Independent Artist – Carolina Russo Art

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Characters Illustration – A Collaboration with Author MJ Mallon – 1st Stop Blog Tour! #ABRSC

April 2, 2018April 4, 2018 Carolina Russo

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!

Character’s Portraits – Esme and the Creature – Original Watercolor Paintings ©CarolinaRusso

I have previously wrote another post where I explain most of the behind the scene about the start of this project and details about my creation of the character’s portrait, if you’re a new follower or if you have missed it, you can read my post dedicated to the character Esme: New Release: Esme – Bringing alive a character with a painting! Collaboration with Author MJ Mallon

you can also read MJ Mallon post about our collaboration and my illustration for the character the Creature :

A Wonderful Collaboration With Talented Artist Carolina Russo

Character’s Portraits – Esme – Original Watercolor Paintings ©CarolinaRusso

Isn’t it beautiful to see the portraits published? I love them! MJ was so kind to send me a preview copy of the paperback and everything looks great!

Character’s Portraits – The Creature – Original Watercolor Paintings ©CarolinaRusso

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

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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 GALLERY there 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!

Please follow me on Instagram @carolinarussoart

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“What makes me happy is to give happiness and inspire people through my Art, give feelings to the heart and deep to the soul!” – CR

I hope that you enjoyed this post and suggest you to read the book!
Wish you all a great week!

Thank You!

©Copiright Carolina Russo – yesterdayafter.com

New Release: Esme – Bringing alive a character with a painting! Collaboration with Author MJ Mallon

September 6, 2017September 7, 2017 Carolina Russo

Esme And The Mirror -Original Watercolor Painting by ©Carolina Russo – Portrait of Esme Inspired by the Book – “The Curse Of Time” #1 Bloodstone by Author MJ Mallon

Today I am happy to post about one of my latest collaboration and commission done during the month of August.
I have collaborated with British Author Marjorie J Mallon, she is a novel’s writer and a friend in our community here on WordPress.

She Blogs at MJ Mallon Author!

I always love to write the story behind the scene of my paintings. A while back I was contacted by MJ, she is one of my lovely long time followers from overseas. She loves my Art and followed my World Watercolor Month Collection, created in July, a challenge featuring 31 paintings in 31 days. MJ was touched by one of my paintings, inspiring the coming idea. Explained in her message to me indicating that her new book Kindle Edition “The Curse Of Time” #1 Bloodstone was close to be launched on August 26, (yes it is already happened!) and that she would’ve loved to collaborate with me, asking if I could create a painting for her. A portrait to illustrate her fiction character “Esme” and a digital image to be able to share it online! The idea was very exciting to me, I love book illustrations and of course, I wanted to create this special portrait. MJ gave me some interesting details about Esme, and enough was said that I let soon my creativity fly. I prepared a pencil sketch with my vision, MJ approved and I was ready to paint and bring the character alive. What a beautiful opportunity for both of us to collaborate while we are in two different countries, she is in UK and I am in US this is one side of the beauty of Blogging! Great connections can be made opening the doors of possibilities. I Blog from three years now and I had amazing connections and experiences. During this year is happened to me several times to collaborate and I love it.

While having our communications MJ gave me some interesting information and detail about what was important for her to showcase in my painting. Esme has long blond hair, the mirror, a face reflection, tears, a pink quartz crystal, a clock, and sunflowers + few more detail that I wont reveal to do not spoil her book! Not much I needed, to let my creativity and vision of Esme taking shape. I had my vision and MJ loved it! As you can see on my painting I added all the elements she gave me ” Esme, the crystal and the sunflowers are in foreground painted in a light delicate watercolor color palette that is in contrast with the images in the dark background, the clock and the mirror that are representing the unknown and the darkness.

I loved to create this intriguing painting which I gave the title “Esme And The Mirror” Esme is the name of one of the main characters in the book. MJ mentioned in one of her Blog posts this quote: “The tears in her eyes convey her sadness but the golden hair of the mysterious girl facing her (no spoilers!) is bright and vibrant, suggesting hope.” What a great message isn’t it? Well my painting represent Light and Darkness, Sadness and Hope.

