cellabella-illuminates

[cellabella-illuminates]

I'm *finally* working on making a wholesale catalog so maybe eventually you could buy my cards at a catholic gift shop near you!

I'm going to start local and then branch out. I might reach out to my home parish in ATX since they have a little gift shop too.

#cella bella illuminations

[cellabella-illuminates]

Pages 26 and 27 of my 2017-2018 watercolor sketchbook/journal.

Top page is a sketch for an illustration commissioned by a friend for his now fiancée. It's of a scientist encountering a volcanic dragon.

On the bottom page is a journal entry from when someone recognized me walking down the street as their friend's roommate. It was a little startling because I didn't know them lol. There rest of the page includes sweaty Cella and an unfinished painting of my hand.

#cella's watercolor journal #i still have that purse #and you might notice it was on the previous page as well #in fact you might notice repeated articles of clothing or accessories throughout lol #you could make it into an 'i spy' game

[cellabella-illuminates]

Since May is the month of Mary, I will share one of my illustrations, card, and/or icon for every day of May - so be on the look out :)

#I literally have so many because as a catholic artist of course I draw a lot of our mama #catholic

[cellabella-illuminates]

Happy Feast Day!

Happy April, everyone!

St. Catherine of Siena's feast day is April 29th - if you have anyone in your life who is a fan of this Doctor of the Church, you could gift them this print on her feast day because I finally put them in my shop!

About my illustration and print as well as a little about St. Catherine of Siena:

This is a 5” x 7”  limited edition giclée print (ten editions) on Epson Somerset Velvet - 255 gsm, certified archival paper. Each print is signed, titled, and numbered. Also, the halo on each print is hand-painted with gold gouache, giving each print a unique reflective quality. Shipping and archival picture-framing tips are included.

St. Catherine of Siena, a third-order Dominican from the 14th century, is one of the first female saints named a Doctor of the Church; patron saint of Europe, Italy, journalists, mediators, and people ridiculed for their faith.

In this image, Saint Catherine is standing between Italy and France (Italy is behind her and France is in front of her). She is holding a crucifix in her right hand, as well as a pink rose and a lily, symbols of love and purity. She is extending her left hand toward the border of France (and the viewer) calling the Pope back to Rome. 

This is referencing the time during which the Pope had left Rome for the French city of Avignon, which had resulted in a crisis within the Church called the Great Schism of the West, in which multiple men backed by different kings claimed the papacy. Through her letters, Catherine persuaded Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome from France, persuading also other rulers to recognize the true pope. In addition to calling the Pope back to Rome, she was essential for diplomatic missions to negotiate a peace with Florence. St. Catherine had a gift for telling men to get off their asses and bringing peace. In my illustration, she is reaching out to the viewer, looking directly at them, reminding them of the same thing: get up and do what the Lord has called you to do.

On her head is a crown of thorns, symbolizing a vision she had five years before her death in which Christ offered her a golden crown, symbolizing earthly riches, or a crown of thorns, symbolizing the glory of heaven through suffering in this life (St. Catherine chose the latter). She is also shown with the stigmata on her hands, which she also received in a mystical vision five years before her death.

#catholic #st. catherine of siena #art

[cellabella-illuminates]

Pages 24 and 25 of my 2017-2018 watercolor sketchbook/journal.

Left page was a customer interaction while working at Framers' Workroom in Tenleytown, DC where they offered DIY picture framing with expert guidance. Sometimes the expert guidance was declined.

Right page has a couple self portraits and a random doodle.

#the skirt I'm wearing on the left page was a gift from my dads mom to my mom but now gifted to me #cella's watercolor journal

[cellabella-illuminates]

Pages 22 and 23 of my 2017-2018 watercolor sketchbook/journal.

Top page is a witch sitting on a train of the DC metro from another inktober witch-themed prompt.

Bottom page is an illustration of me lugging my old suitcase along using my purse as a handle. The wheels of that suitcase were horrendously useless on any sidewalk of the DMV area but I had yet to acquire my own car so I was very reliant on walking/public transportation.

I don't remember from when/where I was traveling but I do remember that suitcase, hahaha, it was so bulky lol

#cella's watercolor journal

[cellabella-illuminates]

Pages 20 and 21 of my 2017-2018 watercolor sketchbook/journal.

Left page is from an inktober prompt that was witch-themed I think.

Bottom (right) page includes a few funny little sketches of me with @theoneman-army and a random girl with a hat.

#cella's watercolor journal #inktober

[cellabella-illuminates]

Pages 18 and 19 of my 2017-2018 watercolor sketchbook/journal.

Lots of little doodles of @theoneman-army and I together. I think I was following a prompt list but I'm not sure which one.

