Life With Cats and Art October 2022

Published: Thu, 10/27/22

Life With Cats and Art October 2022

Hello friend,

This is a post from my facebook page that some of you might have seen but I think it is worth sharing.

"Not one to share adversity usually but there is a message here. It's been a rough week but I keep thinking how lucky I am. It could have been so much worse and that is why I feel so grateful.

I fell over a package last Thursday (9/29) when I went out to get the paper at 6 am and it was dark. I didn’t see a box left directly in front of the screen door and I fell over it. I landed on my face and was a bloody mess. Got stitches and X-rays. No head injury but nose is broken. Fractured in several places. Mouth cut and teeth hit. Lacerations on arm and leg.

I am healing well and today I will get the stitches out. Just remember, when bad things happen or you are feeling down think about how bad it could have been and that there is always someone who wasn't as fortunate."

Now it is has been almost three weeks and although I will have scars and maybe nose and dental issues I am playing tennis again and getting on with life.

Here are my buddies looking sad and worried on that day.

Welcome to new subscribers. Some have found me thru my Etsy Shop. Just would like to remind everyone that I belong to several POD's (Print On Demand) and when you order from my Etsy shop I then place your order through one of my PODs. They are listed at the bottom of my newsletters and you can order directly from any of them. All of my images are on Pixels (Fine Art America) www.karenzukrosenblatt.com. They are available on wall art, home decor, apparel, etc. They do not offer original art but there is a link to contact the artist for info. My originals can be found in my Etsy Shop etsy.com/shop/karenzukrosenblatt. There is currently a 25% sale on originals with free shipping.

I opened my shop at the beginning of the Covid Pandemic and it has grown substantially. It is a great Marketplace for buyers and sellers.

Speaking about buying and selling. someone said to me recently "You are so talented. I can't believe you're not famous". My artist friends know the answer. Talent is the least of it. Marketing and promoting are key. If you are following me on Facebook or are a friend on my personal profile you can see what this entails. Hopefully, you don't get too many notices when I share my posts. If you do then you can always opt out. My page is ArtByZuk. I intended to post new work and some of my sales notices only on my page but so far I have been posting in both places since not all of you are followers. Then there is Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. I gave up on LinkedIn and am not interested in TikTok or YouTube.

I do miss the indoor and outdoor art shows and the Art Leagues that have now closed. Most of my efforts are online now and I belong to several PODs and licensing companies. As you can imagine, this keeps me pretty busy. In addition, I need to make time for painting and photo editing. I was taken with a quote I saw during the last Roland Garros Tennis Tournament. It appears across the top on a backdrop and says "Victory Belongs To The Most Tenacious". This is so true and applies to any endeavor to be successful.

Recently on a trip to the Doctor for my husband I came across a beautiful spot of nature while I was parking the car. This is what I posted in the description "While walking along the stream I followed the Iguana until I could capture the right pose. I stayed out of sight behind parked cars. He finally turned his head toward me and I took the shot. While following him, I saw the beautiful White Ibis and took some shots. I managed to edit out the cars in the way and put these beautiful creatures together. Iggy and Ibis. A Florida delight." Clicking on any image will take you to see the purchasing options and products available.

Because I like Iguanas and don't approve of our community encouraging killing them here is a painting of one I call Iguana Dude. Also available in a Holiday Card wearing a Santa Hat.

Memories of Alaska. One of my favorite places. An Alaskan forest scene from the Tongass National Forest in Ketchikan, Alaska. Here it is on a Shower Curtain. Click on the image for purchasing info on wall art or products from puzzles to notebooks and more.

Continuing with this series of showing the history of some paintings. So far we have explored Cats and Flowers, Meowjongg - Cats Playing Mahjongg, Jazz Trio, Jazzy Cats, CAT Scan and Cats and Koi. If you have a favorite you would like to know more about just contact me (you can use the mail icon at the bottom).

