Magnets of my Paintings

My red panda painting is sold but I have some adorable magnets for sale on my website along with magnets of my lions, tiger, bear, owl, wolf...  They brighten your mood and are so handy for much-loved teeny tiny gifts. 

Find them at colorcatstudios101.etsy.com

Creative Block

Are you ever creatively blocked? You can be blocked in business, writing, art... whatever. Get into your workplace and do some mundane cleanup! I find the very act of hand sharpening pencils inspiring. Sometimes simple studio cleanup or paint testing will do the trick as well.  The point is... do something! I’m not often blocked, but I’d say I’m more creatively-time-challenged.  I haven’t had a chance in my art studio for TWO WEEKS so a little pencil sharpening is a relaxing way to ease me into the ‘zone.’  What do you do to get over your creative block? 

Abraham Lincoln Quote

Abraham Lincoln quote on one of my embossed metal pieces.  It’s so true.  It doesn’t even matter what you choose to do (as long as it’s legal and you WANT it)!  Just go for it!

Yes, I photoshopped this piece to make it look cool, but honestly, I think it looks better the way it was!

Landscape Abstract... sort of...

Sometimes I almost think I could be an abstract artist.  Almost.  I’m really liking this tiny postcard-sized piece.  For it I used inks, acrylic paint and pen. Message me if you’re interested. My email address is colorcatstudios@gmail.com

Linoleum Cutting, Acanthus Leaf

Oh, man, I love block printing with linoleum blocks! My advanced art class doesn’t know it yet but we’re about to go into full production for Christmas.  Drawing it in and cutting the blocks is rewarding and peaceful and printing with them is about has hard to stop as picking berries. 

I don’t know about YOU, but when I start picking berries, it’s well nigh impossible for me to stop!  Same with prints.  Currently all surfaces are covered can with prints over here. :)

Puppy Painting

I know that National Cat Day is coming up (October 29, of course) but can’t a dog get a break? I’m posting this little cutaway of my ‘Excitable Pup’ acrylic painting just to be fair.  For sale on my website, no drool included.

You can find a lot of pictures of him on my website, colorcatstudios101.etsy.com. I painted him with big, bold brushstrokes to capture the just out of control feeling that having a wild puppy gives. :). So cute.

Days with my Students

‘What did you do today,’ you ask? I’m glad you asked! Color theory with my students.  Complimentary colors mixing for neutrals, to be specific.  Days with my students are always fun days. 

Funny One Painting with Comic Strips

It’s so nice to have hired help to do the dusting.  And what is it about outdoor photography, anyway, that invites so many feline helpers?  Whatever it is, I’m glad for it.  They just want in the picture too. This piece, named ‘Funny One,’ is a mixed media piece into which I incorporated the good old funny papers - the comics.  All my favorites, of course. :). Always makes me smile. Available at 

colorcatstudios101.etsy.com

This sweet girl is always with me.  It’s no wonder she’s in the pic, she is a Maine Coone and follows me around like a dog.  That’s one of their character traits and what makes them so precious.  The faithfulness and companionship of a dog, the easy care and loving of a cat.

Fall Leaves Painting

This painting is simply a celebration of fall, cool weather and the beautiful colors that ensue.  Hooray! It’s mixed media and I love the way the layers interplay with each other.  I call it Measure for Measure.  You can find its details on my website.

Leaf Printing with Linoleum Block

Oh my goodness I am loving the effects you can achieve with carved linoleum prints! The leaves I carved and showed in a previous post look positively ethereal on this background.  Loving this medium.

Owl Painting

This painting was created in joy and makes everyone that sees him smile. I love the way the colors glow through one another. He’s looking for a new home and you can find HIM on my website.

colorcatstudios101.etsy.com

Carving Linoleum Blocks

Carving another lino block; this time one of my favorite subjects - leaves.  Things from nature always rate high in this artist’s book.  God has given us a great big beautiful world. For a number of years people have been begging for an advanced art class and I finally jumped in with both feet this year (as artists tend to do).  It has been an absolute delight.  Together we are delving into the mysteries of art.

Wacky Wavy Inflatable Tube Man Painting

I have a friend that actually bought a costume of one of these blowup guys.  This is my painting of these funny dudes.  We decided that each of these wind blown poses reflects moods during different times of the day.  My favorite one is the poor bent over fellow which you always see when they’re not getting enough air.  I embossed the metal, seated it on a painted canvas, and then painted everything to unite it.  :)

After much crazy deliberation, I named this one ‘Highway Dancers’ as opposed to Crazy Dancing Blowup Guys or Wacky Wavy Inflatable Tube Man and myriad other funny suggestions.  It makes me laugh. The entire piece is 24”x12”. Message me if interested; it’s not on my website. $200.00.

The following is a closeup of just the embossed metal.

Lino Printing in my Advanced Art Class

In my advanced art class I’m teaching my students linoleum printing.  Oh, what FUN!  As a woodcarver I have found that this is soo much easier, ever so relaxing and beautiful as well. And once you get those printing blocks carved, you can go into printing production until the house burns down around you and you realize you haven’t eaten for three days.

Below are some of the linoleum blocks carved, and some of the printed works below them.  You see varying darknesses of ink; the second printing in a go is called the ‘ghost’ and I often prefer it to the first printing.

This one is a little print I made and laid out in the classic fashion.

I love printing on top of already painted works.  For me it’s all about layers. And here, some of our tools.

Sketching with James Galway

These show my concert experience last night. James Galway. Master flutist who over his extraordinary career has played for kings, queens, presidents... every great hall and orchestra there is, and with innumerable  star performers. He’s sold over 30 million ‘albums;’ I guess these days music comes in so many forms that you now call it a unit. What a special privilege to enjoy him last night.  

