Yellow Tabby

 

This kitty painting is on my easel tonight - and he is the sweetest, most affectionate half grown kitten! We have adopted siblings, a yellow tabby and a calico from a friend who's granddaughter found them and one other along the road.  It's funny how stars align and the perfect pets drop right into your lap.  Painting number 4803 in 4803 days. 

Sweet Kitty

Oh, I love drawing a sweet kitty face after such a busy day!  I've been making and writing cards for hours, so unwinding with a little drawing is so relaxing!  Graphite is my first art love, the first thing my little hands picked up from a child's desk my Grandma Frank had loaded with supplies at a north window in her kitchen.  I remember the color of the light, the smell of the old pencils when I sharpened them, and the way their marks spread across a paper.  I remember the tactile feel of the lead on that thick, yellowed paper.  That desk was tiny and I wasn't in school yet, and those memories are embedded in my soul. I even remember a black and red diamond checkered box that all the writing supplies and antique child's scissors were kept in, inside the desk.  I haven't thought of these things for years, but drawing takes me right back to that joyful time.  Painting number 2901 in 2901 days. 

Getting Acquainted

This sweet lab is such an affectionate boy!  He thinks he's a lap dog, but at 110 pounds, he can absolutely squish me!  My painting companion in the field, he is always very near.  Whether I am gardening or painting, he sticks to me like glue.  Very accident prone, he has lived through some harrowing experiences!  Like a cat - he certainly must have 9 lives!  Painting number 2643 in 2643 days.  This painting is now showing at the Buttonwood Art Space - though I'm pretty sure it is closed due to the "stay at home" order. Stay safe and healthy out there, my friends!

Kitten Nap

Kitten Nap
Pen and ink on paper, 6x6

This little darling is now a very large cat that lives at my oldest daughter's house - and is spoiled rotten by her husband!  He is lucky to have survived our giant puppy, Beau, and now he rules the roost over there!  This dark yellow and white darling has the most beautiful coloring, I really do need to paint him one day.  For today, pen and ink is my medium and paper is my substrate.  I didn't realize how much a would enjoy pen and ink, or I would have taken it up long ago.  I think I will start carrying a small journal in my purse with a pen or two, just in case I am caught our waiting somewhere.  No sense wasting time when I never have enough of it!  This drawing is the 1139th in 1139 days :)

Exploring the Kitten

Exploring the Kitten
Pen and sepia ink, 6x5

I spent much of the day caring for this little lab - who is now hovering 100 lbs.  He became very lethargic to the point of alarm, so we ended up spending a lot of time at the vet.  Blood work points to an infection, and he had a very high fever, but all the really bad stuff has been ruled out. He is not quite 2 years old, and was healthy and vigorous just last night!  After getting fluids, shots and meds, he came home, acting better than he had all day.  He has now been asleep since that time, and has hardly moved.  I hope he improves greatly by morning.  So, tonight I am sketching Beau with a little sepia pen and ink on paper.  This drawing is the 1108th in 1108 days, and Day 15 of the current 30 Day Painting Challenge.

Captain in Ink

Captain in Ink
Pen & ink on paper, 6x6
purchase here

This little cutie is another of our sweet "boys"!  All of our male cats are very affectionate, and this is our youngest. My oldest daughter has his brother, who is the "town cat", while our boys are definitely "country cats"!  Using quick, fluid strokes, I hold the pen more on it's side like a brush, than upright like a pen.  This allows the ink to sweep over the surface in an expressive way, following form.  If you zoom in on those marks - they are a bit frantic, moving in all directions! Very fun indeed - and SO therapeutic! The stress of the day just melts off when I have a pen and paper before me.  I am going to look forward to filling up my sketch journals, one ink rendering at a time!  This drawing makes the 1106th work in 1106 days, and Day 13 in current 30 Day Painting Challenge :)

