The Stow Away, is this a Devon Rex?

The Stow Away  Oil on panel, 8" x 8,"  NFS

If I had to guess, based on head shape and curly fur, Devon Rex? This painting is part of a series called "Eye on Butterfly."

Fascination and black squirrels in my yard!

Fascination  Oil on wood, 8" x 8,"  SOLD

A quick re-post of recently re-photographed "Fascination." 
Also today, black squirrels in my yard! :) If you've never seen one, they're just like regular squirrels except for coloration (though they seem quicker?!) Black squirrels were originally introduced in Kent, OH by a Kent State University grounds superintendent. He and a friend acquired them in Canada. The squirrels flourished and eventually made their way from Kent to these parts.

Fascination

Fascination  Oil on panel, 8" x 8," NFS

This painting photographed kinda dark, it is better in life. The grassy "patterns" and the brick textures here got sketched first with a thin application of raw umber. Sweet kitteh model, very photogenic...  and available for adoption at the Cleveland APL.

Butterfly Passerby

Butterfly Passerby  Oil on wood, 12" x 9,"  NFS

Yes, you've seen this kitty and butterfly before (here.) I'm gonna save this one for a show happening this summer.

A Passerby painting of a cat and a butterfly

A Passerby  Oil on wood, 8" x 6," SOLD

It's easier (for me) to achieve "color harmony" with colors like pinks and purples, not so much with earth tones. I used raw umber here (instead of my go-to burnt) and tried to kinda ease up on the darkest darks from the beginning and I'm happy with it.  I'm not sure either of those tactics helped with the color harmony but I will keep experimenting. :)
This painting is another in my ongoing series "Eye on Butterfly," click here to see more.

The Messenger II, Richeson75 Animals, Birds & Wildlife 2017

The Messenger II  Oil on wood, 8" x 8,"  SOLD

I try not to question or overthink when inspiration strikes...  As I mentioned yesterday, it was a post on Facebook...  I'm doing a few versions of that general idea... (because cats and sheep!)  Here's the first. :)

Finalists!

Very happy to report two of my paintings are finalists in the Richeson75 International Art Competition "Animals, Birds & Wildlife 2017" They've posted award winners and finalists here. Have a look!

Patches and Blue

Patches and Blue  Oil on panel, 8" x 6,"  SOLD

Same kitty as "The Captive" (see third down on blog.) This cat is so interesting to paint, maybe do another. If you are not subscribed to receive my paintings in your email, you are invited!  Here's a link.

Baby Blue and a Top 8 List on Katzenworld

Baby Blue  Oil on panel, 8" x 8," SOLD

Cara Imperato, also known as the "Kitty Curator" has assembled a list of her favorite artists who paint cats.  I am happy to have made the list!  See the list with links on her blog, Katzenworld, here.

Forest of Amusement and NOAPS Online Spring Exhibition

Forest of Amusement  Oil on panel, 8" x 8,"  NFS

I'm on a roll this week.  Very happy with every one of the paintings to follow. (I wish every week could be so sweet.) If you are visiting, you should subscribe, here, so you don't miss any.

In other news, "The Sage" made it into the National Oil and Acrylic Painters' Society Spring 2017 Online International Exhibition. This is one of those shows, you're lucky just to get in....  I feel incredibly lucky.  Honored, in fact. Check out an amazing selection of paintings from around the world, here.

Flying Cat "Dreams & Visions" Show at Lakeland Community College

Flying Cat  Oil on panel, 10" x 10,"  NFS

"Flying Cat" will be part of the Dreams & Visions: Surrealism and Fantasy Art Exhibit at Lakeland Community College in Kirtland, OH.  The show is curated by Mary Urbas and runs from Sept. 22 - Nov. 4th. Really enjoyed this one, artists have been encouraged to create up to three works for the show and I might try a few more. Also, a quick shout out to Love & Hisses for kitty photo reference, thanks!

Escape by Fight, painting of cat and butterfly

Escape by Flight  Oil on panel, 8" x 10,"  SOLD

A PAINTING GIVE AWAY and today's painting

The Messenger  Oil on panel, 8" x 6,"  NFS

A reminder!  My painting give away is this Saturday!  But you must be subscribed to this blog to enter.  Three randomly chosen subscribers will win paintings.  If you haven't already subscribed, please do so here.
Today's painting went "back to the drawing board" a few times...  I kept seeing little things I wanted to fix in the photos.  It's Maya again, she's getting a telepathic message from a monarch.

The Greeter, Why no "Buy Now" on that painting?

The Greeter  Oil on wood, 6" x 6," SOLD

A few of you reached through the internets to ask what's up with the "Reserved" status on recent paintings.  And why no "Buy Now?" I'm waiting to see if they get accepted into a show...  Yes, I succumbed to the lure of the juried exhibit.  Validation from peers, the potential of being "discovered" (ha!) and monetary awards:  tempting me at the moment. Standby for further updates.  

Blue Butterfly and Cat

Blue Butterfly and Cat  Oil on wood, 8" x 8,"  SOLD

Orange Butterfly with Cat

Orange Butterfly with Cat  Oil on wood, 10" x 10,"  NFS

Estate Cat & Can you tell that's a gravestone?

Estate Cat  Oil on wood, 8" x 8,"  SOLD

A couple months ago, my husband and I wandered around an old cemetery.  I shot pictures of the gravestones and memorial statues...  

Potential settings for future cat paintings.

(So elegant!)  "Estate Cat" is perched on a gravestone from one of the photos... It works, right?  Looks like some kind of fabulous estate architecture....  Must go again and photograph them without all the icky snow.  :)

Lily Patch Cat cat with eyes on butterfly a new painting

Lily Patch Cat  Oil on wood, 10" x 8",  NFS

Only a "passable" photo of painting here, it's better in life... Maybe re-photograph later.

White Cat meets Butterfly, The Encounter

The Encounter  Oil on wood, 8" x 8,"  NFS

Excluding my favorite cat, Coco--  I think white cats might be my favorite ones to paint.  I  may have said that about flowers too... If you aren't getting this post in your email, please consider subscribing, you'll never miss a post.

Painting cats is fun and a new painting!

Palace Cat  Oil on wood, 11" x 14,"  NFS

You may have noticed, my blog is a little more cat-centric this year.  [fe]line, form and color,  the new tagline sums it up...  I wanted to make it easier for cat peeps to find me.   Limiting my painting to one subject matter would have been a unthinkable (and possibly tragic) a few years ago. But it's proving to be more delightful than I anticipated.  Making the commitment to do so (if only for a year) forces me to try new things to keep it interesting.   
Should you be a fan of cats, I recommend a leisurely browse at the great cat.  It is a site dedicated to documenting all things cat through art, literature and history.  Cats in film through history is especially interesting.  Creator, Laura Vocelle regularly adds new content to a variety of categories-- including "Cats in Art-Contemporary" of which I am pleased to be included. 

Bertrand and the Butterfly a new cat painting

Bertrand and the Butterfly  Oil on wood  8" x 8"  SOLD

I went to the shelter this afternoon for a photo shoot and my lovely kitteh models were missing.  Most of the cages were empty and the lights in the playrooms were off....  Baffled, I asked a volunteer "where's the kitties?"  She said there had been a special on adoptions last weekend and they had adopted out almost all of them!  Confirmation via the Cleveland Animal Protective League twitter feed:

This is incredible!  I'll be curious to see how long it takes the facility to fill up again...  But how wonderful to know all those cats found homes.  Maybe it's time for another photo session at the zoo...   I'd post a link to "Bertrand" profile but he's been adopted too.