Thank you so much MJ for supporting my art with our collaboration and commission! I had the opportunity to create this beautiful inspiring Portrait for you bringing alive your intriguing character Esme and have my Art connected with you and your new book! “The Curse Of Time” #1 Bloodstone to know more about it give MJ a visit on her Blog this is the link to her Book Launch Party Post

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Painting Release: The image of my painting isn’t included inside the book, but I am having a “New Release” here now!
First run of Limited Edition Fine Art Prints only #1/20 Prints are available for fans and collectors, fine art prints are numbered and hand signed by me!
If you like one for yourself or for a wonderful gift, the Print is beautiful, you can fully support my Art and preorder – purchase your Print here on my Blog, read all the info about price and shipping on my page Shop Art Prints

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Artist Details about the Original Painting:
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 GALLERY there are several Galleries find them in the drop down menu under Watercolors.

All my watercolor paintings are available for Pre-Order in Limited Edition Art Prints!

Please follow me on Instagram @carolinarussoart

❤

“What makes me happy is to give happiness and inspire people through my Art, give feelings to the heart and deep to the soul!” – CR

I hope that you enjoyed this behind the scene story!
Wish you all a great week!

Thank You!

©Copiright Carolina Russo – yesterdayafter.com

#WorldWatercolorGroup, Art, Community, Creativity, Custom Portraits, Drawings, Emotions, Ethereal, Fantasy Art, Friendship, Illustration, Indie, Ink Drawing, Life, My Paintings, One of a kind, Reblog, Surrealism Art, Watercolors

Dragons And Castles – Behind the scene of a commission painting!

March 4, 2017March 4, 2017 Carolina Russo

Dragons And Castles - Original Watercolor ©Carolina Russo — Dragons And Castles – Original Watercolor ©Carolina Russo

Today post is about one of my latest commission work!

I loved to create this painting title “Dragons and Castles” it was very inspiring and it goes to another kind and talented Fantasy Author, she is part of our Community her Blog is A.S.Akkalon I am sure some of you came across her Blog already!

Life is always a surprise!

Awhile ago I made the painting “Katie The Writer” you that follow my Blog maybe remember that post! And because a kind comment left me then, I got to know better Alecia aka A.S.Akkalon she left me a very nice comment telling me how much she loved my painting for Katie and the story behind it!

I responded to her comment: “Thank you very much in a way I am sure you can relate with it! You’re a writer I could’have portrait you with castle and dragon 😉 Thank you for stopping by my Blog and I love your comment!” ❤

The comments are what did bring us closer together and the beautiful surprise of her decision to custom order to me this painting. A Fantasy Portrait representing her with her cat and what she love to write about it in her fantasy stories. So a Dragon and a Castle were a must to paint! As part of my creative process we started to exchange emails and talk about her own idea and my vision of the painting and here there is the beautiful and interesting outcome! Alecia purchased the Original Watercolor Painting and a digital image to use on her Blog. At this moment her painting is in the hands of the postal service, is in transit going overseas all the way to beautiful New Zealand! Today Alecia couldn’t wait to receive the “Original” and she used the digital image to share a post about it, you can read it here it is “A dragon, a castle and an audiobook” visit her Blog there are lots of good and fun reading!

Thank you Alecia so much for supporting my art with your commission and for the opportunity to create this painting for you and have my Art in another beautiful part of the world!

I hope that you all enjoyed reading this post and to know more about behind the scenes of my paintings!

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Artist Details about the Original Painting:
My original watercolor painting is size 8×10 inches painted on acid free cold press 300gm archival watercolor paper.
and is outlined with black ink pens. I used French Artists Watercolors Sennelier. I used Pigma Micron pen Black ink #03 and a black ink Pilot Prera fountain pen with fine nib. The dragon scales and other parts are outlined with gold ink and white ink.
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P.S.
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 GALLERY there are several Galleries you find them in the drop down menu under Watercolors.

All my watercolors are available for Pre-Order in Limited Edition Art Prints

Please follow me on Instagram @carolinarussoart

❤

“What makes me happy is to give happiness and inspire people through my Art give feelings to the heart and deep to the soul!”

#worldwatercolorgroup

Wish you a great weekend!

Thank You!

