Sketchbook – Page 12 – Carolina Russo Art

#NatureDoodlewash, Art, Creativity, Doodlewash, Draw A Bird Day, Drawings, Events, Illustration, Life, Love, My Paintings, National Days, Nature, Sketch Book, Watercolors, World Watercolor Month, World Watercolor Month

Girl With a Bird – #NatureDoodlewash

June 8, 2016June 8, 2016 Carolina Russo

Girl With Bird - Original Watercolor ©Carolina Russo — Girl With a Bird – Original Watercolor ©Carolina Russo

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!

Details about my doodlewash:
watercolor outlined with black and Brown ink pen. I used French Artists Watercolors Sennelier l’Aguarelle 12 demi-godets half-pans travel metal box and Pigma Micron Black ink #005 and Brown ink pen #01 Pink gel pen. Painted over a Mixed Media Sketchbook!

With this watercolor I am also joining Charlie at doodlewash for a #NatureDoodlewash and Laura for Draw a Bird Day over at Create Art Everyday!

You all are welcome to join with your doodlewash! If you do don’t forget to “Tag” your image.

#NatureDoodlewash and #DrawABirdDay

Happy Doodles!

©Carolina Russo

©Copyright Carolina Russo – yesterdayafter.com

Art, Creativity, Doodlewash, Drawings, Illustration, Life, Love, My Paintings, Nature, Sketch Book, Watercolors

Spring Bloom – #NatureDoodlewash

June 6, 2016 Carolina Russo

Spring Bloom - Original Watercolor ©Carolina Russo — Spring Bloom – Original Watercolor ©Carolina Russo

Today I wanted to honor the Spring Season with this lovely “Cherry Blossom”.

Before Spring will say goodbye to us and we will welcome the Summer, I wanted to paint one flower that is pretty much a worldwide symbol of this beautiful season.
The Cherry Blossom is recognized to be the National flower of Japan and in Japanese is known as “Sakura”. A flower found now pretty much everywhere in the world and there are many varieties. The flowers are pink or white. In the Japanese culture the Cherry Blossoms symbolize clouds due to their nature and their way of blooming as group of flowers that looks like clouds. This lovely flower also holds various meanings like joy, love, hope, humility and more.

Details about my doodlewash:
watercolor outlined with black ink pen. I used French Artists Watercolors Sennelier l’Aguarelle 12 demi-godets half-pans travel metal box and Pigma Micron Black ink #005 painted over a Canson Mixed Media Sketchpad!

With this watercolor I am also joining Charlie at doodlewash for a #NatureDoodlewash

You all are welcome to join with your doodlewash! If you do don’t forget to “Tag” your image.

#NatureDoodlewash

Happy Doodles!

©Carolina Russo

©Copyright Carolina Russo – yesterdayafter.com

Art, Creativity, Doodlewash, Drawings, Illustration, My Paintings, Nature, Sketch Book, Watercolors

Hibiscus – #NatureDoodlewash

June 4, 2016June 4, 2016 Carolina Russo

Hibiscus - Original Watercolor ©Carolina Russo — Hibiscus – Original Watercolor ©Carolina Russo

Today is a very hot day here in California!

Yes, we are having an heat wave for this weekend. And with this temperatures isn’t too much fun to go hike!
I love to hike and I usually go several time a week but not today, so I decided that my #NatureDoodlewash hike will be close to home.

My friend has a wonderful plant of Hibiscus outside her backyard and I love the flowers especially the color and shape. I decided to use them for my watercolor.

Hibiscus is better known as the flower symbol of Haiti, but with the climate here the plant grows beautifully!

Hibiscus is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It is quite large, containing several hundred species that are native to warm-temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world. Member species are often noted for their showy flowers and are commonly known simply as hibiscus, or less widely known as rose mallow. The genus includes both annual and perennial herbaceous plants, as well as woody shrubs and small trees. The generic name is derived from the Greek word ἱβίσκος, which was the name Pedanius Dioscorides gave to Althaea officinalis. (Wikipedia)

With this watercolor I am also joining Charlie at doodlewash for a #NatureDoodlewash

You all are welcome to join with your doodlewash! Tag your image.

#NatureDoodlewash

Happy Doodles!

©Carolina Russo

©Copyright Carolina Russo – yesterdayafter.com

Art, Creativity, Doodlewash, Drawings, Illustration, My Paintings, Nature, Sketch Book, Watercolors

Apple Pie – #DoodlewashDinner

May 19, 2016May 19, 2016 Carolina Russo

Apple Pie Original Watercolor ©Carolina Russo

Today I am bringing to our Doodlewash Dinner a lovely Apple Pie. I missed to post it on the National Apple Pie Day because I had no time to finish my watercolor and finally I had time to finish it today 😉 I think that Apple Pie is always welcome to any dinner. I love anything made with apples especially combined with the flavor of cinnamon.

