632 Murray

 Murray

oil on canvas

8x8"

$140

     When I began Murray (who lives with Georgette and Elizabeth), I thought maybe I would not finish it because the colors were so neutral. Where would the point of interest be? But as I continued I found him just so beautiful, and now I love the neutral colors. They are beautiful too.

548 Lola

Lola

oil on canvas

7x5"

$100

     Lola, beloved kitty. Prettiest eyes in the whole world.

Edna

Oil on Canvas

9x12"

     Edna is a literary cat. We are not sure if she is named for Edna Ferber or Edna St Vincent Millay. Both maybe.

     When I agreed to paint her, I was happy to do it, thinking it might not be too difficult. Was I ever wrong! What could possibly be so tough about that muzzle?! I think I corrected it fifty times. And here is an interesting thing--because this is a specific cat, I had to get her dimensions just right for her portrait, so I photographed her and measured to the inth degree. But the photograph lied. She just did not look right. Finally, I eyeballed it and it turned out much better. Can't figure that out.

Resting Puma

Resting Puma

Oil on Canvas

12x12"

$288

 

     In our neighborhood, we call them cougars or mountain lions, but puma is closer to their scientific name. This is another of my Animal Ark friends. She was on her perch gazing serenely into the distance with her great soft paws crossed, ears down and peaceful.

Michel and Mamacita

Oil on Canvas

12x12"

$288

     I have painted Michel and Mamacita before, but separately, never together. In this one, I painted their faces the same way I do eyes, both at the same time. Even so, it is still twice as much work to paint two cats as it is to paint one.

Freshen Up

Oil on Canvas

10x8"

$160

Cats are very cooperative models. They will lie still or strike poses, but when you are lucky enough to get a good picture of them doing something, like jumping, playing, or washing, it is even better. Mamacita is my favorite model because she is so very white and her ears are so very orange. A real beauty. (Isn’t it interesting to try to paint pure white!)

Sunbath

Sunbath

11x14"

Oil on canvas

$308

     Imagine how restful it would be if all you had to do right now is lie in the sun. I liked the way the sun hit that little foot tucked underneath her with her other foot and tail hanging loosely and relaxed in the shadow. I almost chose to do just her face, but her whole pose captured my deeper interest.

Michel

Oil on Canvas

10x10"

     This cat is so beautiful with his white, white fur, black tips on his ears, and golden eyes. When something is this beautiful, I do not know if I should try to paint it or just look at it. And, of course, I am rarely satisfied with the work because the subject surpasses my ability to paint its beauty.

Abby Extreme

Abby Extreme

Oil on Canvas

12x36"

$432

     This is called Abby Extreme because I painted the abyssinian on one of my extreme rectangles that I usually save for still lifes, but it took the extreme to get all that long cat in the picture. The cats are so great, you don't want to leave anything out.

Little Fawn Girl

Little Fawn Girl

Oil on Canvas

12x12"

$288

     A good neighbor gives me photos of his Abyssinian cats. He knows I love to paint them, but I can so easily get the color wrong. True fanciers know all the colors and exactly which one they own and love. This kitten is supposed to be Fawn. I hope I am forgiven.

The Cat

The Cat

16x12"

Oil

$336

     It has been a while since I painted the cat. I thought this posture was very engaging. She is so beautiful, with her pure white fur and fabulous eyes, one black rimmed and one orange rimmed. That contrasting patch of dark pigmentation she has above her right eye makes her a little glamorous. In this version, I hardly painted her at all, only her pretty little face. That is where the real interest is for me, so that is what I gave my attention to and let the rest speak for itself.

The Something New Challenge

The Cat in Watercolor

8x10"

NFS

Pure Exercise

     The Challenge was to do something you never do. I have occasionally painted in watercolor, but not  for a very long time--and it shows! But I wanted to try it and show it even if it is a little overworked in some areas and underworked in others. Watercolor is an exciting medium. You really have to cooperate with it, give it its head, don't try to boss it around. Much of the painting experience is like that regardless of the medium. But watercolor! Do any watercolorists ever have a clear idea of what will come out of it when they begin?

Hibiscus Cat

Hibiscus Cat

12x9"

Oil

$216

DPW $172

     We all know that cats stalk their prey, but when I am visiting my sister, I stalk her cat. She is very beautiful with wonderful markings. I have taken so many, many pictures of her and have painted quite a few. This time I was lucky to catch her peeking out of the bushes with the evening sun making her fur glow. I tried to keep the white as pure from the tube as I could on those illuminated places. I did not adjust the composition. It is just as it was, a gift. I love it when Nature provides.

Lily the Cat

Lily 

12x12"

Oil

$288

DPW $216

     It is easy to see how ancient Egyptians could worship cats as gods. And I bet the ones they worshipped most were Abyssinians. This one lives here in Nevada County and was kind enough to say I could paint her picture. 

     In this painting I tried to get that upward turn of the head with the light coming from below, glowing on her beautiful fur. She is looking up and I wanted her eyes aimed at that interesting something, but one eye is dominant. That is usually the case. I still paint them at the same time, or else they might look they belong to different cats.

Mamacita

Mamacita

9x12"

Oil

$216

DPW $150

     My sister's cat is so photogenic, but then all felines are "masterpieces." They strike poses and walk like ballerinas. I like cats and would have one of my own if I did not dread the "trophies" they might bring me after their trips into the woods. How fine it would be to have my own personal model to paint all the time. I don't think I would ever tire of it.

     I rarely paint with Cad Red, but this time I wanted pure red, red, red, and the Cad gave it to me. Cad Red Light is my favorite red, so I had to add just a stroke or two to break up the flatness of the background without losing that redness I wanted. It really is red.

Toes & Tail

Toes & Tail

6x6"

Oil

$72

     I am a persistent person, but I am also literate. When the writing is on the wall, I can read it.

     I have learned why one does not see many forest interior paintings. It is because they are almost impossible to paint well!!

     I am not the one to do it. At least, not now. Maybe I will return to it one day, but for now I am looking for cute cats. Here is one of my favorites, Pablo, the fabulous.     

Pablo Close Up

Pablo Close Up

6x6"

Oil 

$72

(Daily Paintworks Auction beginning bid $50)

     Pablo is a beautiful young cat with the whitest fur and orange markings. I did not exaggerate the orange color one bit.  In fact, it is even more fabulous than that. But it is the white fur that makes you stop and think. How to give it definition without losing the startling whiteness? I chose a little ultramarine blue mixed with raw umber. It made a nice gray and I thought the blue in it would go well with the orange since they are complementary colors.

     When I composed the image, at first I had much more cat in the frame, but I found that as I cropped more and more I liked it more and more. I have many more photos of Pablo and will get the rest of him in a painting probably more than once.