This one is also from the Bearskin Lodge Plein Air Painting Workshop with Dave Gilsvik we went to- it was SUCH a gorgeous sunset, and I was trying to get Dave and my mom to come out and see it, and they were being tremendously pokey!
But I got some photos anyway!
I got a little obsessed with these three....
This one is painted on the raw (sealed) wood, instead of my usual black gesso.
Yup- its all about the contrast, baby!
So it is JUNE already! I was listening to World Party on CD on my drive in this morning, feeling awake and rested, and entertained by my drive through downtown. I am so lucky to have choice in my drive to work every day. That's part of a creative brain, I think... pushing yourself to stay out of ruts. Routine and habit are necessary for some parts of life, and create a sense of security in a sometimes chaotic world, but it is so good for your brain and your spirit to switch it up every so often!
That said, I spent a week up at the Bearskin Lodge a couple weeks ago, and that was a shift for sure- I didn't actually have a daily commute- it was more the switch-up of painting outside and painting what I'm looking at instead of working from photos. Also, I decided to play with Golden Open Acrylics instead of my usual Heavy Body Acrylics, and that was fun too, because it was more like painting with oil. They don't dry as fast. Still, they dry a heckuva lot faster than oil does!
These birches were SO much fun to paint! I did a bunch of paintings of them. I'll post some more... maybe... if I can get my groove going! I'll be painting dogs again in July as well, so go ahead and start sending me your dog photos!
Wahoooo!
These are actually my sister Beaner's cats, Max and Maddy, but they also make me feel they can be my beloved cats of my Uptown Twenties, Toby and Cobb. Toby was my first pet as an "Adult" when I graduated from college and moved to Minneapolis for my first time living really on my own. He was such a sweet little kitten- I recently found photos we rescued from the house fire and there's some of him as a kitten! I'll post them tomorrow or later today!
Cobb is the white kitten that my friend Jill and I found in Uptown in an island of bushes on our way to see a Noam Chomsky film at the Walked one spring evening in 1990. We heard her on our way past and couldn't get her in the dark, so the next morning we went back with a can of cat food, and Jill stood out on the outside of the bushes in case she bolted out (there were cars driving past this island) while I wormed my way through the thicket to where she was, and grabbed her by the scruff of her neck. At first we thought she was siamese because of how dirty she was, but when the vet we took her to washed her in the stainless steel sink, she became pure white.
Toby took good care of her, annoying though she was as a kitten to him. They were such a sweet pair.
I just ran to the Edina Pet Hospital yesterday to hang a few more paintings. Shelia, the owner there, asked me a half a year ago if I was interested in putting some of my pet paintings on her walls, and since I'd rather have them seen that store them, I said sure! I hung a lot of pieces there but there were some Cat rooms in use that I wasn't able to enter. Shelia had contacted me recently to let me know they were repainting those rooms and that she'd love some more work if I had any more. So while I was up in Grand Marais back in March, I started a couple cat paintings.
This is not one of them.
This is my sister Beaner's sturdy farm cat, Max. He's got a definite personality, this one! And he's also really sturdy. He was a cute little fluff pot when Beaner first picked him and his sister Maddy up from a farmer in a parking lot. I think they were both also covered in fleas... but dang cute!
I painted this one up in Grand Marias at the Art Colony this March- it's a 40x30 canvas, so quite a bit larger than life size, and Duane took it of Pom after a walk or something, she had done something she was supposed to do and was proving how well she could sit... can you see it in her face? I need to take a photo of her next to the painting because that would be really funny~
This is Bubbins, Georgia's sister. They are pretty different creatures! Bubbins is shy, skittish, needs to bark at you a lot before she's willing to come up and be petted. They make a fun team!
I've got a new session of Paint Love starting on April 15th, Saturday mornings from 9:30-noon, and you're welcome to join us if you like. Sign up is here~
It's a good time of year to get those brushes out!
I painted a lot up in Grand Marais two weeks ago- it was a heckuva adventure, and I was so glad to have stalwart friends along, Kris and Michelle- some heavy emotions were under all that paint- dealing with grief and loss, in this world, feels like a full time job.
This is Georgia. She lives with Shelley and Julian and her sister Bubbins, and she has been a help in our grieving process, especially for Max, who loved this painting as soon as I brought it into the house and decided it is his. So it isn't for sale~ I really like it too, so I'm glad he's picked it out! Georgia and Bubbins made a brief appearance at Max's birthday party last Thursday, and Max was thrilled and delighted. They are a pretty sweet pair of pugs, with Georgia being the more outgoing friendly one and Bubbins taking a bit more work to get to touch~
Yes, I had to paint Fred. Can you see why? I think originally the photo was upside down, so that's why I'm posting it this way~
Here's Fred's story!
This is Fred or Red Fred or Freddy boy.
His is a story of we are not sure who rescued who. We lost our precious girl tabby cat to cancer. A few months later, a friend called to say the rescue that she helps with had an orange tabby who she thought we needed to meet. The bond was immediate as my husband picked him up and he snuggled in. As you can see, this boy has so much positive personality! ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, (This is his contribution to his story) He talks constantly with short chirps and always wants to be with one of us. He shares many traits with our girl and that has helped us heal from our loss. Such a bright star that we love so much!
And this is the almost last cat! One more tomorrow! With all the double cats, I think I've done 34 cats this year!
Here's Bella's story~
The Calico is named Bella. She was a stray and picked up by rescue when she was about a year old. She loves food. When she was about 2, Sophie and I were trying to eat lunch and she kept trying to steal our food. When we kept putting her on the floor, she sneaked up along the wall and window sill and tried to get at it from the back of the table. She’s very social -comes to the door when you get there. Her favorite trick is to lie on her back and lure you in to rub her tummy and then grab your hand with all four paws and claw you. At the right time of day, she’s playful and cuddly.
