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2018 And My Artistic Happenings…

Forest Goddess – Original Watercolor ©Carolina Russo

A recap throughout the 2018 and all my Artistic happenings.

January 2018 the year begins with the Publication of one of my Poems….what a nice start of the year!

Visual Verse Published my New Poem “Abstract Dream”!

Image by Candice Seplow
VisualVerse Anthology

This month I have participated to the  monthly writing event that brings together Art and Words on VisualVerse.org Anthology Press.
This was a nice achievement of my creative writings. My poem is included in Visual Verse Anthology Literary Press and  published on another of their Chapter. This is my sixth Published piece on Visual Verse!
Here you can read all my published poems and short stories:  visualverse.org/writers/carolina-russo/

You can read my poem here:
  Visual Verse  Anthology – Vol. 05 Chapter 03 –  “Abstract Dream” Page 82

 

January made me a Winner…
A new year is a fresh start for a new beginning, hope and realization of dreams, may the beginning of this year fill you with love, inspiration and new strength to succeed in what you love.

Mystical Multitude – Original Watercolor Graphite ©Carolina Russo

I  was honored to announce that I was one of the six “Winners” chosen by UntwineAustralia participating to their first word prompt Contest for 2018  @untwine.australia #newbeginnings  I have participated on Instagram posting my Watercolor – Graphite painting title: “Mystical Multitude”.
This beautiful painting is available in Limited Edition Fine Art Signed Prints if anyone is interested just Contact me directly ❤

In the end of January…

spillwords.com

My 5.7.5 Haiku  “New Year illustrated with one of my watercolor paintings was Published on Spillwords Press and included in the project “Reading Sunday” I am so honored and happy that two of my creations were published at the same time.

Original Watercolor Painting by ©CarolinaRusso

I am honored to be listed as one Spillwords contributor writers, you can read more of my published poetry on Spillwords/Author/Carolina Russo That was my first Haiku published in 2018.

February begin with great Collaborations…

Day #9: Ghoul – Stillness video (Rigna Folk)

Art And Music together can create magic!
I have collaborated with the band RIGNA FOLK a great Indie band from Germany, I love their music and they love my art! I think is beautiful that we crossed paths! We Collaborated and I have created a video displaying a selection of my paintings having as soundtrack one of their beautiful songs. The video title is Stillness and you can watch it here:  Art Inspiring Magic – Stillness – (Video)


A Book Illustrations…

Watercolor Illustrations ©CarolinaRusso

I had a wonderful and interesting Project, I have collaborated with Author Marjorie Mallon! I created the illustrations for her wonderful new novel book “The Curse Of TIme – Bloodstone book #1” released in April 2018. My two Characters Portraits “Esme The Mirror Girl” and “Euterac The Creature” were included in black and white in the paperback book and in color in the Kindle edition. We had a wonderful collaboration and is a great project that will continue in 2019 since M. Mallon is writing the second book.
You can read all about our first book collaboration in a Blog Post that I wrote last April for the book release you can read it here!

 

June brings Tributes and Support…

My Watercolor Paintings a Tribute In Loving Memory of Scott Hutchinson (20/11/81 – 10/5/18) R.I.P 
Scott  was a wonderful music artist that deeply touched the heart and soul of many around the world. He was the founding member of Scottish indie rock band Frightened Rabbit

Scott Hutchison Tribute Portrait – Watercolor ©CarolinaRusso

 

Not All Is Lost – Watercolor ©Carolina Russo

Months has passed by and here we are in July!

July brings sadness and joy… sadness because I lost two wonderful pets they went over the rainbow bridge. I was very sad to lose Rocky a rescued Chihuahua and my loved Yumi a wonderful and amazing rescued Possum!

Love You Forever R.I.P. Rocky 6/29/2018
Love You Forever R.I.P. Yumi 7/9/2018

But I also have a nice news,
because during July I have submitted a few paintings on Instagram to the #Pentalic365 Challenge and one is my “Ectoplasma” which made me to be selected as  the Pentalic 365 Winner for the month of July! I am so honored!

Ectoplasma – Watercolor Painting ©CarolinaRusso

See their post Pentalic365 I won a beautiful prize  they sent me a wonderful box full of great Pentalic Sketchbooks in different sizes for my watercolor paintings! I am so thankful and I love it!

August brings my redesigned Blog and my New Shop!


A new goal and achievement!
It was awhile that I had in mind to redesign my Blog! After three years I felt the need to start fresh, change the look and make it more mine using my own art. I have been working on this project for several weeks and made as it looks today! I hope you enjoy the new look and new navigation system through the pages I hope you find it easy! Another very important and primary goal redesigning this Blog  was to include my “New SHOP” so that everything is in one place Website/Blog/ Shop!

