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! :) 

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

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!  

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!

Octopus Painting, Photography

Can you see the difference between these two photos? It’s always a challenge for me to get good photos of my art.  The first one is the pic I posted yesterday; the one with my toes is the one I just took - FINALLY - which is truer to the way it really looks!  The little glimmers where I made the green ocean swishy around the moving tentacle are, however, reflections.  More work on photography to get those out.  Yes, it is available, sans toes!

Octopus Painting

Here’s my octopus painting in its entirety.  He’s 24x30” and on my website for $800.00.  With this painting I give a nod to Maxfield Parrish who laid down scores of layers of glazing for those deep, luscious colors, and to Matisse, who loved color so much he never wanted to sully them by mixing.  Pretty much love this one.

My website is:

colorcatstudios101.etsy.com

Octopus Art

Here’s a closeup of my octopus painting that I just posted. LOVE the textures and colors on his head.  For this one I went all out for color.  I glazed thin transparent layers of hues building them up for a stained glass glow that I just can’t seem to capture with the camera.  It’s really pretty!  Still working on a name.  Maybe something like “Working Title Octopus” or something...