I hope that you enjoy the pie!

Details about my doodlewash:
watercolor outlined with brown ink pen. I used French Artists Watercolors Sennelier l’Aguarelle 12 demi-godets half-pans travel metal box and Pigma Micron Brown ink #01 painted over a Canson Mixed Media Sketchpad!

With this watercolor I am also joining Charlie at doodlewash for a #DoodlewashDinner

You all are welcome to join with your doodlewash! Tag your image #DoodlewashDinner

#DoodlewashDinner

Happy Doodles!

©Carolina Russo

©Copyright Carolina Russo – yesterdayafter.com

Art, Creativity, Doodlewash, Drawings, Illustration, Life, Love, My Paintings, Nature, Sketch Book, Watercolors

Illustration – A Whimsical Creature – #doodlewashaday

May 16, 2016 Carolina Russo

Today I am sharing this watercolor that I made few days ago and I gave the title of “Whimsical Creature”!

I wanted watercolor an imaginary girl who has a beautiful face and that will represent the “Nature” I can see in her the Earth, the Water, the Air.
She brings to the world love, flowers and happiness! ❤

With this watercolor I am also joining Charlie at doodlewash for a #doodlewashaday and #DoodlewashDinner

Note>>>(Charlie if you consider that I am bringing the Nature to our dinner it will work!) 😉

You all are welcome to join with your doodlewash!

Tag your image:

#doodlewashaday #DoodlewashDinner

Happy Doodles!

©Carolina Russo

©Copyright Carolina Russo – yesterdayafter.com

Art, Doodlewash, Drawings, Illustration, National Days, Nature, Sketch Book, Watercolors

#DoodlewashDinner – National Shrimp Day!

May 9, 2016May 10, 2016 Carolina Russo

Shrimp - Original Watercolor ©Carolina Russo — Shrimp – Original Watercolor ©Carolina Russo

Today I found out that is National Shrimp Day which is perfect for our Doodlewash Dinner!

Shrimps are delicious and a great source of Omega3 they are consumed worldwide and there are numerous dishes and recipes to choose from paired with some nice white wine. I was born on a city on the Mediterranean Sea in Italy “Naples” which is very close to the famous Capri Island and to the well-known Amalfi Coast where there are amazing places to go to eat fresh and great seafood which is a favorite to many!

Think about a great Shrimp Saute or a fresh Shrimp Cocktail, or more a great quick Shrimp linguini and so on… I know we’re getting hungry here! 😉
For my watercolor today I painted a single beautiful Shrimp I couldn’t choose any dish… so I wanted to paint the beauty of the shrimp itself which is a lovely sea creature!

Details about my doodlewash:
I used a basic watercolor palette Artist’s Loft Fundamental watercolor pan set this pan set is considered for beginners but I enjoy use it for the variety of colors and for sketching. I also used a Pigma Micron Black Ink pen #005 and Brown #01 over a Mix Media sketchbook!

With this National Shrimp Day I join Charlie at doodlewash for a #DoodlewashDinner! You are welcome to join with your doodlewash!
Tag your image #DoodlewashDinner.

#doodlewashaday #DoodlewashDinner #NationalShrimpDay

Happy Doodles!

©Carolina Russo

©Copyright Carolina Russo – yesterdayafter.com

Art, Doodlewash, Drawings, Illustration, Indie, National Days, Sketch Book, Uncategorized, Watercolors

National Crepe Suzette Day – #DoodlewashDinner

May 7, 2016May 7, 2016 Carolina Russo

Crepe Suzette - Original Watercolor ©Carolina Russo — Crepe Suzette – Original Watercolor ©Carolina Russo

Today is National Crepe Suzette Day!

I enjoyed to watercolor this delicious French Dessert I had no much time so I made it very fast and post it very late since I wasn’t home! I love Crepes they can be made sweet or salty and this day brings up my memories of travelling to France years ago when I was still in Italy I had the opportunity to travel and visit beautiful places in Europe. I have been to France twice and both times was wonderful. I remember when In one of the two trip I visited the French Atlantic Coast going to Bretagne and Normandy I visited lovely places on the coast and I ate lots of Crepes, they were so delicious and often made just in front of me. I loved all the sweet ones, but I also loved the seafood ones! I had great time there! I hope that for today you enjoy my watercolor ones! 😉

Crêpe Suzette

Crêpe Suzette is a French dessert consisting of a crêpe with beurre Suzette, a sauce of caramelized sugar and butter, tangerine or orange juice, zest, and Grand Marnier or orange Curaçao liqueur on top, served flambé.

I found a recipe that seems to be original French if you would like to try to make them here is the recipe! ❤

You can read more facts about the origins of the Crepe Suzette here!