Original Watercolor Painting by ©CarolinaRusso

I have created my own Shop and it’s not the standard  e-shop with the cart that you find everywhere! Follow my guided pages while you visiting my Shop and you would see how easy it is to purchase my Art and have a direct contact with me throughout your shopping experience.
In the occasion of the New Blob/Shop launch I wanted to celebrate and I had my first GIVEAWAY here on the Blog!

Coffee Painting Week 3 – Alice In Wonderland – Original Coffee and Watercolor ©Carolina Russo

The winner was Author Marjorie Mallon as prize she won one of my Limited Edition Prints “Hand Enhanced” and it was my “Alice in Wonderland- Tea Party” Coffee Painting!

September my Birthday month brings Interviews…
In September I posted My interview with Musician Composer and Independent Artist:  Viktor Norðir 

Digital Art Portrait – Viktor Nordir – ©Carolina Russo

I also had a “New Release” of my latest Digital Art Portrait part of my Project  “ART FOR MUSIC “  included in my Concept Collection“When Nature Meets Humans”the artistic portrait that you see featured in my interview as the opening image of this post is my new digital creation a artwork dedicated and inspired by Viktor Norðir.

During this month I had a wonderful invitation to be Interviewed by Author MJ Mallon!

Please read the Interview she had some great questions for me and I loved to answer all of them, so that you all will know me better and who is the Artist behind her book illustrations!  You can read it here: A Huge Welcome To Artist Carolina Russo

 

October daily drawing month 31 days 31 drawings….

The month of October brings beautiful worldwide Art Challenges the most known is Inktober This was my third year participating. I have combined two challenges together following a double prompts list and I made it to the end, I have created a beautiful collection of 31 days drawings!

Inktober Double Challenge – Drawlloweentober 2018 ©CarolinaRusso

You can see all of the 31 drawings in my Inktober Gallery Drawlloweentober 2018 


November is Winter and Holidays time…

My HOLIDAYS ART SPECIAL SERIES –

Day #12 – The Shiniest Star – Robin

Open Edition Signed Mini Prints and Sets were released including Christmas Greeting Cards available in my Shop!


“ART FOR MUSIC” 

from almost the whole year I have collaborated with Scottish music artist  Nu-San I was commissioned to create an Original watercolor painting for the Cover of

Original Watercolor Painting by ©CarolinaRusso

his New Album “Nu Nostalgia” has been released in December as Vinyl Limited Edition Record and coming soon in CDs.

December ends the year beautifully…

To start December there is the 15 Days of Holidays Art Challenge where participating I have created my new Holidays Art Series for the next year 2019 my prints and cards would be available next December! You can see here my paintings series for  Wintmas 2018 Gallery

This month I was finally able to share the finished product  and Album release Art For Music – Album Cover Design and Album Release

It is a wonderful feeling to see this Album with my painting on the cover the finished product is beautiful!


December goes on with….

Another International Collaboration for “RAZUR CUTS” MagaZINE!

Razur Cuts VI – Magazine Cover by ©CarolinaRusso

All the way from beautiful Scotland, UK 🇬🇧 to USA 🇺🇸 California a great indie publication  “Razur Cuts VI” by Editor Derek Steel is now available it was just released the 12/19/2018! I feel so honored and proud to be part of such a wonderful project as Razur Cuts contributor and to be one of the Artists invited to create the Cover for this issue and Published!
Limited Edition Prints of my Cover artwork are now available in my Shop on my page SHOP PRINTS

December latest painting release and end of the year…
and the last for the 2018 year is included in my  ART FOR MUSIC Series! The new watercolor painting Release is Robert Smith “THE CURE” Watercolor Painting Portrait – Prints “Hand Enhanced” are available now!

Robert Smith – Art For Music Series – ©CarolinaRusso

This has been a very nice working year my Art took part in great Projects around the world. I had beautiful collaborations and great outcomes! I also had new followers and friends, I am so grateful for all the happenings, there is a lot behind each of these beautiful projects. Thank you so much to everyone that believed in my art and me and made all this possible! I am looking forward to see what will happen in the 2019… ❤

Best Wishes to all for a Happy and Great New Year 2019!
Be always thankful and grateful for what you have and may you be blessed and be a blessing to others in the New Year!

Thank You!

©Copyright Carolina Russo – yesterdayafter.com

Challenge, Community, Creativity, Messages to readers, Milestones, Reblog, Uncategorized

MY VERY FIRST POST – #MYFIRSTPOSTREVISITED

My First Post Revisited!
My First Post Revisited!

