Meet the Artist of This Blog!

Meet the artist of this crazy feed! Here I am waiting for a show in Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London, the only building in the city that is permitted to have a thatched roof, for obvious reasons.  We enjoyed two peerless shows whilst there.

 I’m in one of the balconies but you can look down to see that people still crowd around the stage, lean on the stage and stand shoulder to shoulder for the entire length of the show!  What a place.  

I also notice my gold earring(s). I lost one on that trip.  Came back Stateside and found a different sized gold hoop and wore them as a mismatched pair.  I’ve always felt that ‘life is short, you might as well mix up your jewelry!’ The next time we went to Europe I lost my last hoop! Maybe the next time we go I’ll find a pair, huh? :) 

Man, I miss those earrings.  Dang.

In the Art Studio

This was a good portion of today’s work.  After a lot of sketching I finally laid out my new painting, this time on cradled wood, not canvas.  Once I sketched in the entire plan it was time to choose paints. Test, mix, compare, eliminate.  Once done with all this, I make careful notes for posterity as to exact type of paint and medium.  

I wish I could show you more but don’t as a rule when I’m working on a commission.  You’ll see the painting itself soon!

My Mother’s Hands

My goal is to keep this feed related to art because I’m a professional artist; however tonight I must make an exception. Actually, maybe it’s not that big of an exception.  These are my mother’s hands. She’s caressing our cat Calypso who loved cuddling with both my parents.  My mother is gone now, and so is my father.  So is our beautiful, good natured sweet kitty.  I miss all three of them.  This photo brings it all crashing back.  But really, what IS art? It can be many things, but taken down to its very essence, I believe it’s living a life to glorify God, loving people and caring for your own.  And boy am I thankful that God was gracious enough to give us animals to love us and to teach us how to love. And living a well-lived life?  Now THAT’S art!

Train Art, Memories

This tiny card.  How can I explain the meaning behind it? I always tell my students to make art to remember.  I hold this one close to me but will tell you of it nonetheless.  It’s the Great Northern Railway mascot, the Rocky Mountain Goat. My dad worked for this Railroad for 43 years and we were a railroad family, moving to whatever state he was promoted to next. As we moved, my brothers would come of age and not move with us. 

I grew up on trains.  Checking them on Saturdays with Dad, clambering all over them to check for needed repairs and make sure everything was ship shape, riding them across those Rocky Mountains more times than I could count, even driving one. Finally he was transferred to Minnesota and at age 18 I prepared to stay in Illinois.  Last minute I decided it was time to blow that town and I moved with them. 

I started working for the railroad and met my husband there and we continued the railroad travel. Before my dad retired, he was in charge of materials at the headquarters, and was responsible for the safekeeping of the original Rocky Mountain Goat, enshrined in its plexiglas display case.  One little logo.  A lifetime of precious memories. 

My Art Studio Today

I had to step aside from the work I’d outlined for my painting day because these hyacinths were driving me to distraction!  Their fragrance is divine and I literally carry them from room to room. Finally I prepared a canvas and did some color testing.  Pictured here are the color winners; the color losers were banished back to my paint drawers.  We artists make it our job to make creation look easy, but you can see from this photo that a whole lot of planning and work go into a piece long before brush meets canvas.

Also, sometimes I have a helper come into my studio.  Trust me, when he comes in, I stop and enjoy life for a while.

Unique, Creative Art

As a professional artist I’ve created paintings and said goodbye to them as they have all gone to various new homes around the world.  Over the years I’ve watched as my style has changed.  I look back at paintings I’ve sold and think, ‘hmm... I guess that’ll never happen again, I don’t even paint like that anymore.’  I change, I grow, I move on to new ideas; after all, I have an entire world of creativity to explore!

All this to say, if you are eyeing art by an artist, ANY artist, whatever medium, BUY IT.  You are not buying Walmart (fake, reproduced, fall-apart) art, you’re investing in an artist’s life.  You’re purchasing an heirloom, a legacy and it’s not going to come around again. If you miss your chance, that particular piece will never happen again.  

