Nice Kitty

Ok, I haven't been around for a while - 3 weeks in fact, but my gosh it's been HOT here!  Plus I've been working at the exhibition at Kirstenbosch, sweltering under the thatch roof and spotlights and by the time I get home, it's total melt down time.

This all sounds so strange when I look at pics from the Northern Hemisphere where there just seems to be snow, snow and more snow.  Oh for a little bit of that cool!

Early morning is the best - from 5am to 8am and I did a little bit of painting during those hours, in between walking the dogs, feeding the birds, watering the garden.....  So my humble apologies for not having visited - I am trying to make up for it now!

This is a smaller one (10x10) I finished before the exhibition and was sold, which is always nice!  A picture my sister took of a friends little black cat.

Michelle's Cat

I never knew until I saw Gwen Bell's painting, that this is Michelle Burnett's beautiful cat, Figaro.

This is part of James Parker's challenge blog - some of the cats he put up for this challenge were great, but I do think Michelle's cat came out as the number one choice for many.

This is my painting of him.

Saundra's Shadow

A couple of weeks ago, wonderful artist, Saundra Lane Galloway, posted a pic of her beloved cat, Shadow. Her heart is still sore after all this time about losing Shadow and she hasn't yet brought herself to paint him, but decided to put Shadow's picture up for others to paint.

Although I am a 'dog' person, I still love all animals, and Shadow looked so sweet lying on the sofa without a care in the world, I decided to have a go. (Go to Saundra's post on the story of Shadow)

It is such a shame that our much loved pets only stay with us for a short time, but maybe they teach us that life is fleeting and to be enjoyed while we can.

Old Ginger

Sometimes I think I've taken on too much. I teach fabric painting three times a week, attend art class on Tuesday nights and our art group on Friday mornings. And now I've taken on the library at our local Art Society as well as the responsibility for the data base - lots of computer work.

Plus there have been soooo many cricket games to watch and from the 18th we are hosting the Indian Premier League which means another weekend at the Newlands Cricket Ground.

And then I said I would do the paintings for the Art for Animals project and donate them to DARG. I feel the pressure building! But, when I finally sat down today to finish the second painting, I enjoyed the peace and quiet of my little art room. So now I know what to do – go and just sit there, whether you do anything or not, and things will happen.

This is an elderly cat whom I have called ‘Old Ginger’ as all he has is a number – no name! He is not a pretty gentleman, but like all cats, shows an aloofness and disdain that came out clearly in his photograph. I’ve tried to show that here as well. My second DARG painting.