Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Wednesday, March 30!

Sorry, wow life kinda got away from me!  I can't believe I haven't posted since sunday night... but then sitting here, trying to think of why, I'm not coming up with much except the fact that we're in the middle of a whole bunch of stuff, it's the end of the quarter at school and grades are due, the yearbook (for which I am NOT getting paid this year, due to budget cuts, but I'm doing it anyway, and I know there's at least a couple of you who've suffered my whining about it) is due in a week, I've got the 3rd Annual Short Animation Film Festival next Friday (remind me to post some of the kids' videos!) and Max's second Birthday is TOMORROW and I don't have anything for him.....   PLUS I'm trying to get all the cats varnished and wired for hanging, and I've got some dogs too, for the Deviant Dog Show at Northrup King, Gallery 332-  Show dates are April 7th (First Thursday) from 5-9pm and Saturday, April 9th from 3-9pm-
The CATS are being hung friday night at Diamonds and will be there the entire month of April-  I will be figuring out the opening date with Leah and Lucy on Friday night, so you will know when the Opening/Closing is by Saturday!  It'll be a party, with cards and prints of the cats as well as a couple ( gee, maybe only one by then...) available for sale!
SO
Here is Notrik, our Representative from the Great State of Nebraska!
I JUST HAD TO PAINT TODAY!  Way too much work and no fun!~  paint feels so good.....

Sunday, March 27, 2011

March 27th, Sunday~

This is Gingersnap, our host in Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, Eng, for our honeymoon trip in 2008 when we didn't realize Max was along for the ride!  We stayed at our friends' house and watched their delightful and accommodating feline, who has a larger than life personality.
I looked through a bunch of photos to find this one and am feeling peculiarly nostalgic for England...  it'll be a couple years before we can get back there, unfortunately.  Good thing I can mail art there tho....

Saturday, March 26, 2011

March 26th Saturday!

Here is a leisurely relaxing Betty~  rather sweet-  I need to paint my own puffy Jeebo in such a condition~
oh and a view of Lake Superior from earlier this week.  Duane has taken some amazing photos that I will be attempting to interpret as time allows...
Now, I don't know how much longer I'm going to be able to carry on here, folks!  There are a number of cats I still desperately want to paint, but I am not promising much.  This has been an incredible experience for me, and if I weren't so darn TIRED I'd paint another cat tonight!  But it's already been a long, successful day and I need to go lay down~
xokat!
And did I mention I am hanging all the cats next friday night at Diamond's?  That ain't no April Fool's either!

Friday, March 25, 2011

March 25th TODAY

Okay so here is Marceaux!  I think I spelled that correctly...
And I am sending out a revised list, because I have actually painted WAY more cats than I had planned, and still have a bunch I wanted to get finished before the show I am hanging NEXT FRIDAY!!! ack-
So the cats will all be hanging together at Diamond's Coffee Shoppe  for the month of April!  There will be an Opening/Closing party too!  But I don't know when just yet- I'll send that out as soon as I do!  This is an insane time for us right now, with all the crazy house stuff, taxes, the end of the quarter so I have to get GRADES done, the Deviant Dog art show at Northrup King, my 3rd Annual Short Animation Film Festival at school, and tomorrow morning I am giving a small presentation at a Music Educator's conference about Art and the Happy Child....
yeah.

Throw something else at me.

March 25th Friday~

Yup, kinda didn't have any time yesterday to paint, what with the drive home from Grand Marais and entertaining a two year old in the van, and then clearing out said van and entertaining jubilant dogs who were overjoyed to realize they weren't going to have to be the responsible homeowners they thought they were in our absence...
SO here are the three cats I managed to paint in our hotel~
Capers (for Mimi!)

Ginger (for Bill~)

Gavin!  For LAUREL!!!
And I am working on tonight's cat NOW!  Will post that a little later....

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

March 22nd- Tuesday! My dad's BIRTHDAY!

So I got my dad a small round tube with a loon on it at the Ben Franklin on the harbor-  it is a toothpick holder-  he likes to have a toothpick in his mouth a lot, especially when he is dozing in the easy chair "watching" the evening news...
And again, here is a crappy photo done with my photo-booth app-  I'll send this again when we get home and I can get a good shot!
Billy-boy, this is your Ginger-girl!

