My Girl

I love my job.

Ok... so it's not really a job.

I love being asked and being able to put someone's treasured image onto canvas.  I asked Dayna if she wanted to give the painting a title and write something about it.  I don't know this kitty, but I love her through Dayna's words.

15 years ago this January, I walked into the Windsor Humane Society looking to adopt a cat. Cliché as it sounds, I remember it just like yesterday. I think within minutes of meeting Harper, affectionately nicknamed ‘Lovebug’, she instantly started purring and I instantly started crying. Something just clicked in that very moment, a bond that my husband years later would refer to as my ‘outer organ’. Often, people refer to their pets as their fur babies or children and I have always thought of Harper as mine. But reflecting on our last 15 years together, I now realize that she’s truly mothered me over every one of those years instead. She was my only friend when I found my new footing in a completely new life across the country from anyone I knew. It was her that would give me all the kisses and head butts after a hard day at university or an awful day at work. She’s laid motionless by my side when I would have migraines that would take me out for days, been my ‘something to hold on for’ for years of depression and mental health challenges and still harasses me when I spend too much time in my office or away from her when I must travel. She’s my shadow, my moufette, the pookster, the Harpster…she’s my girl. 

This is not this kitty's first time to appear on my canvas. if you look really closely... back there in the trees... zoom in... at the base of the third tree from the left... Ah ha!!! There she is!

Original Oil Painting on 9"x 12" Wrapped Canvas
[SOLD]

Little Guy

What 'cha doin' little kitty?

Sweet little thing... Does anyone else get funny cat videos in their feed then scroll and laugh and scroll and laugh and scroll? Yeah, I know there's an algorithm that says I'll click.

I didn't set out to be a painter of cats, but several have popped onto my easel lately. This little guy is a cutie. He looks like he needs to be picked up and cuddled.

Helen, once again you have honored a very special pet for a family member. Barrie, my youngest daughter, made a move in 2018 to start a new life and a new job. She left behind a rascal of a shelter cat she had learned to love. Within a week of moving, she knew she needed a furry friend of her own.  An online photo from the local shelter provided a look-alike kitten who needed a home. It was love at first sight, and the rest is history. “Little Guy” became cat #3 in the family but will always be #1 for Barrie! Thank you, Helen.❤️ 

Original Oil Painting on 7"x 9" Canvas Board

[SOLD]

Mr. Tut Tut

He looks pretty comfortable there, doesn't he.  He doesn't seem to mind having only one eye. My friend showed me several photos, and I immediately knew that this was the one.  He not only looks comfortable, he looks like he owns the place and simply allows his humans to live there too. I didn't know him, but think I would have liked him. 

I'll share my friend's words:

"Thank you, Helen, for honoring Mr. Tut Tut with a beautiful pet portrait. He was adopted many years ago by a cat-loving mountaineer, park ranger who would eventually become my son-in-law. Tut was accompanied by another Maine Coon who Mike named Little Girl. They resided with him in Yosemite National Park and 3 more parks beyond. He was beloved by Mike and Barrie and all who knew him. In Mike’s words, 'He was a singular cat, and everybody loved the big, big guy.' Helen, you captured his spirit."

Original Oil Painting on 7"x 9" Canvas Board
[SOLD]

Tuxedo Cat Peek-a-Boo

 Fun fact about Greece: There are little cats everywhere... everywhere!

Our guide assured us that the cats are loved by Greece and taken care of when needed.  He also assured us that they kept them spayed and neutered... Hmmm... if that was completely true... wouldn't there be fewer of them? ... just wondering...

They were happy little things.  They seemed quite at home where ever they were.  They were never bothered by people visiting their spaces. They liked to be petted, but we learned that they weren't having any part of being picked up.

When I say that they were everywhere, I mean...

...under bushes.

...beside fences.

...on steps of convenient stores.
(Yes, marble steps to a convenience store.)

...on top of mountains.

...at bus turnouts.
(...with my friend Kim.)

...at monasteries.

...in courtyards.
(... with my brother Curt.)

...overlooking valleys.

...on ledges.
(...with Ron.)

...on ledges.
(with my sister-in-law Kittie)

...along evening shopping areas.

...in plazas.

...in gardens.