This is Stella, and here's her story~
The Tuxedo is Stella. Sophie got her from rescue when she was a kitten. Stella is fearful of anything new. I hardly ever see her, because she hides under the bed when visitors come. When she’s comfortable though, she’s affectionate and bossy. When I used to cat sit ( before everyone moved to Portland), after about three days of no Sophie, she would decided I was an acceptable sub. She would walk off toward the bedroom, meowing over her shoulder until I figured out she wanted me to come lie on the bed so we could snuggle.
This cat has such a beautiful presence, it was another one that was a joy to paint! Not that they aren't all joys, but some just come off the brush with a different flow...
Here's what Margret says her son says about Job~ (with a long "o"!- I asked~)~
Job came to us as a rescue when he was about three years old. Originally intended as a companion for my grandmother, he actually imprinted on me and my dad. Job is very talkative; I definitely get what some of his meows mean, and he understands a few phrases of mine. In his tuxedo, he’s dressed for any occasion, but his favorite activities include sleeping in the sunny spot on top of his shelf, running after toys and thrown treats, and sneaking past whoever opens the door. Now that he’s a senior cat of 15 years, we help him up and down from the shelf, but otherwise you’ll mistake him for a playful whippersnapper.
And this is Harley! My friend Susan, whom I haven't seen in a while and am so excited to reconnect with her, asked me to paint him for her sister, Ann!
Here's what Susan says about Harley!
Harley is her buddy. He is named after the motorcycle. I crack up when I go over and show him bird videos on my phone.. super funny. I think he's around 10 years old, but acts like a feisty kitty sometimes. He's a coooool cat!
And here's what Susan officially wrote for me!
For Ann -
He is stubborn and independent like his owner, and enjoys watching videos of birds in his spare time.Harley sure looks cool, with that cocky even gaze and those green green eyes!
This one is from my friend Pat, who says, " I'd like March 26 if possible, since that's Charlotte's birthday. If that's already taken, that's fine, as she doesn't seem to really appreciate my efforts to celebrate it."
Most cats don't seem to care about when their birthdays are, or even about celebrating them. Do you suppose that's because every day is cat day?
This is one of those amazing fluffy cats, with liquid eyes, who fills your soul with warmth.
Here is Loup's story!
Loup, affectionately known as Loupie or Loup-Loup was born in Oregon. Loup is French for wolf and pronounced Lou. Loup flew to Minneapolis once as a therapy cat and stayed with us before moving here permanently in 2021 with his pet parent. Emotional support cats provide comfort to their pet parents. Loup loves to hide under blankets and loves his cat toys.
We saw the NORTHERN LIGHTS last night!!!! Those are just mad crazy pants stuff, babe! Whew!
Stood in the middle of the street in Grand Marais MN and watched them for an hour until I got so chilled and stiff necked I had to go in!
And this is Gemma, who has some Northern Lights kinda eyes!
And I mistakenly put two cats on for today, so Louise is up NEXT!
This is Perkie, who seems to have a pretty appropriate name!
I'm at the Grand Marais Art Colony this week, with my friends Michelle and Kris, and it's been a huge week of grieving loss and healing by the big lake, and laughing during yesterday's big snow and bullying our cars out of the snowplow's drift, and staying up late watching Dolly Parton and Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda in "Nine to Five" and getting things sewn and painted.
I actually painted this painting at the North Shore 24 Hour Laundromat this morning... it's got a great view of the lake!
Thanks for being part of this big, tough, love-full time in our lives.
This is a beautiful feral kitty who lived in upstate New York~
This is part of her story, from my friend Maggie~
A friend in New York State had a traumatic experience recently where one of three feral cats he was taking care of (and trying to domesticate) was hit by a car. He is really traumatized while still taking care of the other two, who have just started peeking inside. He feeds them, gave them house warmers, etc, but ended up burying the one that he had just taken to be nuetured. He came home just a few days later to find the cat (Moon) had been hit by a car and had died.
Another one that I just loved painting! Those whiskers, always the last thing I add, were just a BLAST!
And here's Karel's story!
Our sweet ginger boy has lived with us over a decade since we got him as a kitten from the Humane Society. The shelter had named him "Orange Juice" but he was quickly renamed to the Dutch version of Carl - Karel. Karel is very social and will greet all guests directly. He doesn't hide during parties but instead, likes to be the center of everything. At dinner parties, he'll join from a barstool quietly observing the activities. He has a large fan club. Karel likes my husband and I equally. When sitting on the couch together, he'll make sure that if he is snoozing on one of us, he has a paw stretched out to the other.
Here is the beautiful Phoebe~ who has left this earthly plane.
These eyes are so calm and gentle. It's an amazing thing to be able to live with these creatures, isn't it?
And here is the FIRST cat, of the yesterday-cat and today-cats!
Here's Ziva's story~
Ziva is a sleek, soft black cat with a small white patch on her chest. As if she had stepped in some paint, she has three perfectly white socks on her front left foot and one white toe bean on the back. She is a curious cat! She can look out the window and watch the birds and leaves for hours. Whenever something is being done, from cooking to a home repair project, she is sure to appear to investigate. Her yellow eyes observe and seem to ask, “What are you doing?” Ziva is almost three years old, adopted from the shelter. I later adopted another cat, Vanya. Ziva is definitely the top cat, grooming her younger sister and making sure she knows who’s boss. Yet Ziva is still my baby, happy to be snuggled or carried over my shoulder. If there’s bag she can crawl into or a basket of laundry she can hide in, she will! She loves to be petted and always begins purring immediately.