MY VERY FIRST POST – #MYFIRSTPOSTREVISITED

A tag started by a blogger/writer called Sarah Brentyn, asking us to revisit our first ever blog posts! ❤

I have been invited by two of my dearest friends here on the blogosphere my dear blog brother Syl65′ and my dear blog sister Erika Kind they both tagged me for this challenge! I thought that was very kind of them thinking of me and what a great way to look back and see how all this amazing time started. Actually It is almost two years ago that I started blogging, to be precise it was the end of March 2015! Soon this month would be my second Blog Anniversary!!! I remembered that my first post was about my Jewelry, that was one of the reasons my Blog was born, to launch one side of my art, my Jewelry Design Collections! I went to look back and found my very first post written on March 24, 2015 only few words, one of my photos and a shy  update announcement! After two years my Blog forged and developed greatly in something complete that reflects what I am. My Blog became also a showroom of all my Art ways, form and expression of my creativity and inspirations. A place of my own that I love so very much, a place where I can share with all of you. A special thanks goes to all my dear followers and friends that supported and encouraged me during these two great years! Thank you!

❤ Here it is my very first Blog Post:

New Update!

 

Fossil Seashells Necklace
Fossil Seashells Necklace

New update “Jewelry Portfolio” is a gallery showcasing my work, I will keep updating!
I am now up working on new designs for my  “Among Nature Jewelry Collection” and on some custom orders.   Soon my Etsy shop would be open!

hand signature logo copy
Thank You!

 

Here we come to the rules:

Obvious rules:

  • No cheating. (It must be your first post. Not your second post, not one you love…first post only.)
  • Link back to the person who tagged you (thank them if you feel like it or, if not, curse them with a plague of ladybugs).

Other rules:

  • Cut and paste your old post into a new post or reblog your own bad self. (Either way is fine but NO editing.)
  • Put the hashtag #MyFirstPostRevisited in your title.
  • Tag…um…tentwotwelve five (5) other bloggers to take up this challenge.
  • Notify your tags in the comment section of their blog (don’t just hope they notice a pingback somewhere in their spam).
  • Feel free to cut and paste the badge to use in your post.
  • Include “the rules” in your post.

Completely silly rules that I’m making up as I type:

  • Drink a glass of wine, bottle of beer, cup of coffee, mug of herbal tea or whatever floats your boat after you hit “publish”. (In other words, toast yourself. Go you!)
  • Read the post out loud in a Mickey Mouse voice.


Here there are my tag choices:

❤  Miriam

❤  Mark Lanesbury

Jodi McKinney 

Joleene Naylor

Just Plain Ol’ Vic


You are by no mean obligated to participate but if you do would be a fun way to look at your Blog growth and transformation!

Thank you again Syl and Erika for including me in your Tag it was fun to look back to the beginning!

Love you all!

Carolina

 

Copyright ©Carolina Russo – yesterdayafter.com

Emotions, Events, Friendship, Life, Love, Messages to readers, Milestones, Ocean, Photography, Uncategorized

Anniversary 14 years in USA! And Anniversary for my Blog!

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

c599f0be1f4aa79f8c6321aa7953c89eI 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!

anniversary-2x

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!

Starlight Blogger Award 05/30/2015In 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.

YA_Feature
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!

hand-signature-logo-copyright copy
Thank You!

©Copyright Carolina Russo – yesterdayafter.com

Events, Messages to readers, Milestones

Happy Anniversary! 13 years in USA and Anniversary for my Blog! ;-)

Los Angeles International Airport

Yesterday August 22 was my 13 years Anniversary here in USA I moved from Italy in 2002
and lived in California since then, I just wanted to share this with my WP friends also because yesterday was my Anniversary on WordPress a nice coincidence!

anniversary-2x

Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com!
You registered on WordPress.com 3 years ago!
Thanks for flying with us.
Keep up the good blogging!

I had my Blog active on WordPress for about more than 2 years without posting anything!
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 Designs Collections expanding my horizons.
I was only working on the graphics and designs to customize the Theme layout of this Blog reflecting my own creativity.  I wanted to launch it as soon I was ready, but no any word was ever posted also some life events slowed the process. Then one day almost 5 months ago it was the end of March, I decided to jump in and made a very small first post announcing the opening of my Etsy Shop.
I felt like I was a drop into the ocean, almost impossible to be seen in between the millions of other Blogs.
Then people started to discover my presence I was posting once in a while my Jewelry and Artworks and I got very nice feedback! As Artist I express my Art 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.
Also I decided to go around leaving comments, 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 started to follow my Blog recognizing me with Awards. I felt very honored for such a beautiful recognition.

Starlight Blogger Award 05/30/2015In May 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 around the world a lot! Bloggers link to me and I have chance to discover new intersting Blogs.

Ten weeks ago I decided that I wanted to do something to give back to this beautiful Community starting my Meet and Greet Event  where every week I choose to Feature one Blogger and Blog that I admire and I am Inspired from, introducing  them to inspire others.

YA_Feature
I felt very welcome here during those months I discovered amazing Blogs and Bloggers that are beautiful friends!
I am stunned and amazed about the fast growth it’s fascinating!
…..THANK YOU to ALL…..
each one of you made this happen with me!

I am very happy because our strength together it’s very powerful and encouraging to keep going for all of us…
Stay connected and support each other good things will come!

-CR