Day 17 - Kate

 Today's painting is one that commemorates a beloved pet. I am always so honored to be able to create something to help remember a pet by and strive to bring personality and love to the portrait.  Kate was a beautiful tabby who had hidden pinks in her fur and blue eyes and was just a joy to paint <3  Her owner contacted me shortly after she passed away to ask if I could paint this special painting and after going through several images, she chose this view of Kate.  I loved painting this angle as it makes you feel like you are at eye level and maybe even laying on the same cushion together. <3

Kate, Oil on cradled panel, 8"x8", sold

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Day 30 of the 30 in 30 challenge! - Cat Call

 

Good morning! It is the final day of the 30 paintings in 30 days challenge.. And, I want to be honest… while it is definitely a challenge to keep up with the pace of a 30 in 30, and some days I was just plain tired… I am also sad it is coming to a close…  I love the groove I get into, the productivity and the influx of ideas and most of all I love all of the kind, uplifting comments and love everyone shares with me, cheering me on. So thank you!! This painting is titled "Cat Call" and is 3rd in a series of visual idiom paintings I am doing.  (There will be more, so stay tuned!) 

As I've mentioned in previous posts, I love vintage things, particularly those of the 50's and 60's.  Their lines, colors and overall design is just appealing to me.  This rotary dial phone is one of the things I love for all those reasons.  I've painted rotary dials many times.. but never an avocado green one :)  This color was a staple of interior and product design in the 60's and 70's (check out some crazy house pics from this era here) and was used in everything from kitchen sinks and cabinets to drapery and carpets... It was definitely overdone in my opinion, but the there are still some things I love in avocado green, this phone being one of them.  And, I am proud to say that my kitchen has a vintage kitchen sink in avocado green!When we first bought our house, I figured we'd replace that baby... but now that we've been her for awhile, I've kind of fallen for it.  Pretty sure its here to stay... :)

The sleepy kitty on top of the phone is of course the cat of the title.  I've a new love interest in painting subjects and that is sleeping animals.  I suspect they are going to start showing up in many of my future paintings!  

Cat Call, 10"x10", oil, click here to purchase

Day 24 of the 30 in 30 - The Moment Before

 Once again, the Red Balloon has made an appearance in my painting.. I didn't intend to continue the exploration of this theme, but here it is.  Another unexpected thing, I didn't expect the presence of a balloon in my paintings would create such tension. But again, there it is. 

I titled this one "The Moment Before" after I sat and just stared at the painting for awhile, trying to figure out what is going on here.. Is the bird going to pop the balloon? Is this the same bird from the last red balloon painting?  Is the cat going to jump for the bird? Are they friends? Why is the balloon tied to the cat's tail? Are they playing a game? Is the cat trying to trick the bird?  I honestly don't have the answers.  I just painted the image, but I don't know what is going to happen or how they got there. Your guess is as good as mine!  So, this painting is about the moment right before we find out... it is an image frozen in time that is so full of questions, and tense with what will be.

Moments Before, oil, 10"x10", click here to purchase