March 21, Monday!

I know it's Tuesday, and I haven't painted the piece for today yet, but I did Gavin last night up here in Grand Marais and forgot my camera so I had to use photobooth to take the pic-  I like this one!  I hope Lori does too~  the photo isn't really great-  I'll have to send better ones out when we get home and I get my camera!!!
It is COLD and WINDY up here and there are Blizzard warnings out til wed eve, so we'll probably be up here til thursday~  mom and dad and us, in a two bedroom suite at the East Bay hotel~
the waves are pounding the shore right outside our window~
If you've been paying attention, you would realize I have accomplished more than my original TWENTY!
And today is the 22nd....
whew!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

March 20th, Sunday! Percy AND Gulliver!!!!!

Yup!  Two in one day!  It is amazing what can happen when I get a decent couple hours in a row!  These two are cats who are in the same family, and I usually really like to paint them together, as in, both at the same time because then the color palette will be a lot closer and the "feel" of the pieces will ring true.  Sometimes if I am painting a double commission, I wait until I have a chunk of time like this morning, or I paint parts of both at the same time and then try to finish them together at the same time.  I can never control all of what happens at the end of my paintbrush.  Some things that occur are seriously magic.  THAT"S the fun part!
Thanks!
This is Gulliver- lovingly backlit~

...and this is Percy, who appears to have quite a gaze...
kat~

Saturday, March 19, 2011

March 19th, Saturday~ Skeeter & Squeegee

This seems a little more washed out than I intended.  I may need to look into a new camera~
And again, I don't know who is Skeeter and who is Squeegee, but I love the names!  And I have to readjust my pricing for two cats in a painting because it is twice the work!  Thank gosh this was a great photo....

Friday, March 18, 2011

March 18th, Friday!

So this is Charlie, a mature but steady cat, you can tell by his eyes...


Somehow reminds me of Columbo, or Magnum PI, or maybe even Rockford... you know, one of those steady, no-nonsense kinda seventies guys with a small moustache.  And big green eyes.
I hope his owner doesn't mind.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

March 17th- HAPPT SY PTRICKS DY!!!

Yup~ got this one done but I think the pupil on the left eye is a little off-  can ya let me know if you think so too?

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

March 15th-

I am feeling rather overwhelmed at the moment, and am going to take my artist's prerogative to put Wally to a later date.
So I'll leave you with a recent dog instead~
thanks!

oh and we are ON for an April CAT Show at Diamond's Coffee Shop over in Northeast Mpls!  The show will be up for the month of April-  I'm thinking we may have a "Closing Party" so the new owners can come pick up their paintings as well as an Opening Party!
yeha!

March 15th- DAKARI! (happy Birthday Christine!)

Consider this as posted yesterday, since really, who is capable of functioning at this hour in the morning?

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

March 14th- Thea!

I   know, it's tuesday morning, but I DID paint it last night, while watching the incredibly dramatic and awesomely sad and twisted "Bachelor" where the guy pretty much leads one poor girl into thinking she's getting a marriage proposal when he's really dumping her for the other girl, but you can tell the producers wanted him to make a choice between two so someone would cry....
ANYWAY
this is the lovely Thea, a personable and cuddly hairless cat, under her heat lamp~

Sunday, March 13, 2011

March 13~ Fizzle & Whiskers

See?  And then I get some more not-so-great shots of elderly cats and I LOVE the results...
It musta just been that Joe's photo of Damon (last post) was TOO good.  I'll have to try another one...
but I LIKE these two!

Saturday, March 12, 2011

March 12th- Damon~

Man.
This is the 3rd version of this one.
Talk about a learning curve.
I just wish I had the time right now to really practice painting cat's eyes, because the luminosity and translucence are TOTALLY different from dogs'.
I do like the shading on it, but the eyes are still hard.
I gotta admit that the PHOTO (by Joe) is GORGEOUS and maybe this is my cue to just paint from crappy photos so the painting always looks better than the photo~  there's just no comparing this to the original image....
Man.

