Finally I can post my first entry for Day #1! Welcome October a crazy busy month full of creativity!
I have lots of projects lined together this month, but I love these beautiful challenges and I will do my best to create daily and have a beautiful new Collection in the end!
This year I will work on Ink drawings, experimenting textures and line work! I am very excited for the outcome and pleased with today first entry! I am going to create a new Gallery soon for this series! Good Luck everyone!
<3 Details about my paintings: My Ink drawing is outlined with ink pens.. Ink pens used COPIC Multiliner Black ink #03 and 05, Micron dark red ink #1. Fountain Pen Pilot Prera Fine Nib. A Alvin Draft/Matic #03 Limited Edition Pink Mab Graves Pencil. A dash of watercolor, I used French Artists Watercolors Sennelier l’Aguarelle, Pentel Aqua Brush – I painted on CANSON Illustration Artists Series Paper for watercolor 150lb, cold pressed, size 6×9 inches .
<3 Details about these Challenges: Every year in October since 2009, artists all over the world take on the InkTober drawing challenge created by Illustrator Jake Parker by doing one ink drawing a day the entire month. (read my previous post) Other amazing artists have created their own challenges during October. This Year I will Join two amazing challenges InkTober and Drawlloween is a little more spoocky Halloween themed created and hosted on Instagram by Pop Surrealist artist Mab Graves! I will create my daily drawings inspired by the combination of the two Challenges daily prompt words and I have combined the names creating my own challenge “DrawllooweenTober” yes this is my plan to be able to join and drawing daily for both amazing challenges at the same time, if you like to join me use also hashtag #drawlloweentober
<3 All my drawings in this Series would be available as Limited Edition Prints on my SHOP!
few days ago in my previous post I happily announced and welcomed you to the “Launch Party” of my new redesigned Blog and Shop here on YesterdayAfter!
In my post I announced that I would issue my first GIVEAWAY here on my Blog!
The prize is a surprise and it is one Limited Edition Signed Fine Art Print from my Collections that I will pick and choose for the lucky winner. The winner will only be able to see the print when is received.
These were the rules to be able to participate:
1) Like this post and make sure to leave me a comment it would be your entry for the Giveaway! 2) Follow this Blog 3) Like my Facebook Page 4) And follow me on Instagram @carolinarussoart
I want to thank everyone that stopped by but not everyone did follow the rules! :-)
Well between all the people who stopped by, many left just a “like” which I appreciate it very much but only nine people did followed the rules, and “Left A Comment” they are entitled to participate to the random ruffle, the likes alone aren’t a valid entry for the Giveaway!
As promised on Monday I randomly picked the Winner! My photo shows what I did, I wrote the nine names in each paper, folded them and placed in the little dish, I have moved them around, closed my eyes and randomly picked one. With my great surprise and happiness I found out that the Winner is:
my dear friend and follower, Author Marjorie Mallon, I am very happy to gift her this prize! This brings a nice smile on my face because this is just a very nice coincidence! Marjorie and I had a wonderful collaboration this year, she released her new YA Fiction Novel “The Curse Of Time – 1 Bloodstone” and I have created two Character’s Design paintings that are published in her paperback and Kindle editions! Give a visit to her Blog and you will know all about it! Or you can read my Interview to her!
Thank you all for the participation! Wish you a great rest of the week!
Today post is my interview to British Author MJ Mallon, a nice way to get to know her and discover her latest work, the new released book “The Curse of Time #1 Bloodstone” I am very happy to introduce you with MJ Mallon, she is a debut author and blogger, her interests include writing, photography, poetry, and alternative therapies. MJ write Fantasy YA, and middle grade fiction as well as micropoetry – haiku and tanka.
Some of you that follows my Blog remember one of my latest posts: “Characters Illustration – A Collaboration with Author MJ Mallon” where I was announcing my artistic collaboration with Marje Mallon. We had a wonderful collaboration together .
Today post is my interview to MJ, a nice way to get to know her better and discover more about her new released book “The Curse of Time #1 Bloodstone” that includes my art in form of character illustrations.
