Contemporary Cat

Contemporary Cat
Oil on gallery wrapped canvas, 12x12

Goodness me - I have taken a trip to crazy town!!  Painting with such vivid color is exhilarating!  When approaching a painting in such a way, my biggest question is what color to choose.  I am letting my intuition guide me, as heaven knows I have not done anything like this before!  I start first with colors that are really there, the whites, the warm yellows, cool shadows - and then exaggerate those colors.  I pushed the yellow to cad orange and cad red light, the shadows to purple.  The landscape in the background has it’s roots in the true colors, the foliage is green - although I’ve pushed that to yellow green with cad yellow highlights.  The sky blues are also present - turquoise to violet blue.  As I block in the masses, I try to be mindful of how I use the warms and cools.  I’ve used the catalyst again here - and I am loving the variety of strokes that I can achieve.  I have more on the way - I can’t wait to take them out for a spin!  Painting number 1153 in 1153 days.

Surprise!  Another secret landscape underneath this first sketch of contemporary cat!! 

Bejeweled

Bejeweled
Acrylicon masonite, 6x6

Mondays are SO very full!  Class in the morning, followed by class in the afternoon, and then a mad dash to the school to pick of the grandsons!  Today, I brought them back home, as I had so much left to catch up on.  However, I did not get hardly any of those things done - and instead, we played on the various exercise equipment I have!   After many new moves on the ever-so-fun foam rollers, I fed them, and before I knew it, Tiffany was here to get them.  Finally, I come to my easel with the latest episode of Downton Abbey on (which I love)!  I am painting this little darling, complete with Mardi Gras beads around his neck, in my limited palette in a small 6x6 size.  I already see a few tiny tweaks I would like to make, but I have already cleaned my brushes, and tomorrow is another very full day.  I will have to get to that later!  Painting number 1140 in 1140 days.

Peppermint

Peppermint
Acrylic on masonite, 5x5
sold

Some days paintings simply fall off the brush, and others, they do not!  This one was a bit of a struggle!  I’ve fallen far short on my sleep this week, the dogs have been waking me up causing havoc - and it takes me forever to get back to sleep!  My schedule has also been SUPER full, and I think because I’m so tired - I had to work a little harder for this painting.  This big cutie is my oldest daughter’s cat, and his wonderful coloring and form make him a purrrfect subject (I know, its corny)!  After extra concentration, this portrait is finished, and now I have to go get a shirt for my youngest son (for the dance tonight - yikes)!  Never a moment’s rest around this household!  Painting number 1138 in 1138 days.

Brother Cat II

Brother Cat
Acrylic on masonite, 6x6

Another busy day, and I am continuing on my cat theme for the week.  This cat and his sister were a pair that my youngest daughter talked me into, years ago.  He is no longer with us, but was a very mild and gentle cat, with very unique markings.  I am playing with another new Catalyst tool, from Princeton today.  This one has two flat edges that come together at an angle on top.  I love the flexibility of the silicone head, it bends with little pressure, and pulls easily over the surface.  I think I prefer the chisel edge, but these tools are awesome, and I am going to check out the other catalysts to add to my next supply list!  Painting number 1130 in 1130 days.