On the bottom left corner is one of my brothers, haha. On the same page is me getting caught drinking some beer and eating snacks on my period.

#cella's watercolor journal

[cellabella-illuminates]

Pages 16 and 17 of my 2017-2018 watercolor sketchbook/journal.

Patterns! That's it, lol.

#cella's watercolor journal

[cellabella-illuminates]

Pages 14 and 15 of my 2017-2018 watercolor sketchbook/journal.

Left page contains a little figure drawing, study of my fist, and a cartoon self portrait.

Right page is from when I was on my period, illustrating what that suffering feels like.

#cella's watercolor journal

[cellabella-illuminates]

Pages 12 and 13 of my 2017-2018 watercolor sketchbook/journal.

Left page is a design for the lovely @mademoisellesarcasme and the right page has some sketches for the St. Francis International School in Silver Spring, MD.

#cella's watercolor journal

[cellabella-illuminates]

Pages 10 and 11 of my 2017-2018 watercolor sketchbook/journal.

Left page is a comic I doodled inspired by a business idea of @mademoisellesarcasme, who could add pockets to any article of clothing that was missing pockets they needed!

On the right page is a sketch of me with @theoneman-army from some snapchat filter and a few random sketches I don't remember any purpose to. Also, a tiny sketch for the business card idea :) it will make sense when you see the next page.

#cella's watercolor journal

[cellabella-illuminates]

Happy April, everyone!

St. Catherine of Siena's feast day is April 29th - if you have anyone in your life who is a fan of this Doctor of the Church, you could gift them this print on her feast day because I finally put them in my shop!

About my illustration and print as well as a little about St. Catherine of Siena:

This is a 5” x 7”  limited edition giclée print (ten editions) on Epson Somerset Velvet - 255 gsm, certified archival paper. Each print is signed, titled, and numbered. Also, the halo on each print is hand-painted with gold gouache, giving each print a unique reflective quality. Shipping and archival picture-framing tips are included.

St. Catherine of Siena, a third-order Dominican from the 14th century, is one of the first female saints named a Doctor of the Church; patron saint of Europe, Italy, journalists, mediators, and people ridiculed for their faith.

In this image, Saint Catherine is standing between Italy and France (Italy is behind her and France is in front of her). She is holding a crucifix in her right hand, as well as a pink rose and a lily, symbols of love and purity. She is extending her left hand toward the border of France (and the viewer) calling the Pope back to Rome. 

This is referencing the time during which the Pope had left Rome for the French city of Avignon, which had resulted in a crisis within the Church called the Great Schism of the West, in which multiple men backed by different kings claimed the papacy. Through her letters, Catherine persuaded Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome from France, persuading also other rulers to recognize the true pope. In addition to calling the Pope back to Rome, she was essential for diplomatic missions to negotiate a peace with Florence. St. Catherine had a gift for telling men to get off their asses and bringing peace. In my illustration, she is reaching out to the viewer, looking directly at them, reminding them of the same thing: get up and do what the Lord has called you to do.

On her head is a crown of thorns, symbolizing a vision she had five years before her death in which Christ offered her a golden crown, symbolizing earthly riches, or a crown of thorns, symbolizing the glory of heaven through suffering in this life (St. Catherine chose the latter). She is also shown with the stigmata on her hands, which she also received in a mystical vision five years before her death.

#her feast day is coming up! #catholic

[cellabella-illuminates]

my sweet lord

#reblogging for reference #particularly the last one bc of the fabric #jesus

[cellabella-illuminates]

Laudare, Benedicere, Predicare...

And for these, Dominic treasured prayer, study and community.

You can always find him sitting and reading.

This is one of my favorite icons of St. Dominic. It always pulls up whenever I read about him, he looks so peaceful and focused.

[cellabella-illuminates]

Pages 8 and 9 of my 2017-2018 watercolor sketchbook/journal.

Left page are a couple doodles of characters from Steven Universe and some unfinished doodles.

On thr right page is an edition added by Lydia, one of the younger residents I got to know at Pine Ridge. I painted a portrait of her later in this sketchbook. She was very sweet and had a lot of energy :)

#cella's watercolor journal

[cellabella-illuminates]

Pages 6 and 7 of my 2017-2018 watercolor sketchbook/journal.

Left page is a little me looking up at the big ol' sky while at the Pine Ridge reservation and a couple of botanical studies. One thing I miss about living in Texas is the big sky. I know it's all the same sky but living in such a congested area with tall buildings amd tall trees you don't get to see as much of it all the time. I was reminded of that in Pine Ridge.

On the right page is an unfinished doodle of Chance the Fairy Godmother, a dreamcatcher I bought from one of the residents at Pine Ridge, and a loose sketch of the Black Hills of South Dakota.

#cella's watercolor journal