Anatomy of a Painting

The Cat Cafe

The idea for this painting began while thinking about the things that cats love. While out to lunch at a favorite restaurant I was looking at the Gelato Display and began thinking about having it filled with different foods for cats. The title came next. The concept took forever. It was difficult to come up with a way to portray the story. It took many pictures of the Gelato Bar from many angles. They probably thought I was crazy. Here are some early concept studies.

The difficult part is always the beginning while working out the composition. When you are using only your imagination there really is no reference to follow. I had to depict the Gelato Bar and counter in a way that would lead the eye to the cats.

Lots of decisions have to be made. What to put in or leave out? What colors? At first I had a painting on the back wall but decided to change it to a window. The window would need curtains

The windows and curtains went through many design changes. I also added more cats and worked out some of the colors and size relationships. There were many in-between stages that would take too long and too much space to show here but this painting took many months to complete.

At some point I decided it needed a checkerboard floor as if I didn't have enough work to drive me crazy. I was happy with it and it was worth all the work on the perspective and shape of the checkerboard. I also decided to add the little signs on the dishes. Painting the names in detail took forever. I adjusted the counters, stools and colors.

I liked the idea of an octopus on the bar instead of words. Also, the bar got some attention as well as the chef cat and his hat. The two black cats needed some interaction with each other. The chef was getting annoyed with the kittens scampering around the food. The cat on top of the bar was just interested in the catnip.

This is the finished painting after lots of work on details and color. The Cat Cafe is simply a cat's delight. A cat hangout with all their favorite things from catnip to sushi. The Chef cat is not too happy with the two kittens climbing around the fishy gelato bar. Click on the image for details on purchasing on wall art or home decor and more.

Holiday or every day! These are so fun! Remove the string and you have a beautiful fridge magnet. Use the string and you have a tree ornament. Comes in 6 shapes (oval,star,stocking,heart,bell,tree) GREAT GIFT IDEA!! Each ornament is made of solid wood and is approximately 4" tall and 1/2" thick. See them all at

https://karen-rosenblatt.pixels.com/shop/ornaments or click on the image.

Here are some of my recently sold art and photographic works. If you want a certain image on a different product just let me know. I can also use your own photo on a product. Calendars are now available.

Cat Life 2022 Calendar. "Cats And Koi" cover image.

Cat Life 2023 Calendar. Cats and Koi cover

Meowjongg - Cats playing Mahjongg Throw Pillow

If you would like to view previous newsletters click here

Art gifts are always popular:

Greeting cards, prints, photography and products with all my artwork are on my main POD (Print On Demand) site: www.karenzukrosenblatt.com
Gift cards are available as well. You will find the links at the top of the home page. Any image you see here or on any of my other POD sites can be produced on a product you see in my Etsy Shop. Just email me at karen@artbyzuk.com
Calendars and home decor items are available in my Zazzle Shop: www.zazzle.com/artbyzukcreations
Apparel, accessories and more are available in my Red Bubble Shop: KarenZuk.redbubble.com
TeePublic has great prices on tees and some other products. My shop name is https://www.teepublic.com/user/karenzukart
Checks, address labels and checkbook covers with my artwork and photography are available on Check Advantage: www.checkadvantage.com/karen-zuk-rosenblatt
I am continually updating my Etsy shop to include other subject categories and original paintings: www.etsy.com/shop/karenzukrosenblatt
My website is a work in progress and includes links to my POD venues and other news. It's an independent site and I may add e-commerce eventually. Right now it links to my POD sites and coordinates all in one place: www.artbyzuk.com

If you have any questions or comments please email me via the link below. I will continue sharing "works in progress" as well as the history behind some of my paintings. I take photos of all my paintings as they progress. If you have a request for one of my paintings to be "dissected" let me know.

Until next time...

Let us all stay well!

karen@artbyzuk.com

13177 Vedra Lake Circle
Delray Beach FL 33446
USA

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