Thank you so much Marje for allowing me to do this lovely interview with you and give the opportunity to our readers to get to know you better.
Let’s get started!
Here there are my questions:
1. For who doesn’t know can you please introduce who is Author MJ Mallon?
I’m a debut author based in Cambridge, UK.
I published my first book The Curse of Time Book One Bloodstone in kindle and recently in paperback.
The Curse of Time is a YA magical fantasy series with many intriguing themes: time, crystals (representing light,) and self-harm/darkness/shadows. The magnificent clock featured on the book cover is the world renowned Corpus Christi chronopage invented by Dr John C Taylor, OBE. The chronopage is a popular tourist attraction in Cambridge which draws much attention, comments and gasps from passing tourists.
The Curse of Time Book One Bloodstone is available to purchase via Amazon. You can buy the book here: “The Curse of Time”
Kirosmagica Publishing
I set up my publishing company Kyrosmagica Publishing with the intention of publishing my own books under this name. In the future, I hope perhaps to extend this to publishing for like-minded clients who wish to create magical writing which aspires to be different. Allie Potts created a beautiful logo of a dragon and a unicorn twirling in an endless dance to represent my vision for Kyrosmagica Publishing.
2. You have a very nice writing style, can you describe your creative process and what prompt and inspire you while writing?
Thank you Carolina that is very kind of you to say.
I begin with an initial idea and often look to art to inspire my creative process. Visuals are important; I visualise the scenes in an action movie of my creative imagination! Then I type the words up on my laptop.
I love poetry so I included short Tanka poems at the beginning of each chapter (or puzzle piece,) to add a further creative dimension to the story-telling.
3. What are you working on right now? Any new project?
Several! Of course one of my priorities is to focus on the second book in the series which I have entitled The Curse of Time Book Two Golden Healer.
But, I intend to submit to at least two anthologies. One involves flash fiction for publication in Charli Mill’s carrotranch.com/ second Carrot Ranch anthology and I also hope to be included in Claire Plaisted’s Ghostly Writes Anthology
First Prize in the Bloggers Bash Blog 2018 (UK)
Oh, I must also mention some amazing news. I discovered that I won first prize in the Bloggers Bash Blog Post Writing Competition with my entry “The Queen’s Dress Down Day”.
What a wonderful validation of my writing. Here is the trophy.
It looks as if it was made with me in mind! It’s so beautiful and is cut glass, crystal!
Winning this has encouraged me to enter more competitions. The next one on my radar is Dan Alatorre’s 1000 Word Sprint.
4. What is your writing “Dream Project” if there is one?
To be honest, I have so many wonderful projects in mind. I’d love to write a poetry/flash fiction/short story compilation. I have the rough draft of a middle grade novel featuring a dragon and a half Scottish/half Chinese girl that I would love to develop. I have so many plans but not enough time! I truly have been cursed! So my focus has to be on my current dream project — The Curse of Time. It’s an ambitious debut project but with hard work and dedication I hope it will be successful. Only time will tell how this dream develops.
5. This question is very personal and introspective, If you describe or picture your inner soul how will you describe it? And what color it would it be?
Fantastic question Carolina! My soul colour would be green. I believe green is the colour associated with the Heart Chakra which links with love, earth, growth, and abundance. My very first crystal selection was green Malachite. Apparently, my green soul colour makes me a healer, mediator, balancer and harmonizer. Perhaps that is why I love meditative exercise such as Tai Chi and explains my attraction to alternative medicine and crystals.
6. Reconnecting with your latest book “The Curse of Time” which character do you love the most and why?
Oh, this is so hard! I love all my characters. If I had to pick just one it would have to be Amelina, the main protagonist. I love how her character develops as the story progresses. Perhaps there is a little of Amelina in me, (even though I don’t have a dysfunctional family!) I’m such a different person from the young girl I used to be. Writing has made me a much happier and more confident person. Amelina is changing too. Perhaps that is why she is my favourite.