Without any miking, his flute rang through the hall with that unmatchable, glittery tone, and he kept up a running narration showing his good humor.  At one point the music was so funny he cracked up, then the pianist did, and we were all laughing. Just like any musician’s practice, they had to stop and laugh.  They began again in jolly camaraderie. 

 Before the concert I sketched the piano whilst waiting, and this is what I had him sign.  He liked my piano. :). 

He looks pretty good for age 79! Knowing his legend, I scoped things out at intermission and found out where his signing table would be.  At the end of the concert I walked to the back of the auditorium (second row seat in the handicapped section for some reason, with no chair in front!) Anyway, he played the second encore I was outta there and standing at the table.  Sure enough, I was the first of at least 300 people in line for an autograph and a short little chat. :). SWEET!

Did you know that my website not only features my paintings but has stickers, magnets, postcards and posters of many of my paintings? Here are just a few.  Wow! What a treasure trove! They make perfect little thoughtful gifts.  Check ‘em out!

colorcatstudios101.etsy.com

These are some of my magnets.

Progress on Octopus Painting

Here you can see how the octopus painting I just finished progressed.  First I worked it up in charcoal with lots of rubbing out and movement. Once I got the composition the way I wanted I laid in some thin Payne’s Grey to set it up for color and get the contrasts balanced.  My next post will show the progression of color.  This piece is 24”x30”

I think all the swishy movement adds to it, but most of it will come off in the end.

Here you can see I’m laying in paint now.

Establishing and balancing values...

I like it already! However, time to get rid of some of that movement; I’m going to wash the charcoal off once the paint is dry.  Next time I post you’ll see how it progresses in color. :). Oh, man, I love painting!

This Artist’s Inspiration - Roger Dean

Thank you, Roger Dean, for being a lifelong inspiration to me. I’ve been working on a new painting. This time, charcoal cartoon and a thin layer of Payne’s Grey once I got it al adjusted.  Today the canvas watched and waited as I worked through the color scheme, this one something I’ve always wanted to do, colors based on Roger Dean’s artwork on Uriah Heep’s Magician’s Birthday! This one’s going to be fun, now that the lion’s share of my work is done.  Just add color!

An Artist’s Body; Just Another Canvas

I consider my body just another canvas.  Here’s a good example. Sorry for the poor lighting, I look rather like a mannequin.  Ah, well.

Also, what I wear is an extension of my personality and each piece is telling.  First, the dress.  I’ve had it for a long time.  I don’t know why I first bought it, and have called it my ugly dress all this time.  Yet I continue to wear it and it’s always been a favorite.

The long amber strand is about 40” and I usually loop it around a couple times.  It was my mother’s, so it holds special meaning.

The velvet scarf which is a rich brown on one end and a deep red on the other was a find somewhere in the South of England in a little coffee shop.  Wanting coffee, I walked in and this Texas girl found two people, a clerk and a customer, discussing Texas food! It was a warm and welcoming shop with walnut cake, pea soup and a pile of sketchpads on a table into which anyone that had the desire could make an artistic entry.  Enjoying the atmosphere and conversation, I walked around to find the shop was also a kind of second-hand garage sale of sorts.  Draped over who knows what, I found this scarf for a mere four pounds, which I think was about six American dollars at the time.

You can see I’m wearing two scarves; the crazy black one with the dangling shapes I adore! Gary and I went to Florida a couple years ago and I scooped this up on one of the days he had to work all day and, oh, woe is me, I HAD to go shopping.  This scarf fits the weird bill and suits me just right.

The brass bracelet is honey comb shaped, and I bought it to remember the great times I have with my friend who has hives, our honey gathering and bee sting experience, of which we hope to have many more. ❤️ 

The wooden bead bracelet is actually a necklace that was my mother’s.  It’s olive wood from Israel and is also a symbol of her intrepid, adventurous personality.  She traveled internationally twice before dad realized she was having all the fun and decided to join her in her overseas voyages. This bracelet is very precious to me.

I purchased the ruby ring when I was maybe 23.  It’s been my friend all these years.

The gold band is a ring my dad found metal detecting.  It all began for him when we lived in Illinois and the county drained the community lake.  One of our friends had a metal detector and moved right in to the swimming beach finding probably 1,000 rings.  Some were cheap but being the first one to the beach he made a score of a whole lot of precious gems and metals.  Right there the metal detecting bug bit my dad.  He had an awful lot of fun doing this, always drew a crowd, and sometimes found some pretty nice stuff! All this to say, the jewelry from my parents is the most special of anything I’ve mentioned.

Oh yeah, the necklace with the big, glittery hunk o’ glass? True Value Hardware Store.  Where else? :)

An Artist’s Desktop

It doesn’t seem to matter how big my desk is; it pretty much always looks like this.  Unfair that I’m not showing you the outer edges which sport PILES of books, papers, information, inspiration and ephemera. What’s on YOUR desk? Is it clean? 

I have an insatiable personality which means I read an unbelievable variety of weird things, just because it’s good to know.  And as far as art supplies, I pretty much have to try everything, which means I’m constantly experimenting.  Thus the Daniel Green watercolor crayons you see in the little five-pack at the top. Each stick is the equivalent to approximately four pans of watercolor and they ARE pigment loaded.  The jury’s out on them thus far... As far as both the Golden paints and the Matisse paints, they are so luscious and pigment packed that I could eat them.  But I won’t.  Because I expect like many materials they are carcinogenic in the State of California.  May be safe here in Texas, but let’s not be chancey.