Sleeping Kitten

Sleeping Kitten
Graphite on bristol, 6.5x10
purchase here

Yesterday,  I mentioned how I thought smooth bristol paper was not worthy of graphite - or medium I have yet found.  Today, I found myself out of bristol vellum - and I had to use the smooth finish bristol.  Well, it worked out all right.  I like the texture of the vellum, as it lends a bit of tooth and interest to the paper itself.  There is no texture to the smooth, so the strokes carry the weight of all interest.  While the vellum is my favorite still, this smooth bristol will do in a pinch.  I have used three pencils on this rendering - 8B watersoluable, mechanical, and Derwent black inktense pencil (also watersoluable).  Most of the work is done with my trusty 8B - which is super soft for those of you who don't know this.  I pull out the mechanical when I want superfine lines - like the whiskers or fine hair detail.  The mechanical pencil is harder, and therefore grayer in shade.  The black inktense pencil is a special jewel which I bring out only where I want the blackest black.  I can deepen that black with a damp brush, but this is an ink pencil, so once it is dampened, it becomes ink that can not be removed.  As with all drawing, I reserve the whites, only using a pink eraser sparingly - if at all.  Once finished, I squint to make sure the masses all make sense, and the flow of the work is harmonious.  It is so easy to get caught up in the lines and lose track of the big picture.  This kitten piece is my 696th in 696 days.

Little Captain

Little Captain
Graphite on bristol, 6x9

I have drawn on many types of paper, but I keep returning to bristol in a vellum finish.  I don't like the smooth bristol at all - I simply will not use it for graphite, and I haven't found a medium I would use on it - yet.  The vellum texture grabs the graphite in a special, predictable way that I love.  My favorite pencils are 8B watersoluables.  I first draw in the shading and color as with normal pencils.  The paper stubs in various sizes are a "must have" for blending and giving the shading that life-like appearance.  Next, to the very darkest areas, I can pull a damp brush across - and the color gets darker.  This is the magic of the watersoluable graphites!  I apply this water very lightly, as this is not watercolor paper, and too much water will cause the paper to buckle in an unattractive way.  Once water has been added, the marks will no longer be easy to remove, if required.  So, be sure there will be no lifting before taking a brush to it.  I   My subject du jour is our youngest cat, Captain.  He gets a lot of extra attention, and is spoiled shamelessly by my daughter!  This little darling is my 695th artwork in 695 days.  It feels good to be in the graphites again :)

Kitten Nap

Kitten Nap
Watercolor on paper, 9x6
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This little kitten is absolutely spoiled!  The new favorite of my youngest daughter, little Captain is my subject du jour!  I have not yet attempted an animal in watercolor, so when I first blocked in the colors, I did so in a realistic manner, as I would in oils.  It lacked vibrancy and pop.  So, one by one, I began introducing and layering different colors intuitively.  I don't know what the rules are with watercolor - so I am just dropping in the fresh colors I want to see, whatever brings more life to the subject.  A little wild and crazy, this painting makes 579 in 579 days.

Kitten Perch

Kitten Perch
Colored Pencil on paper, 12x9

This is one of the darling little kittens in the crotch of our Bradford Pear tree!  I almost never use those waxy colored pencils - but here is another drawing done with just that!  I started this with tinted graphite, but the color just wasn't strong enough.  So, switching to the waxy pencils - there is no going back.  The wax would resist the graphites completely.  The bark on this tree was challenging - but I am happy with how it turned out.  I have seen some amazing artwork done solely with colored pencils, so I am willing to keep giving them chances - but I think it is far more time consuming than just stroking on some paint!  This artwork is the 201st one in a row :)

Playing with Kitten

Playing with Kitten
Oil on panel, 12x9

Our little kitten Charlie is the most affectionate cat we've ever had!  He loves everyone - and he is very vocal, "talking" to us all the time.  The boys spend lots of time on the porch, playing with little Charlie.  That kitten never tires of their attention - and the trio is my subject for today.  This is done in oils, starting with the skin tones, and working out from there.  I debated on whether or not to put in the surrounding landscape.  Initially, I thought I would leave it out.  But, as I worked, I wanted the piece to be as truthful as possible, like the sweet memory.  This one makes 40 paintings in a row!