March 11th, Friday~ Pokee & Moonpie

...and I don't honestly know which one is Pokee and which is Moonpie, and maybe it doesn't matter that much, since the cats themselves surely know who they are.
I didn't paint in the penguins on their cushion.  Tho I may just go back in and do that....
whew!
and I know I am late AGAIN, but I was a little emotionally overwhelmed yesterday and am still reverberating with Japan today.  SO difficult to really fathom what is happening all over on this planet...
Feels really good to be able to focus on a small, furry, not-completely-innocent face and just paint.
Meditation comes in many ways.....

Friday, March 11, 2011

March 10th, Thursday

and Yes I know it is Friday morning.... stop naggin' me!  I painted it on the right date, just didn't get it PUBLISHED til now~
This is Leo, an elegant older cat with a bent ear and I really like this one.  I gotta admit I am amazed at how frustrating cats are for me, compared to dogs, but then someone (and I can't remember who, maybe Dave?) asked me how long I've been painting dog portraits, and when I realized I have been focused on dogs for the past two years it makes a bit more sense of why this is so frustrating.
Then, of course, there is the fact that I chose to attempt this at a point in our lives when I am pulled in way too many directions.  Right now we are still trying to figure out what to do with Duane's house and that whatever we do will require research and phone calls and paper work, and we have to do our taxes too, which will include my first year of actually running a small business and I don't know what that will entail, and just all the minutiae of dealing with life and work and loving people and all...
It is those small daily encounters with other humans that reconnect me to the incredible moments of life.  On the train yesterday afternoon, as it came just as I got to the top of the steps at Lake and Hiawatha, I was struck by the originality of every person sitting there, and for a second I just had this flash of love for every single one of them, and felt that if I needed any of them, they'd step up in a minute.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

March 9th, Ash Wednesday~

Here is EMMA!  I'm just hoping I got the greys correct on her....   This is getting more and more fun, though I still feel awfully behind.  I haven't had time to e-mail the owners as their pets are being painted either and wonder if they are checking in here too~
Hmmmmmmm.....  see and now that I have her on here, I'm thinking she's a little too dark,  but I really like the posture and her sweet little eyes...
Whew!
To bed!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

March 8th~ FAT TUESDAY!

Whew~  wow~  I said to my students this morning, as I began the day's lesson on contrast and shadow through drawing gargoyles, "Don't mind me, I'm a bit groggy today."  Looking out the window, one student remarked, "It's a groggy day outside too."
Which I totally agree with.
SO here is Boo on a ladder, for your enjoyment.
Thanks!

Monday, March 7, 2011

March 7th~ Monday

And this is Tracy's Umami, lying in the grass.  I am just not sure about her eyes-  not so happy with them..... may have to go back into them again~
Sure!  There's plenty of time tonight!  Yeah!  Just the ticket!
Right~
Well, I will fix it before it goes anywhere, because I really don't like to let paintings leave my studio until I like them.  I don't care if you tell me it's perfect and you love it and nothing needs to change, if I am not happy it won't go.  I did that once and then saw the piece at a friend's house and it really upset me because the problems I had seen in it before were even more obvious to me and I almost tore it down and took off with it.
ANYWAY....
this is Umami,  and Boo is next.
I like all these fun names, people!  Thanks!

March 7th~ Updated List!

Hi all!  Just thought I'd send out this updated list so you'd know who is up when!  Today I tackle Umami for Tracy~  And I gotta say, I am loving the fact that this project MAKES me sit down and paint everyday~  I am one of those people that really benefits from a deadline.  This is one reason I apply for so many shows and submit to so many exhibits~  then I HAVE to produce work.  Pretty clever, ay?
And again, if you don't see yourself on here and thought you were in, PLEASE e-mail me!  I have been happily busy and may have missed something!  
thanks!