With this National Crepe Suzette Day I join Charlie at doodlewash celebrating a #DoodlewashDinner! You are welcome to join with your doodlewash!
Tag your image #DoodlewashDinner.

#doodlewashaday #DoodlewashDinner

Happy Doodles!

©Carolina Russo

©Copyright Carolina Russo – yesterdayafter.com

Art, Doodlewash, Drawings, Illustration, Indie, Life, Sketch Book, Watercolors

Illustration – Friends

May 3, 2016 Carolina Russo

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.

#doodlewashaday

Happy doodlewashes!

Art, Doodlewash, Drawings, Illustration, My Paintings, Watercolors

National Pigs In A Blanket Day

April 24, 2016April 24, 2016 Carolina Russo

Pig In A Blanket — Pigs In A Blanket – Original Watercolor ©Carolina Russo

Today for April month celebrations is National Pigs in a Blanket Day!

This morning when I was looking at the National Days Calendar, finding my inspiration for my watercolor to do, I find out that the celebration was about pigs in a blanket, and my mind started to think about the cute and sweet pink little baby pigs, you know…the ones that you want to cuddle and hold in your arms. Also a lovely kids story came to my mind the famous “Charlotte’s Web” which I love!

But soon I realized that the celebration is about “Food” that pigs in a blanket are referred to different dishes that are celebrated Internationally.
Here in United States this dish is known from the 50s and is made with hot dogs or sausages wrapped with croissant or biscuit dough and baked in oven, they can be an anytime snack or eaten for breakfast or as appetizer and very often are served at kids parties because they are very easy to eat and tasty.

I felt that all my nice inspiration went away and I thought, I am not going to watercolor today! I will pass this day.

The image in my mind was totally different believe me, if you ever did see or had the opportunity to hold one of these cute baby pig, you will never want think to eat a pigs in a blanket and other products again also because the way that are produced. I personally don’t eat them, and please forgive me if you eat them I am not here to offend anyone!

After thinking about it, I changed my mind and decided that the beautiful part of being an artist is to let your creativity be “Free” and I decided to go on and watercolor my ideal of “Pig In A Blanket”

Pig In A Blanket - Original Watercolor ©Carolina Russo — Pig In A Blanket – Original Watercolor ©Carolina Russo

Details about my doodlewash:
watercolor with black and blue ink finish. I used one of my favorite French Artists Watercolors Sennelier l’Aguarelle 12 demi-godets half-pans travel metal box and Pigma Micron Black Ink pen #005 and #05 Pentel Blue ink pen over a Mixed Media Sketchbook!

With this Celebration I am also join Charlie at doodlewash celebrating a National or International Day with a doodlewash! You are welcome to join with your doodlewash! Tag your image#doodlewashaday.

#doodlewashaday #NationalPigsInABlanket

Happy doodles and have a great day or evening!

Art, Doodlewash, Drawings, Illustration, Sketch Book, Uncategorized, Watercolors

National Pineapple Upside Down Cake Day

April 21, 2016 Carolina Russo

Today for April month celebrations I celebrate a (bit late) National Pineapple Upside Down Cake Day!
I am surprised that there are so many unofficial National Days and some of them are very inspiring and great prompts for my doodlewash motivation!

This cake has a fascinating history
It was invented because several other convenience items were developed that gave the housewife time to make a cake pretty as well as delicious.

The idea of cooking a cake upside down, is an old technique that started centuries ago when cakes were cooked in cast iron skillets. It was easy for cook to add fruit and sugar in the bottom of the pan and a simple cake batter on top and put it over the fire to cook.
Then flipping it over onto a plate was a natural way to show the pretty fruit and let it run into the cake as well.

The idea of the pineapple soon after 1911 when one of James Dole’s engineer had invented a machine to cut his pineapples into nice rings. Soon the convenient and pretty rings were used in this age old technique of the skillet cake. The invention of the maraschino cherry added the necessary color needed to make this cake stunning.
(Source: kitchenproject.com)

This old-fashioned cake is truly delicious I made it several times and it is always a joy to eat!
I couldn’t find my own recipe but I found one here that looks similar and pretty good to me I will link it in case you like to try and if you do it let me know how turned out! ❤
Pineapple Upside Down Cake – Recipe

Details about my doodlewash:
watercolor with brown ink finish. I used one of my favorite French Artists Watercolors Sennelier l’Aguarelle 12 demi-godets half-pans travel metal box and Pigma Micron Brown Ink pen #01 over a Mixed Media Sketchbook!

With this Celebration of National Pineapple Upside Down Cake Day, I am also join Charlie at doodlewash celebrating a National or International Day with a doodlewash! You are welcome to join with your doodlewash! Tag your image#doodlewashaday.

#doodlewashaday #PineappleUpsideDownCakeDay

Happy doodles and have a great day or evening!