Sits Alone

Sits Alone  Oil on panel, 10" x 10,"  NFS

When painting begets more painting, you know you hit the sweet spot. It's not like these are a radical departures from anything I've done before? But they are different/fresh enough to inspire new ideas for future compositions. (Originally thought this would be 10x8 with a cat looking directly at viewer, sketch included!) 

Balance, white cat on a rope painting

Balance  Oil on panel, 10" x 10,"  NFS

I had the idea for three paintings... Ideas were promptly sketched (before they evaporated into the ether, as ideas will do doncha know.)  Including the sketch for "Balance." Two down and maybe another to follow. I'm especially pleased with the color harmony in this one, it's better in life! 

White Maine Coon II

White Maine Coon II  Oil on panel, 8" x 8,"  SOLD

White cats with one blue eye and one green are often referred to as "odd eyed." Did you know all kittens are born with blue eyes? I vaguely remember Coco having blue eyes-- The guy living upstairs from me at the time had a Blue Russian and he thought Coco might be one too. Considering the patchwork quilt of lovelies my kitteh was the first to leave, it seemed unlikely. Hope you're enjoying the long weekend!

Perched a new cat painting

Perched  Oil on panel, 10" x 8,"  SOLD

The Cleveland shelter has cats and lots of 'em. At the time of this blog post, "Perched" model is available and has a profile page on the website, here. 

With kitten season fast approaching, it's a great time to go find a perfect companion at your local shelter!

Two of a Kind II, painting of black cats and Ron

Two of a Kind II  Oil on wood, 8" x 8,"  NFS

Ron

Another try with the siblings, I wanted to try them on a lighter background... Happy with it, though, I may have blended the brushwork a bit much.
In other news, we have a new furface!  He shows up to eat and take a snooze in the rafters of the garage.  No petting allowed (yet!) Ha, the first time I saw him I panicked thinking Coco had somehow gotten outside. Me thinks husband will have a new garage lap cat shortly. 

Keanu Meets the Matrix, Tuxedo Cat Painting

Keanu, Oil on wood, 8" x 8,"  SOLD

Crazy about this painting... Can't go wrong with some cats. This is the second time I painted his sweet mug, see the first here. 

Including Easter Kitteh today (from my Holiday Cats series.) Happy Easter to you and yours!  

Freshman, painting of a Tuxedo Cat

Freshman  Oil on wood, 8" x 8,"  SOLD

My apologies for the glare on photo of this painting!  The light is so unpredictable this time of the year... I've had to resort to artificial lighting (two spotlights) on either side of a photo tent-- for picture taking.  Must re-photograph this one after it has dried.  It's better in life! 

Sawyer and a mention in Western Art Collector Magazine

Sawyer  Oil on wood, 8" x 8,"  SOLD

Art collectors Byron and Keely Lewis were featured in the April issue of Western Art Collector magazine. The feature, titled "A Convergence of Collections" showcases their beautiful home and art collection. The couple is very active in cat rescue organizations and I am lucky to call them collectors. Especially thrilling, my name was mentioned in the article. :)

Tuxi Takes a Look

Tuxi Takes a Look  Oil on wood, 8" x 8,"  NFS

Dotty Spots and preparing panels

Dotty Spots  Oil on wood, 8" x 8," SOLD

It is difficult to assess values and colors when painting on a white ground...  When preparing panels, I gesso first then (usually the next day) tone them in various misc. colors...  When it comes time to paint, I try to pick a color that will harmonize with what I'm painting...  My inventory of panels was running low whenever I picked this one. I had feared the magenta would clash with "Dotty Spots"--but it worked out pretty good. 
If you are so inclined, see more work in progress pics and follow me on Instagram here.  

Lashonda

Lashonda  Oil on wood, 8" x 6,"  SOLD

Happy New Year! It's great to be painting again after the long break. I'm back on my preferred schedule (Plan several, paint several, blog 'em all at one time as opposed to plan/paint/blogging one at a time.) and hope to maintain that this year. I look forward to sharing the first few with you this week.  Today, "Lashonda" who waits for adoption at the Cleveland APL! 