1  Josie (Kelly G)
2  Gracie (Regan & Donna)
3  Sally & Domingo (Andrea) 
4  Banjo &  Bucket (Monica & Frank)
5  Trunkles (Mimi)
6  Bob (Erika)
7  Umami (Tracy Y)
8  Boo (Sally I)
9  Emma (Jan & Dave)
10  Leo (L)
11  Pokee & Moonpie (Lorin)  
12  Damon (Joe O) 
13  Fizzie & Whiskers (Sandy E)
14  Thea  (Amiee & Co) 
15 Dakari (Christine)
16 Wild Wally PUT OFF TIL LATER-EXHAUSTED
17 Jamie-Lee (Carla)
18  Charlie (Jan R) 
19  Skeeter & Squeegee (AnnL)
20 Pery & Gulliver (Shari & Chris)
21 Gavin (Lori!)
22  Gingersnap (Allison & Weston)
23 Caper (Mimi)
24 Tiger (John)
25
26 Betty (Jeanne)
27 Janet's kity
28 Ginger (Bill!)

Sunday, March 6, 2011

March 6th- the enigmatic and elusive BOB!

Here we have the eternal essence of cat-ness.  Isn't this most often your view of your beloved pet, as it assists you with your paper work, or your computer work?  The calm, trusting back-of-the-head position, most often viewed when the owner is attempting to take a good photo of the front of the head.
Ah well.  It is the foibles of cat-dom that endears them to us, after all.  And probably us to them, too~
Well, now~  I am feeling a bit better.  This is definitely a lot harder than last July's project, but it is satisfying to prove to myself that I CAN paint everyday, even if just to start one to finish later.
Thanks for your support, everyone!

March 5th! Duane's Birthday!

 Sorry folks!  I had these painted before we went out for Duane's birthday drink last night, with a detour to Cheapo, but the images wouldn't load for some reason~
ANYWAY, here are Bucket and Banjo, tho I may go back into the background if I can because the sheet they are lying on has cute little cat figures on it and that would be fun to try to illustrate.
And here is YESTERDAY'S cat, Trunkles!  IN a classic pose on a bright red chair~  What a sweet face!  I think I'm getting the hang of the eyes now~ 
And I will be getting on to Bob later this morning when Mr Max takes a nap!

Friday, March 4, 2011

March 4th~

Right, what's that joke?  What day is a Soldier's favorite day?  march 4th~  hmmmm..
May have gotten a tad cocky yesterday~  this really is tricky figuring out how to squeeze in time to paint-  we ran to the WARM Temporality show at the Grain Belt Brewery at 4:30, got there by 5, had to leave by 5:45 because Max was stealing all the chocolate cookies within his reach and getting to the 2 year old volume level that is uncomfortable for most other adults, especially those wanting to wind down and enjoy some wine after work and look at some beautiful art and NOT have to deal with loud children...
so long story short, I am not going to push to finish this one, because I like where it's going and if I push it right now, tired and with a couple glasses of wine, it may not turn out how I want it to.  So I am leaving you with a lovely shot of my work area set-up, and a closer shot of the joy of being a sibling~
I will finish this tomorrow, I promise Moon!  And Frank~

kat~

Thursday, March 3, 2011

March 3rd!

Wow!  I'm making it!  Three days!  And now, TWO cats at ONCE!   Wahoo!  Look at me get all cocky and sure of myself~  la la la la la!  I think their eyes turned out ok.  I won't tell you how long I actually have been spending on these two-  I won't even tell you that I started them a bit early because I wanted to make sure they turned out okay~  and that this was really really hard and I had to gesso over them not once but twice~ and even thought about just gessoing them over entirely and letting it go and pushing them later in the month, but here ya go!

Sally and Domingo!

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

March 2nd~ Gracie

Man.  I will stop whining at some point about how different cats are from dogs, but man!  Really.  Especially the eyes~
Here is our neighbor's cat, Gracie~
Okay~  thanks for watching!  I'm tired and am going to bed.

March 1st! (Yes, it is Late)

Man~  what with trying to be organized and learning how to make a spreadsheet and everything and keep track of all this, I almost don't have time to PAINT!!!! And I have to admit I am disappointed with Josie-  I need to say she isn't finished to MY level of completeness at all, but I felt I needed to post for you what I've done so far on this project.  And I suppose it would be trickier to follow if the first one were absolutely incredible...
I DID say somewhere that I think cats are more difficult than dogs, didn't I?
So I will be working on making adjustments to Josie, as well as redoing my list-  most of the slots I thought were empty have quickly gotten filled!  It looks like there will be a lot closer to 30 cats than I'd thought!
So bear with me, and thanks for following!  The support really helps!