7. I loved to create the paintings of the two characters Esme and The Creature as illustrations for your book, what did driven you about my Art that you thought I was the right artist to visually bring to life your characters?
I’d been following your beautiful art for a good while and been so impressed by your portraits. There is a definite sense of fragility in your portraiture (I particularly love how you portrayed Esme the Mirror Girl’s eyes and mouth,) and a beautiful use of colour and movement in The Creature’s portrait. Those key elements attracted me to your work and of course you are such a lovely lady!
8. At last, what you would like to say to our readers about The Curse of Time story and why they should read it?
The Curse of Time is a unique, imaginative story.
Time is life. Life is Time. Each hour, minute and second is precious, don’t waste a moment! Read a magical story that encapsulates so much of the light and darkness of life. It will mystify and puzzle you, make you laugh, wonder and cry.
<3 Visit my ETSY Shop where you can find my illustration of the character “Esme and The Mirror” available in Limited Edition Fine Art Prints, only 20 high quality numbered and signed prints of my original watercolor painting.
In conclusion of this interview I want to thank Marje for the beautiful and interesting answers to my questions! I hope that you all enjoyed to read this post and the opportunity to get to know more about Author MJ Mallon, visit her Blog and if you get the chance to read the book, please leave her a review and comments. I am sure she would love very much to hear from you. Best wishes to Marje for this new release, may “The Curse of Time One Bloodstone” project be very successful and of course to have a sequel! Can’t wait to see what she is writing next and if we will collaborate again you will see more of my illustrations to come in the future! I always love to read all your comments, please let me know what do you think and thank you so much for taking your time to read it!
<3 I love to dedicated my watercolor painting “Ectoplasma” to all the Moms in this “Mother’s Day”
And especially I wish Happy Mother’s Day from far away to my wonderful Mamma in Italy, I love you Mamma! <3
Happy Mother’s Day!
💝🎉 Love to all the Moms around the World celebrating this day,
to be a mom is amazing and one of the most difficult job
but nothing can be compared to the deeply LOVE of a mom! 💗🌷
Hello everyone I hope that you all are enjoying Spring!
Today I have a nice announcement to do…
time has arrived and today I am very happy to post again about one of my latest collaboration and special commission done during the past months. This has been a great and interesting project that I have been working on!
During last Summer I was contacted by British Author MJ Mallon for the creation of some character illustrations for her new book. We have had a wonderful collaboration developed in the coming soon publication of the book in paperback edition, including my character illustrations. MJ Mallon is a novel’s writer and a dear friend in our Blog-World Community. To get to know more about her, please visit her Blog at MJ Mallon Author!
Today is also the start of MJ blog tour for the release of her paperback – The Curse of Time Book One Bloodstone. There will be a celebration on her blog, everyone is invited!
This post is the first stop on the #ABRSC tour, other blogs will follow in the next coming days.
The beautiful book is a fantasy novel for young adults, inspired by supernatural, magic and paranormal. Many themes are touched into the intriguing and captivating story of Amelina Scott, a fifteen years old girl that lives in Cambridge, England. With some magic help, Amelina discovers the truth of a shocking curse that destroyed her family happiness. If you like magic and supernatural you would love this novel. This is the first book and according to author MJ Mallon it would be a sequel and so a series.
The title is “The Curse Of Time” #1 Bloodstone first published as Kindle Edition “Not Illustrated” launched August 2017.
Today I am very happy to announce that the book would be released soon in paperback edition during April 2018. I have created the Illustrations of two characters “Esme and the Creature Eruterac” I loved to create these watercolor paintings as portraits of the intriguing characters, MJ described them to me so well that I was able to bring them alive on paper. I am so honored and very happy that my illustrations are included in black and white into the paperback edition, it is a great accomplishment and means a lot to me. This year you will see other great collaborations and very interesting projects that I am working on. Keep following!
I have created the watercolor painting for two characters “Esme” the girl trapped in the mirror and ” The Creature” a scary entity and creepy guardian.
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I want to give a special thanks to MJ Mallon for loving my art and for thinking of me for this project and great collaboration, hopefully we can collaborate again in the future. Thank you so much Marjorie!
