March 5, Beau, Hugo, and Alphie

 This one feels nearly abstract with the composition and the contrast of black to the pearly grey.  What fun to paint!  And then to try to get those facial expressions and the eyes looking like they are actually LOOKING somewhere!

I've included Patty's stories about these three below!

10x10 acrylic on wood

spoken for

Alphonse

I was lured into adopting Alphonse when a friend sent a link from PetFinder.com with the message, “How can you resist this face?” Well, I couldn’t, and shortly afterward, I adopted Alphonse from the animal shelter in La Crosse. He joined Beauregard and Hugo, and immediately made his presence and personality known by smacking Hugo in the face. Despite that rocky start, they became best wrestling and bird-watching buddies, while Beauregard viewed both of them like the wise, but slightly goofy kitty that he was. Alphonse loves nothing more than butter, although shrimp is a close second. He has me well-trained to turn on the bathroom faucet for him and is not shy about speaking up when I’m not Johnny-on-the-spot. He’s got gorgeous green eyes, is a top-notch mouser and loves to snuggle under the covers.

 

Beauregard 

Beauregard also hailed from Wisconsin – Chippewa Falls – and once again, PetFinder.com united us. It was kind of bait and switch; the photo was of one of his siblings, but by the time I got there, Beau was the only black kitty left. So of course, I brought him home. After having lived in a cage for all of his 9 months of life, he knew nothing about houses: rooms were a revelation, as were the stairs. He was so weak that he couldn’t jump on the bed and a game of chase-the-string left him panting. So he undertook his own fitness course and soon was as robust as he’d ever be. His long tail suggested he’d be a big guy, but he never topped 7 pounds. He was a sweet, goofy, but quiet presence who loved his buddy Hugo, and kept a his roomies in line.

 

I met Hugo at the Humane Society and it was “like” at first sight. Hugo had a mind of his own, hated to be held on his back and frankly, acted more like a dog than a cat. Lithe and powerful, he could make a 3-foot vertical leap after a toy, but there was nothing catlike about his thudding walk or whomping jump onto the bed. If there was something scary outside, Alphie and Beau clustered around Hugo. He taught himself how to catch treats in mid-air by just throwing his head back. When Alphie joined the trio, Hugo was his kindly uncle who let Alph pounce on and stalk him. Once Alph was big enough, they held ferocious wrestling matches. Hugo was a wonderful once-in-a-lifetime cat, who exuded personality, a true, unforgettable character.