#WorldWatercolorGroup, Art, Creativity, Drawings, Emotions, Friendship, Illustration, Indie, Ink Drawing, Life, My Paintings, One of a kind, Sketchbook, Watercolors

Katie The Writer – Life Behind A Painting

January 20, 2017January 20, 2017 Carolina Russo

Katie The Writer

Today post is about the story behind one of my latest watercolor painting. A commission work with the title of “Katie The Writer”. I really love to share the story because is a connection that has happened within our Community here on the Blogosphere. It’s beautiful how Bloggers can help each other and open doors. Something really nice happened to me at the end of the year, actually it was December 26, 2016. That morning I went to check my Blog messages as usual and between the comments I found a message from one of my dear followers Cyranny from the Blog Cyranny’s Cove, she mentioned to me that she had come across a post of another Blogger and while reading it Cyranny could only think about me . In her comment she left the mentioned post link.
I felt that was beautiful and very kind of her thinking of me. I headed to the Blog post which title was “Calling Out to all Artists!” the Blog is “The Life Of A Writer” and belong to Katie M. Dean. I didn’t know Katie and her Blog before and it was a nice discovery. In her post Katie was calling out to Artists because she had found a cute image that could represent her as writer, but she had a problem with something that she wanted different, Katie wanted the girl into the illustration to wear pants. 🙂
This is the Image that started it all:

Katie's found image that started it all! — Katie’s found image that started it all!

Well I left a comment to Katie, offering my artistic help to recreate something for her since I couldn’t modify a Copyrighted image. Soon we got connected via email and agreed to create a new watercolor painting representing Katie.
A commission work is always interesting for an artist and require some work in other directions than only paint. Since I had to customize and personalize what I would be painting, which is something existing, the life of a person, Katie is an aspiring young writer and not just something coming out of my creativity. I wanted to find all the elements to make my custom and personalized painting as close as possible to represent Katie fully. Including all the things she love, she believes and that she like. I went to read her Blog posts, her profiles, her social media presence, since we don’t know each other much we are new Blog friends. Something she told me, something I found out. Katie is a Christian, she play the Flute, she love coffee, she love to Write and two of her favorite characters are Yoda from “Star Wars” and Grumpy from “Snow White”, all these meaningful elements are included in my painting . My aim to create was to make Katie feel happy and recognize herself in the painting, nonetheless creating an inspiring and motivating image for her to see everyday, reminding who she is and what she wants in her future. I am so happy that Katie love the painting and that she feels that it’s her! She wrote a Blog post about this too ❤ you can read it here and discover her lovely Blog!

I want to thanks so much Cyranny, because of her caring spirit and thinking of me she was able to connect Katie and me behind the creation of this painting. A special thanks goes to Katie for trust and supporting my Art. Thank you!

I hope that you enjoyed reading this story and feel inspired to help one another!
Have a great weekend ❤

P.S.
If you like my art and like to have a Custom Painting or illustration from me,
just Contact me! 🙂

“What makes me happy is to give happiness and inspire people through my Art give feelings to the heart and deep to the soul!” ❤

Thank You!

Art, Awards, Awards nominations, Creativity, Digital Art, Events, Illustration, Indie, Messages to readers, Photography, Poetry, Published work

I have been nominated for the First Annual Spillwords Press Award 2017 (Vote)

January 16, 2017January 16, 2017 Carolina Russo

Welcome-To-Spillwords — Award Nomination 2017

I am very happy and so excited because few days ago I have received an email
indicating that I have been nominated for
the First Annual Spillwords Press Award 2017
under the Category Original Artwork (Artists) of Spillwords.com

if you’re an author or member with a easy log in via Facebook or Twitter you can support.
If you like my Art and what I do, you can vote for me!
For an independent artist like me your support means everything!

During the 2016 my Poetry illustrated with my Digital Art and Photography has been Published on Spillwords Press four times.
I loved to contribute and I am looking forward for new submission this year.

Here there are my published poems

Emotions – Poem – First published on Spillwords.com Press on 5/8/2016
Deep Water – Short Story – First Published on Spillwords.com Press on 6/3/2016
Open Your Wings – Poem – First Published on Spillwords.com Press on 6/22/2016
Overwhelming Beauty – Poem – First Published on Spillwords.com Press on 12/27/2016