Friends – Carolina Russo Art

- Malibu - Photo ©Carolina Russo — Southern California – Photo ©Carolina Russo

I moved from Italy in 2002

Today is my 14 years Anniversary here in USA
I just wanted to share this with my friends and because today it is also my Blog Anniversary on WordPress!

Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com!

You registered on WordPress.com 4 years ago!

Thanks for flying with us.

Keep up the good blogging!

After I signed up on WP I had my Blog active but silent for about more than 2 years.F I have been without writing or posting anything but working behind the scenes!
First I wanted to reserve my domain name yesterdayafter.com since I love it a lot!

At the same time I was working on launching my Jewelry Design Collections, my Paintings, Digital Art, Poetry and all my creative work.
I was only working on the graphics and designs to customize the theme and layout of this Blog reflecting my own creativity. I wanted to launch it as soon I was ready, but no word was ever posted. Some life events also slowed down the process. Then only on March 2015, I decided to jump in and I made a very small first post announcing the opening of my Etsy Shop.

I felt like I was a tiny drop into the ocean of the Blogosphere, almost impossible to be seen in between the millions of other Blogs, I felt so little but I kept going!
And you great people started to discover my Blog! I was posting once in a while my Jewelry and Artworks and I got very nice feedback! As Artist I express my Art and creativity in different ways, my posts are not always about the same subject. I work with different media and my followers showed appreciation and love for my talents. I actually like the variety between all the things I love! I like to surprise you with the unexpected.

“A Tip” that I can give to new Bloggers that feel a bit lonely and in need of friends and followers is to be active!

When I started, after a month that I got to see how it was blogging, I decided to go around leaving comments on other Blogs, and not just stay here reading. I let people know how much I loved their work and they responded to me beautifully with kindred words and they discovered my Blog and Art and started to follow recognizing me with Awards. I felt very honored for such a beautiful recognitions. Right now I have become an “Award Free” Blog but I am always honored from your nominations and I will post your link in the Awards Page!

In May 2015 I also created my own Award to pass on “The Starlight Blogger Award” I launched this Award to highlight and Promote Inspiring Bloggers and I am so happy that the Award is going all over around the world! I see lots of Bloggers that link to me using this Award!

Last year I decided that I wanted to do something to give back to this beautiful Community and help to bring Blogs together I started my weekly Meet and Greet Event this year is named Meet and Greet Fridays! And Every month I choose to Feature one Blogger and Blog that I admire and I am Inspired from, introducing them to inspire others.

I felt very welcome here I discovered amazing Blogs and Bloggers that are beautiful friends and I also had the opportunity to meet some in person!

I also found an amazing Community of Artists that is very supportive and inspiring!

I am stunned and amazed about the fast growth it’s fascinating!

…..THANK YOU to ALL…..

each one of you made this happen leaving your comments and love!

I am very happy because our strength together is very powerful and encouraging to keep going I am so grateful for you!
Stay connected and support each other good things will come and never stop dreaming!

Thank You!

©Copyright Carolina Russo – yesterdayafter.com

Today my doodlewash is not about food, but I would like to share an older post and I hope that you enjoy it!
Anyway will be good for #doodlewashaday

Friends and Sennelier…
I wanted to use my new French Sennelier Watercolor! So I needed to create something!

I love and enjoy Illustration, and sometimes I like drawing cute whimsical characters a little bit out of my ordinary watercolor paintings and sketches. Creativity it is something that there are no words to describe it! Inspiration can come to me from anything and anytime, everywhere, and often start with something to ends with something totally different from what was at first inside my mind, it is a very fascinating and abstract process, that’s how I call it!

While I was thinking what to begin with to start my drawing, the word “Friends” came up to my mind I don’t know why, at the same time I was on my Pinterest (Follow me) pinning things for my numerous boards. I came across some very cute little dolls. I was captured by their sweet, nice faces with big eyes and instantly I felt the wish to draw them. I quickly made my sketch, when the word “Friends” came back to mind again and that was it!!! It was perfect for my new illustration. I am going to dedicate this drawing to all the amazing Bloggers Friends and Artists I found here on WP community. 🙂

Some technical details
I quickly sketched first with a pencil #2 HB few light lines just to give me an idea to the two figures and the flower then I painted. For this Illustration I was very excited to use my new French Sennelier watercolors. I use many different brands of watercolors I love Sennelier their watercolors are beautiful so vibrant, very pigmented, they are rich, luminous and honey-based. I purchased this metal travel box on Amazon it is small and easy to carry almost the size of an iPhone it can fit anywhere.

Sennelier Watercolors Travel Box — Sennelier – L’Aguarelle French Artist Watercolors

This Watercolor set is inspired by the bright and lively palette of Southern France. Each set contains 12 half pans of top quality French Artists Watercolor and two built-in palettes within a compact and sturdy metal case. Reformulated with an increased honey content gives each watercolor incomparable brilliance and luminosity while acting as a preservative to extend the paints longevity.
I love the fluidity of the colors a little goes a long way. I am very happy how my illustration turned out. I gave the finish touch going over with a black ink Pigma Micron pen 0.3 to finish and add shades. I painted this with a very light wash not on a watercolor paper but on a mix media ProArt Sketchbook size 9×11 inches.