...on ancient building blocks.
(...with my friend Lisa.)

...on ancient ruins.

...beside trees.

...in the sunshine

...in the marketplace.

...above the marketplace.

...on the rooftops.

...along the pathway.
(I know this one looks to good to be real.  It's real)

...on statues.

...in the ancient ruins.

So... yeah... everywhere.

As I was telling my art partner Cheri about the trip, she declared that our next weekly-ish challenge would be "Cats."  So this little kitty showed up on the canvas.

Original Oil Painting on 8"x 10" Canvas Board

Click Tuxedo Cat if you'd like to have this sweet little painting.

A Girl & Her Cat

Why did I decide to paint Buff & me in our usual spot?

Here's the story...

My friend Cheri and I have been doing a Weekly-ish Challenge for 5 years. We started early on in the Pandemic. The rules are very strict... HA! are more like a gentle guide. We take turns choosing a word, phrase, or topic. We each use that as inspiration to do a painting then "meet" back for a good long phone call to chat and reveal our works via text photos.

After our hundredth challenge we changed the rules for the hundredth time just a bit.

This little box of cards entered the game.

The first time, we drew these cards, and I did this...

The next time, we drew these, and I did this...

This time we drew these three...
followed the directions for the last card and
turned over the first one to the opposite side.

Was there any question as to what I would paint?

So, I was to do a girl and cat with those colors in "my style."

The question was whether I even knew what my style was any more.

First I did a mixed media piece.  It was fun, a style I've been playing in. 

I could be done.  

But, my heart is with oils;  I should do it in "my style" not a borrowed style.

Ha ha... you can tell by my different glasses

styles that these photos are taken over the years.

Painting a portrait doesn't come easily or naturally to me.  I guess I'm more mathematical minded than artistic minded. Once I get it "finished." I do some tricks to make me revise and edit. One is to look at the painting in the mirror.  It's amazing how the mistakes jump out.  Another is to take a photo and look at the painting on the phone or computer screen.  More mistakes make themselves known.  Finally, I resort to geometry.

That's when I see that... oh, my nose is way bigger than I thought... oh, my mouth is way thinner than I thought... oh, my hair needs to be growing out of my head not just glued on around the forehead... oh, my neck is way wider... let's just leave that... artistic license/artist's vanity...

And... sometimes if I'm not available...

Original Oil Painting on 7"x 9" Canvas Board

NFS

All Tangled Up

I gave the cat the box of yarn and got my camera ready.  The cat, who wants to get into everything I have, was wary... He probably sensed that I wanted him to play in the yarn, get all tangled up... So he sat and looked at it for a long time. Finally, I took out a ball and rolled it around.  He watched it roll then decided he needed a bath so started licking his paw. Really, Buff... Are you kidding me? 

He did finally decide to play.

When I got out the embroidery thread to make the companion piece, he was very much interested in getting a paw on that.

She bought a triangle bangle.

She liked that it dangled and jangled.

 It would hang from the collar of kitty.

He fought the triangle bangle!
He hated the dangle and jangle! 

She angled her brow and cooed and kissed.

He arched his back and spat and hissed! 

She finally took pity and wrangled poor kitty.

The bangle was tangled, his feelings were mangled,

But she really did like the spangly bangle.

With a twist of her wrist, the cat was dismissed.

Though tangled and mangled, she couldn't resist.

She looked in the mirror and thought it was pretty.

Then stroked the neck of collarless kitty.

Our challenge for Creative Companions this week was "Tangled."

Original Oil Painting on 6"x 8" Wrapped Canvas.

Click Kitty & Yarn if you'd like to purchase this piece.

Warm Winter Evening

I was challenged to paint "What Winter Means to Me"

First I made a list:

Hot soup on the stove

Cardinals in the snow
Warm quilt on the bed
Fires in the fireplace 

Pajama pants 

Turkey & dressing

I've painted cardinals in the snow several times before, and I've even painted hot soup once. 

As I was setting up for a to take photo for reference, of course Buff Kitty had to lay on the quilt and act cute.  I decided not to fight it.  He could be in the painting too. 

He had different ideas about the best pose.

Original Oil painting on 10"x 10" Wrapped Canvas

[NFS at this time]