Comparing Acrylic to Watercolor

Do you prefer one over the other?

First painting:  Acrylic

Second painting:  Watercolor and ink

For me watercolors tend to be more ‘free.’ I like to quickly draw, quickly paint and have it be a little crazy.  

With acrylics I get a little pickier and can spend a LOT of time on them.  You can see that the BEGGAR’S face is detailed, but the farther you get from his face, the wilder it gets.  That’s simply my style, and helps you focus on what’s important instead of, say, his tail.  So... which do you like better? :)

New Painting Coming!

Bright!  No filter needed! Watch for my new painting in the next couple days.  When I’ve got two or more brushes loaded simultaneously it’s a good thing.  It means I’ve done some serious planning and pre-frenzy work and now it’s all out.

Aren’t these colors luscious?

 Stay tuned!

Quarantined Artist

More Art versus Artist photos. I love this painting because it’s of one of our favorite cats ever. She actually looked exactly like this, well, except for the fact that she wasn’t green... or see-through.  Anyway, you can find more of my paintings at https://www.etsy.com/shop/ColorCatStudios101?ref=search_shop_redirect. It’s a good thing to check out while we’re all in quarantine!

Most of my art deals in layers, color and texture.  I really do love this piece. :)

Interesting Finds

I’m thinking that I could intrigue someone well-versed in fluid mechanics with this, or, well, just curious people like myself.  Here is a closeup of a tiny spot in my 22x22” painting I just finished.  Do you see the absolutely perfect 9-pointed star?  That was complete happenstance which took place when I was manipulating the liquid paint.  I didn’t even notice it until I reviewed the video I posted yesterday and saw it in the video!  What are the chances of flowing liquids forming absolutely perfect nine-point stars anyway?  This tiny baby is about 1/2” in diameter, by the way.  Cool, huh?  It sealed my decision to name this piece ‘Hidden Gems.’

If there’s anybody out there that can explain what happened in layman’s terms, I’d appreciate it. :)

Two Octopus Paintings

These are my two octopus paintings, the first one with toes for scale. :) They’re both 24”x30” and gorgeous with rich, glowing colors! I call this first one Octopus Walking and it’s for sale.  The second one I named Maestro and is sold. 

Did you know I use the highest quality archival paints that resist fading? They’re painted on gallery-wrapped heavy, deep frames and coated with a UV protectant varnish.  These babies are not just going to last, but will become heirlooms.  When you purchase art, you need to ask this kind of question - ‘What kind of paint do you use?  Is it fade-resistant? Is there acid in the canvas or any of the supplies you use? Have you protected it?’  Most of the work I see sold in stores is made to last for a very short time before it fades to nothing or simply falls apart.  And many artists - sorry, people! - use below-average materials which look good for the moment but will not last.

Find my work on 

colorcatstudios101.etsy.com. 

colorcatstudios101.etsy.com

I love the way they look sitting next to each other; it looks as if they’re reaching for one another. The way I painted them was with glazing - many layers of clear, colored coats one on top of the other.  It gives a beautiful, glowing, stained glass effect.   Even though they will be going to different homes, I like to think they’ll still be friends. ❤️ And as for the FIRST one, Octopus Walking, it could be YOUR home! :) 

Paint Pouring Day!

Whew!  All day at it.  Today I spent the ENTIRE day doing paint pours!  I am excited to show you what I did, but right now... right now I have a rather large mess to clean up.  

Humorous Painting

This quote makes me chuckle.  I think at some point every artist feels this way.  I popped the quote onto one of my sold paintings, which also makes me chuckle.  I named it ‘Big Furry Bird.’  Pretty sure THAT big, furry bird just wants to be friends. 🙂.

Newest Octopus Painting

Here we are - my newest painting entitled Maestro, for his commanding appearance. My octopus is done in layers of texture and color and my aim was to make it look like stained glass.  When viewed in person it is luminous and fairly glows!  You can find him on my website, 

colorcatstudios101.etsy.com

Also, I give studio tours.  My work is ever so much more beautiful in person.  Just contact me for a studio tour. The upside?  Gorgeous art in person, a peek into my studio and how I work and ... FREE GIFTS!!! Yay!  

Painting Reveal

Here’s a super-closeup of a new painting I’ve got up my sleeve. Since it’s 24x30”, I guess that means I’ve got a big sleeve, huh?  Can you guess what it is?  This painting is a friend of another I recently painted as they both have the same subject; but that one was based on a linear concept with a strong emphasis on drawing and lines.  For this one I first laid down a heavy layer of textures and words to be the base for the painting itself.  My goal was to layer the colors in very transparent glazes so you could see how the glazing reacted with the textures and so you enjoy how the colors interact with each other, changing and mixing as they’re either layered or not layered.  Goodness, this painting is as complex as expensive, aged wine!  You’ll get the big reveal SOON!  Hope you like the little sneak peek! 