*** Paperback Release date is April 2nd and can be purchased on Amazon
Paintings Release: The images of my paintings are included inside the paperback book in black and white. If you are interested you can purchase the color version available in two sizes as “Limited Edition Fine Art Print” only #20 Prints for each character are available for fans and collectors. Fine art prints include a certificate of authenticity, are numbered and hand signed by me!
If you like one for yourself or for a wonderful gift, prints are beautiful almost like the original paintings! You can fully support my Art with your purchases for the character “Esme” visit my Etsy Shop
***If you’re interested in a Fine Art Print of “The Creature” please order here on the Blog at Shop My Art Prints
* Artist details about the Original Paintings: My watercolor is outlined with black, white and brown ink pens. Gold pen Gelly Roll by Sakura. I used French Artists Watercolors Sennelier l’Aguarelle, Ink pens used COPIC Multiliner Black ink #03 and 05 . A Alvin Draft/Matic Pencil #03 Limited Edition Pink Mab Graves. Pentel Aqua Brushes – I painted on Bee Paper for watercolor 140lb, 100% cotton, cold pressed, size 6×9 inches .
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If you like my Art and would like to have a Custom Painting or Illustration from me, I am open to commission work if you have an idea
just Contact me and we can talk about it! :-)
You can see more of my Paintings visiting my GALLERYthere are several Galleries find them in the drop down menu under Watercolors.
All my watercolor paintings are available for Pre-Order in Limited Edition Fine Art Prints!
I finally can reveal my latest and great collaboration with Author Marjorie Mallon! I have created the illustrations for her wonderful new book, coming soon in paperback…read the post to know more and stay tuned! <
Today, I am delighted to share with you my latest collaboration with artist Carolina Russo, who has created a brilliant new portrait of the Creature, Eruterac, in my paperback novel, The Curse of Time – Book 1 – Bloodstone to be released April 2018.
Below is the full colour portrait of Esme:
Both the Creature and Esme the mirror girl will feature in black and white in my paperback release scheduled for April 2018. At present, the kindle version is NOT ILLUSTRATED.
I am sure you will agree that they are wonderful portraits. Carolina has taken my written words and captured the essence of both characters brilliantly. What an extraordinarily talented lady! I am so thrilled. They will enhance my paperback beautifully. It is fitting that these beautiful illustrations should be included in the soon to be released paperback considering that one of the themes of the novel is art coming alive!
Last November I have collaborated with the Rigna Folk creating a video displaying a selection of my recent paintings having as soundtrack one of their beautiful songs.
If you follow me maybe you remember my Blog post, if you are new you can read it here:
Today I am happy to share one of my latest work. I have been busy with some interesting commissions that I will reveal very soon in my next coming posts.
In the mean time, today I like to share what I have created out of a beautiful nature find, a unique piece of “Eucalyptus Tree Bark” I have found this piece near the tree where it belonged, it did speak to me and I took it. I love the shape is not a flat piece it is curved and is about 13 inches long and 4.5 inches wide in the widest part. This piece is in perfect conditions the grain has a lovely natural white patina. I did nothing to it than just passing a soft cloth to brush off eventual dust. Sorry I haven’t taken a photo of the natural bark before drawing, I guess I was too excited and inspired to start working on it.
What turned out is a mysterious face and ethereal portrait, created with only a black and a white Ink pens. I loved and enjoyed drawing this piece very much. Following the natural grain of the wood and letting the curves lead my drawing allowing this face to come alive and out to us. It is a one of a kind piece, I don’t have a title yet but you all can help me to find one, you can tell me in the comments what do you see in her expression? What she is telling you? Your help is very much appreciated and together we can find a title for her.
Nature is a great source of inspiration in many ways and especially in Art because it stimulates your creativity helping you to relax and feel grounded. When you are able to feel connected with the earth, you are and feel centered and balanced letting go negativity no matter what’s going on around you. I love nature in all the aspects and benefits it give us. I based my life on nature and natural remedies to take care myself health wise and successfully. I enjoy always time spent outdoor it is so precious walking in the wood or enjoying a walk on the shore near the ocean, I like hiking and exploring places in appreciation of what often we take for granted.
