Kitty Studies

 

Experimenting using Golden fluids with acrylic paints, ink pen and gel pens. Working on lights/darks (top one not so much) and being loose (bottom one was the loosest).  What are you working on with your art?

Cat and Dog Painting

 

My newest painting with acrylics. This one is on a 5x7" canvas so I painted the edges to match so it can be framed or not.  I've always loved working small, but I am gradually increasing the size of my art as I get more comfortable with working larger. This one is in my Etsy Store if you'd like to add it to your art collection.  :)

 

Painted Dog Magnets

 

Find them in my Etsy Store :)

Painted Kitty Magnets

I found some little blank canvas magnets and these kitties magically appeared on them! I painted random marks of color and then looked for who or what wanted to be painted within the shapes and these guys showed up. They are 2 1/2 inches and are painted with acrylics. I rather like them and can't wait to do more!

 

Paint Lab 4

I took my inspiration from Paint Lab 4 and used some foam board (rather than a squeegee) to spread paint in a few layers. I saw a teal window (below) and so added a few more.  Once I did that, I saw almost the entire painting!  Can you see it?

 

Here were the next steps that led to the final painting.  For some reason, it took until the very end to create a face on the second person.

 

 

Exploring Paint Lab

I've had this book called Paint Lab by Deborah Forman for six months or so and finally decided to get it out and try some of the 52 different exercises to explore new (to me) methods and techniques. I have very limited experience with acrylics so I think this will be a good starting point for me. I already can see from the very first Lab that I will be changing things up and expanding upon an exercise to reflect more of what I want to paint.

In Lab One, I was instructed to begin with a circle and some intersecting lines, and then fill in the spaces with a different field of color. Once that was dry, I was to layer on mark making with different colors. I did the first part (sorry, forgot to take a photo of it) but then altered the "mark making" part as I'm not interested in creating abstract art. I used the opportunity to just play with layering the paint, and this is what came out of the process.

I really enjoy drawing without a plan and letting the images appear as I go, so painting in this way really appeals to me. I'm looking forward to the next Lab and will continue to share what I am creating!

Painting Animals With Brad Nack

Art by Brad Nack


For the past couple of months I have been playing with acrylic paint and not feeling like I was making much progress. I wasn't planning on taking a class, just experimenting on my own; but when I saw that one of my favorite local artists, Brad Nack, was going to be teaching his layering technique of painting animals, I was inspired to sign up.



Art by Brad Nack


I first discovered Brad's art years ago at his annual 100% Reindeer Art Show (Going 20 years now!) I was instantly drawn to his colorful, quirky reindeer with crazed expressions and began following along on his artistic journey. So I was excited when I discovered he would be teaching a two hour class at my local Art From Scrap (his artwork is currently on exhibit there so go see it while you can! 302 E. Cota, Santa Barbara, CA)

Brad was a lot of fun and I'm newly inspired to continue my exploration with paint!



Getting ideas for an animal




Was there ever any doubt I would choose a cat?


 

First and second layers of paint



Student work with Brad's art above

Student work with Brad's art above

It's not finished yet, but Raymi approves!



Merry Christmas!!

 

Have a beautiful day with your loved ones, and a joyful New Year!

Naughty Kitty Christmas Tree Ornaments

I love these naughty kitties!  When I was painting the trees, they seemed so boring and plain. I thought to myself, what would liven them up? Well, cats of course! Cats make everything better, don't they? These are wooden ornaments painted with acrylics, about 4x6" and available in my Etsy Store if interested.  Happy Holidays!!

Hand Painted Bird Ornaments

 

It's that time of year again when I start making ornaments! Each year I make a series of ornaments using a medium I haven't used before.  In the past, I've made ornaments with  drawings, mosaics, felt, cross stitch, crochet, polymer clay, and embroidery. This year I am painting wooden ornaments with acrylics. Here is my first group of sweet little birds. I'm just finishing some Christmas trees that I will post next. You can find them all in my Etsy Store - they make great stocking stuffers!

 

Yellow Cat, Blue Cat

New little acrylic painting on wood.  It is 5" in diameter and 3/4" in thickness. I LOVE the edging of the bark on this! If you're interested in purchasing it, you can find it here!

 

 

Public Art - Painted Piano, Lots of Cats!

I was chosen to be one of 12 artists to participate in Pianos on State, an interactive musical experience that takes place in Santa Barbara during Arts and Humanities Month in October. Pianos are painted by local artists and are then displayed at various locations on State Street for impromptu playing as well as scheduled performances.

The eighth annual installment runs from October 2nd - 16th, 2017. My piano is located in front of The Red Piano at 519 State Street. Let me know if you see it! The design was inspired by my love of both cats and music, which includes musical terms and notations attributed to the various cats. You can watch me talking about it in this YouTube video. The title of my piano is Giocoso, which means fun and joyful, the theme of the piano and my life!



The "f" symbol is forte and means loud. Therefore "ffff" is very, very, very loud! The symbol next to his claws means "double sharp." 

 

 

Stentato is a musical direction to play loud or boisterous. The symbols underneath are crescendos, to gradually get louder.

 

Dolce means sweet, 'cause just look at them!

 

The musical phrase is from the song "Everybody Wants to Be a Cat."

Scherzando means joking, lighthearted or playful.

I wrote "Coda" on its tail which literally means tail.

Calando is on the left of the resting cat and means a gradual decrease in tempo and volume. The symbols around it are a whole rest, a quarter rest and an eighth rest.

On the right of the resting cat is a series of p's, or pianissississimo...very, very, very soft. And the mark at the end is decrescendo, to get softer.

The "p" stands for piano and means soft. 

Misterioso is mysterous. The symbol next to the cat's tail is a Coda, which literally means tail! 

The pattern below the keys is made up of little sideways "s" symbols which are musical "turns" and glissando which surrounds the center segno.

I put fermatas on either end of the keys.

Giocoso is the title of my piano and it means fun and joyful. At the end of Giocoso is a symbol telling you to go back to the beginning and repeat over and over again, so basically have a fun and joyful life.