Kitten Considers, painting of diluted calico kitten

Kitten Considers  Oil on panel, 10" x 8,"  SOLD

Tried once before with this kitty (see that hot mess here.) This time is better. :)

Idea Cat and my kitchen tile

Idea Cat  Oil on panel 8" x 8,"  SOLD

This is the second time I painted this sweet cat from the shelter, the first time was here.  

This afternoon my husband and I picked up 118 pounds of "Glass Beach Blend Amalfi" tiles for the kitchen. They are subway tiles with a mix of shiny and frosted tiles in white and grayish green and will be accented with a narrow runner of more saturated green glass tile.  Still waffling on grout color, but psyched to see them installed! Pictures soon.

Bianca, painting of a black cat

Bianca  Oil on panel, 6"x 6," SOLD

Tonya and the Tomato, Tomato Art Festival Nashville, TN

Tonya and the Tomato  Oil on panel, 8" x 8,"  NFS

It's almost time for the 15th Annual Tomato Art Festival in East Nashville, TN! The festival is a wacky celebration of all things tomatoes and art and it happens August 10th and 11th...  

Because tomatoes...  (Photo from 2017 Tomato Art Festival)

Art and Invention Gallery will present a veritable plethora of tomato themed art including my painting "Tonya and the Tomato." Local to Nashville?  Get tickets for the Art Preview Party and find out more about the festival here. 
In other news closer to home: a before and after shot of some of my refreshed kitchen cabinets.

I debated forever about whether to replace (chalk paint/resurface?!) the cabinets but the new hardware did the trick...  I'm crazy about this upgrade... The (last) custom made counter has arrived... More pictures once we get a little farther down the road!

Ned Naps

Ned Naps  Oil on panel, 8"x8," SOLD

A work in progress pic included with this painting... So much of this one depended on Ned's silhouette standing out.  I painted very thin lines to establish that early on which helped a lot, though they got mostly painted away by the end. 






Few things comfort like the sight of a peacefully sleeping cat! I really wanna paint more sleeping cats...  Also included the photo of another kitty from the Pet Pride shelter, who WAS sleeping until I put a camera in her face. :)

The Elder II

The Elder II  Oil on panel, 8"x8,"  SOLD

Same kitty as yesterday...  I'm hoping to get back into the scheduling "flow" I had taken up way back before we moved...  which was painting 4-6 paintings, then batch photographing them and batch blogging them. This week is a start at that, one more to go after "The Elder II." 

For anyone interested in my kitchen overhaul: Cabinet pulls have been ordered...see left. I think they fall into what could best be described as "transitional" -- neither traditional or contemporary.  Overstock had so many to pick from-modestly priced too.  (Thanks, LM for suggesting Overstock on a previous post.) I will post more pictures when I get farther down the road with it!  We are waiting on a custom built (focal point!) counter.  Once that's in--on to wall treatments, woohoo!  

The Red Ball II

The Red Ball II  Oil on panel, 8" x 8," NFS

Apple Eyes and Kitchen Renovation

Apple Eyes Oil on panel, 8" x 8," SOLD

We are in the process of (nearly) gutting the kitchen and putting in new stuffs. 

Picture to the left shows removal of eye sore cabinets... most of that whole wall is gone now. Countertops, backsplash and floors to follow... Many decisions to be made!!!

It's all terribly exciting, though of course there are limits... The phrase "champagne taste on a beer budget" comes to mind... LOL.  Should you have experience with overhauling a kitchen (on a tight budget!?) I'd love to hear about it in the comments.  

Special thanks to Gloria Walters for providing photo reference for "Apple Eyes!" 

Silvia, painting of Diluted Calico on gray pattern

Silvia  Oil on wood, 8" x 8," SOLD

Photos of inspiration for this painting below.  This cat waits for adoption at the Cleveland APL.