Nature is precious and inspire me in many ways and in all the mediums I work with. I am always on the look out to find interesting things that I can create with. I also have based my whole Jewelry Collection on nature. I am so happy when I can find interesting and inspiring pieces as gift of nature to collect and create with.
I love leaves, tree bark, gemstones, fossils, sea shells, driftwood, flowers, branches and more. I love to salvage these precious finds and give them a new life and purpose through my art.
Details about my drawing: Ink drawing supplies used: ink pens MicronBlack ink #03 and #05, UniBall Signo Angelic Colour White pen, Eucalyptus Tree Bark approx. size 13 × 4.5 inches.
<3 Visit my Etsy Shop for more ideas! Just updated there are lots of new work listed as Limited Edition Signed Prints of my original watercolor paintings.
Thank you so much for following and sharing my work your support means everything to me! <3
These are my last three paintings for my Holidays Art Collection and Wintmas Challenges! Today I am posting Days #12, 13 and 14
I am so happy about this collection of mini Christmas themed watercolor paintings and how they turned out I had great 15 days of creativity. I am thankful for the response I got from the people that follow my journey and love my art. I had beautiful comments and encouragement. Thank you all for following this month challenges. After Christmas I will start some new and very interesting projects I will talk about it later on.
The 15 Days Of Wintmas: “For the followers that comes across this post just now, I mentioned in my previous posts, that I have participated at two challenges, following the prompts and combining them together. These challenges were hosted on Instagram one is “Wintmas” 15 days of painting lovely Christmas prompts, #karlaswintmaschallenge hosted by artist Karla Pereira from Spain. The second challenge is hosted by a Collective of Artists “Bad Apple Collective” the challenge is “Bad Apples 12 Days”#badapples12days and of course I also did join my friend Charlie O’Shields ofdoodlewash for the #worldwatercolorgroup”
Limited Edition Art Prints are available upon direct request to me: <3 Feel free to contact me if you would like a Limited Edition Print of any of these Christmas paintings, you can order yours right here on the Blog just Contact me, letting me know which one you want and you can pay directly here on my PayPal button on my side bar, very easy!
Details: Each Prints would be Hand Embellished with Gold and Silver ink! Size available is 5 x 7 inches (approx. 12.70 x 17.78 cm) Special Price is $16 shipping included! <3
Day #13 – Deer
All these are small watercolor paintings,they all have beautiful touches of silver or gold ink to it! You cannot really see it in photos because it is very difficult to photograph the sparkly glitter of the ink but the effect is beautiful! On my Instagram posts sometimes I add little videos and there you can see the gold and silver.
Day #14 Crown – Snow Queen
For day #15 instead of creating a painting I have posted a photo of my paintings collection as the prompt was “The Magic Of Wintmas”
Day #15 The Magic Of Wintmas
These mini paintings are all beautiful and a collectible series that will bring the magic of Christmas in any home <3
<3 Details about my paintings:
My Ink drawing is outlined with ink pens. Pentel Pocket Brush black ink. Ink pens used COPIC Multiliner Black ink #03 and 05, Micron dark red ink #1, Sakura Gold and Silver Gelly Roll Pens or Gold Touch Calligrapher pen. A Alvin Draft/Matic #03 Limited Edition Pink Mab Graves Pencil. I use French Artists Watercolors Sennelier l’Aguarelle, Pentel Aqua Brush – I painted on Bee Paper for watercolor 140lb, 100% cotton, cold pressed, approx. size 4.5 ×5.75 inches.
Now you can see all the paintings of this Collection anytime, visit my Wintmas 2017GALLERY
For more updates of what I am up doing daily, follow me on Instagram@carolinarussoart
Both the Creature and Esme the mirror girl will feature in black and white in my paperback release scheduled for April 2018. At present, the kindle version is NOT ILLUSTRATED. 
Carolina Russo |Sa'Reyah 
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