Newest Painting, Full Picture

Presenting the newest addition to my family of paintings.  At 14 1/2x36” it comprises royal colors that bespeak our cat’s regal position.  In this collage we’re flanked on either side with closeups of the colors and textures within the painting itself.  It was great fun painting on a hardwood panel as opposed to canvas, and as a result it easily withstood the many layers I threw at it.  Pretty much loving this one,and it even matches my naturally red hair. :)

Well, this one’s not for sale, but I’m wondering if you could picture YOUR animal so beautifully portrayed.  If so, let me know!

Wolf Under Your Tree

Wouldn’t you like a wolf under your tree this Christmas? Well, maybe a wolf PAINTING. Here’s a section of my wolf which I named ‘The Better to See you With, My Dear.’ You can find full pictures on my website colorcatstudios101.etsy.com.  This painting is done in layers with much of the painting close to abstract and dripping with golds and blacks.  Striking, the glowing eyes follow you. This beautiful acrylic painting is 24”x30” and FILLS the room!

I painted him on a heavy gallery-wrapped canvas and he’s ready to hang.  Check him out at colorcatstudios101.etsy.com or email me at colorcatstudios@gmail.com.

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!

Glassell School of Art, Houston

I had work downtown this week and made sure to pop in over at the Glassell School of Art to see what they’ve done.  I missed their Grand Opening (since they razed the previous building to the ground and started fresh), but enjoyed poking around on my own probably more than I would have at the opening.  It’s beautiful.

This first pic is me and my new friend.  I can’t remember the artist but it was done within the last 60 years, if I remember correctly.  It’s called something like ‘______________ in a landscape,’ and features this fine fellow, made entirely of glitter, yes, glitter, in a landscape of neutrals.  The entire piece was like 12’x7’.  Anyway, this little guy and I made friends and had a nice (pretty much one-sided) conversation.

This is the space they’ve dedicated to performances and lectures, really nice.  Lots of natural light, in fact, maybe too much for things held in the afternoon, with the sun blazing in.

This third photo is from the park in between the MFAH, where I had just been snooping around, and the Glassell.  I didn’t have my sunglasses with me and it was a super hot day, so I avoided the outdoor roof-steps.  That will be for a time with a cool sunset and a friend. :)

Mary Cassatt, Impressionist

This stunning Mary Cassatt is a great example of putting the minute details into that which you want the viewer to focus in on first.  Note the beautiful detail on the mother’s face and how brushy the child’s face is.  First you look at the mother, then take in the child.  Yes, that kid’s eyes are downright scary close up, but when you get back, you see all the reflective, bright wonder found in a child’s eyes. Beautiful.  Collection our own Museum of Fine Arts Houston. 

I absolutely adore seeing the brushstrokes.

Lion Painting

This lion is a direct descendant of my first lion.  A client liked the previous one but wanted a different size and different colors and this is the result.  I do really love the colors of this one, and rather than predatory, like my first one, this one looks like a paradise lion. Sold, but I have mini-posters and magnets.

Fun Mail!

Don’t we all just love to get fun stuff in the mail? You, too, can get fun stuff, but first you have to ORDER it!  Outgoing!!! Get on my website and find something fun to find in your mailbox besides bills and junk mail. #reallycoolartcancometoyoutoo!

Ship Painting Sold

SOLD! This is a small cutaway of the larger painting. I named it Well Placed Hope II. I did a similar one, its mate, as a commission several years ago and loved it so much that I decided to paint another ship, hence the addition to the name, “II,’ which is fitting after all, for ships! The Well Placed Hope part insures that even when things are at their bleakest, there is always Hope.  This ship will not sink!  Yes, I do commissions.

If you look closely in the area of the moon you can see some pretty cool textures.  These things are difficult to photograph, but make my work oh so much more beautiful in person.

Here’s the painting in its entirety.  The size is 30”x24”.

Graffiti Art in Austin

We took a Your Biker Gang ride all through Austin, hence the helmet. Wow, what FUN!  We were surprised to ride down the hill and stop here! I didn’t know that this graffiti wall was owned by Shepard Fairey - that’s his home in the background looking rather like a castle. It looks like we got here just in time - he sold the property and pretty soon it will be making way for condos. Sad but true. Graffiti artists, I hope you find a good place!

Our son, looking proud and happy.

We were seriously wishing for some paint cans.

Hard to believe it’s all going to be razed to the ground.

These were the bikes.  Wow, they were FUN!!! I highly recommend that if you go to Austin you do this! You will thank me later. We told them that if a couple bikes went missing, they’d know where to look.  

An Artist’s Desk

An artist can take cleaning her desk to an entirely new level.  Scrape, scrape, scrape.  As an acrylic artist I usually just wipe it away or level it off when I’m done working.  Over time the layers get so thick I can pull them off pretty easily.  If I ever get to a point where I’m really tired or uninspired I’ll clean off some of the layers.  Gives me some productive thinking time. What do you do when you need time to think?

Can There Ever Be Enough Flowers?

Here’s a cutaway of a floral I just finished and absolutely love.  Tonight I’ll post the painting in its entirety.  This pretty little thing has an abundance of layers in mixed media. I did a wax crayon resist with watercolors and acrylics, used pencil and paint pens and gave some pops of serious colors with some glorious Golden fluid acrylics.