You can join the artist in that shining, creative moment in time and enjoy a beautiful, unique piece that can never be reproduced.  Now THAT is special.  Yes, Mr. Bear is long gone, but I DO have small posters of him at  

colorcatstudios101.etsy.com

Flower Painting - Spring!

Spring is coming (comes early here in Texas!) What better way to celebrate than with flowers? This little mixed media piece IS a celebration!  5 1/2”x9”.

Sooo much fun. ❤️ 

New Puppy Painting

Here I’m holding my new little puppy painting so you can see the size. This adorable little doggo is a commission I just finished - yay! Stella is a bundle of fun so I put polka dots in the background to symbolize her playfulness. Guaranteed to bring a smile of delight, this acrylic painting is only 12”x12” painted on cradled wood.  With the gold textures in the background, her mood changes as light filtering onto the painting changes.  She’s so CUTE! 

In this case, good things definitely come in small packages! Check out my website for all kinds of crazy wonderful stuff! colorcatstudios101.etsy.com

Finished Puppy Commission

Here I’m showing some of my steps bringing my puppy painting to fruition.  This adorable pup is a commission I just finished - yay! Stella is a bundle of fun so I put polka dots in the background to symbolize her playfulness. Guaranteed to bring a smile of delight, this acrylic painting is only 12”x12” painted on cradled wood.  With the gold textures in the background, her mood changes with the changing light. 

First drawing upon my beautiful background:

Starting to paint in the ear now...

Both ears... :)

Watch out for that scary pic with the glowing white eyeball - zombie dog! Artists are like gardeners - going through the scary stuff, mud, seeds, weeds, zombie dogs, with their eyes on the goal, finished paintings and glorious gardens. :)

Getting there...  honestly, I love this zombie dog transition. 

Ahhh... much better.

Now we’re getting somewhere!

The photo did not show a gleam in her right eye; but neither I nor the customer liked her without it. So...

Ah! That’s much better, isn’t it? :). Now, for the finishing touches.  Fur here, texture there, little pinky nose, and voila!

I’m in love! And I don’t even have to take her outside to pee!

Watch out for that scary pic with the glowing white eyeball - zombie dog! Artists are like gardeners - going through the scary stuff, mud, seeds, weeds, zombie dogs, with their eyes on the goal, finished paintings and glorious gardens. :)

Brushes

I bet you didn’t know that today is TINY BRUSH DAY! What that means is I’m almost done with another painting! :). It’s a commission so I can’t show you yet, but it’s coming! Yay! I love the sense of accomplishment when a painting is finished. 

Bunny Painting Sold

My little bunny-bun sold.  Such an adorable little fellow; and I’m glad he’s going to a good home.  I don’t think he’s even going to eat much! I wanted to post him with my pens so you could see what I used for him.  

These soft brush Pitts just can’t be beat, and it rather feels like you’re painting! Since we’re talking bunnies,I have to quote my favorite bunny poem: ‘The bunny is a feeble folk, whose weakness is his strength. To shun a gun a bun will run to almost any length!’  (You’ll thank me later when you need a good poem.) Happy days. 

Octopus Painting Sold

Sold ‘Maestro’ last night. Soon he will be flying first class to Massachusetts! My painting gets to fly in a better class than we do!  The other octopus painting, ‘Walking,’ is still available. 

Octopus Paintings Compared

I painted these two octopus paintings several months apart.  For one I wanted to focus on lines and for the other I focused on texture. I was surprised when I set them next to each other that they looked like they had been painted together and look as if they’re joining... well, not hands, but maybe like each one’s arms are extending beyond himself over to the other. They truly are a pair! One thing that unites them is my treatment of color; I used the same colors and laid them down in thin glazes so you could see through each layer of color like stained glass. 

The borders I put above and below (to make a square for Instagram!) are super closeups.  Each piece is 24x30” and they’re on my website to be sold separately unless some lucky person decides to purchase them together.  LOVE these!

You can find them at 

colorcatstudios101.etsy.com