRussoArt.
Please follow me on my Instagram account dedicated to my Art! @carolinarussoart
#WorldWatercolorGroup
#CarolinaRussoArt
I hope that reading this post inspired, helped and motivated someone!
Keep creating!
– April new watercolor month challenge: Spring Things
Today’s word prompt for the monthly challenge at doodlewash is “Hummingbird”.
I see beautiful hummingbirds green color with red head, I see them daily flying around the backyard and posing on flowers and tree’s branches! They are so tiny like two inches and they fly super fast! They make a very cute sound. Today my painting portrays a colorful hummingbird. I made this painting without my usual ink outlines but just watercolor. Today I mean tomorrow is #DrawABirdDay I think that in our #worldwatercolorgroup we still celebrating this each 8th of the month, if we still do my Hummingbird join that event too. ❤
❤
Details about my watercolors: watercolors usually are outlined with black and white ink pens. I used French Artists Watercolors Sennelier l’Aguarelle, Ink pens used Pigma Micron Black ink #02 and a black ink Pilot Prera fountain pen fine nib. I painted on Bee Paper for watercolor 140lb, 100% cotton, cold pressed, size 6×9 inches .
You can see more of my Paintings visiting my GALLERYthere are several Galleries you find them in the drop down menu under Watercolors.
❤
All my collections of watercolors paintings and illustrations are available for Pre-Order in Limited Edition Art Prints here on my Blog!
Some of them are also available on my Etsy Shop CarolinaRussoArt.
Please follow me on my Instagram account dedicated to my Art! @carolinarussoart
today Charlie’s February prompt list says “BIRD” and I am joining doodlewash
I made it late evening…. but I made it! Here is my Southern California Bird I don’t really know what kind but I have seen many that look like this maybe he is a Finch I don’t know but what I do know is that I enjoyed to paint him! ❤
Today I like to share with you my new watercolor, I made it last night before go to bed and it made me happy! I love Owls I find them to be so beautiful there are many species and rare ones. Time ago I was pinning on my boards on Pinterest and I came across this amazing photo of a blue eyed half red Owl I don’t know what species is and if isn’t an edited photo I’ve heard that people do edit animals photos to change their colors, but whatever it is it looks amazingly beautiful and that inspired me to paint as soon I have seen it weeks ago. Last night finally I painted him thinking that today following our Community tradition here in our circle of friends artists it is the 8th of the month is #DrawABirdDay . Here below I will add the original photo that inspired my painting for you all to see this beauty!
Rare Red Owl – Photo Source Pinterest
Today I am also happy to join my friend Laura with my “Red Owl” this painting is my entry for the monthly Draw-a-Bird Day, a lovely event that Laura kindly used to host on her Blog Create Art Everyday! I don’t know if Laura still doing this her Blog to not be updated but in any case let’s keep this lovely event going on #DrawABirdDay
Today I like to share with you my new watercolor, I made it last night before go to bed and it made me happy. I love the white Dove is such a beautiful bird and it became a great symbol of love and peace. It is rare to see them but each time I see one flying in the sky I stop everything just to admire her beauty and feelings that she brings. Yesterday I was pinning on my boards on Pinterest and I came across a lovely photo of a Dove that inspired me to paint as soon I saw it. I had that urge to paint it right at that moment! If you paint or sketch or also if you write or create any kind of things then you know what that feeling is and means, it was just late before go to bed not really a time to paint but I didn’t wanted to miss that magic moment of inspiration that strike you unexpected so I did! I actually made it pretty quickly and I like it 😉 there is a beautiful quote that I want to share with you today and is from an Italian artist from Tuscany he was trained under the influence of Giotto is part of the Art history, long time ago we are talking of the year 1390! Is dear to me because is from an artist that contribute to the beautiful art in my native country Italy. But no matter the long time passed the words of this artist are very inspiring and motivating today! I wrote this quote on the first page of one of my sketchbooks I can read it all the time and will keep motivate and inspiring me.
“DAY AFTER DAY NEVER FAIL TO DRAW SOMETHING WHICH, HOWEVER LITTLE IT MAY BE, WILL YET IN THE END BE MUCH”
Cennino Cennini
c. 1390
Today I am also very happy to join my friend Laura with my “White Dove” this painting is my entry for the monthly Draw-a-Bird Day, a lovely event that Laura kindly host on her Blog Create Art Everyday! #DrawABirdDay
Today for my #AugustAdventure this post is for August 8, I am supposed to share my favorite birdit was a joy to make this one. A portrait of a “Bluebird a California Bird“!
I have been always fascinated by blue birds. The color blue is one of my favorite in every shade and when I see a blue bird is always a magical moment they are so precious!
I am also joining Laura and this lovely bird is my entry for the monthly Draw-a-Bird Day, that Laura kindly host on her Blog Create Art Everyday!
Today I loved to paint a blue Hummingbird it is such a small and beautiful bird I see them every day just outside the backyard. I love to paint birds it bring so much happiness to see the bird you’re able to paint on paper! Today I am also joining Laura, that each month on the 8th she host the Draw a Bird Day on her beautiful blog at createarteveryday.com
‘Hummingbirds are New World birds that onstitute the family Trochilidae. They are among the smallest of birds, most species measuring in the 7.5–13 cm range”.Wikipedia
On this page there is my Gallery starting on July 1st to display all my daily paintings for the July World Watercolor Month Collection 2016!
SALE: All my 31 watercolors paintings for this unique first year World Watercolor Month Collection are for sale in Limited Edition of only 1/31 numbered and hand signed Prints. In this first edition would be only 31 Prints size 8 x 10″ of each painting. Prints are made on order for the special price of $35 + shipping, payment accepted via PayPal contactme to order purchases can be made here on the Blog.
to help children ! 15% Proceeds will be donated toThe Dreaming Zebra Foundationto help children ! ❤
Today for my NatureDoodlewash hike, I am happy to share my watercolor. A portrait that emits a message of love and protection for our animals and nature. Symbolized by the whimsical girl who hold lovingly a yellow bird on her shoulder close to her neck. I have seen many beautiful yellow birds here in California and they inspired me. I enjoyed to paint the “Girl With a Bird” is an inspiring image of love and peace. I hope that you like it as much I do! I always love to read all your beautiful comments 😉 ❤
Coming Soon Event! I also get the chance to announce that on the month of July we will have a great event going on Worldwide!
A month of watercolors! A great challenge, 31 days 31 watercolor paintings! I will participate joining Charlie at Doodlewash he is the creator of this magical event and of “The World Watercolor Month” from now on each year in July will be celebrated! Yay thanks to Charlie! 😉 This event will unite Artists around the World joining together this Ultimate Challenge! I am so honored to participate! This is the first year it just got officially approved! You can learn all about it here!
You must be logged in to post a comment.