Life With Cats and Art October 2023

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Hi to all and welcome to new subscribers. Last newsletter I wrote about  my Etsy Shop and all about how it developed. Sometimes you just have to stop thinking about something and actually do it. I'm so glad that I did.

Recently I was on an art forum and the topic came up about exploring the use of color theory in art and how to choose the right color palette for a project. We were asked to show examples to support our discussion. 

As I looked through my work I found it almost impossible to find a common thread because I usually paint animals and find a color palette to enhance the animal in it's environment. I studied some of my personal favorites and some of my most popular ones and I realized many had something in common. It was the power of black and white against bold colors. I used the following three examples. All three were dissected in "Anatomy of a Painting". 

In the first example "Cats and Koi" https://archive.aweber.com/newsletter/awlist5956777/MTUzMTI3ODM=/life-with-cats-and-art-august-2022.htm the tuxedo cats naturally are the black and white focus and, in contrast, the colors of the water, rocks and flowers, enhance the color harmony. The cats stand out in bold contrast even though there is intense color all over the composition.

In the second painting "The Cat Cafe" https://archive.aweber.com/newsletter/awlist5956777/MTYzNjI0Mzg=/life-with-cats-and-art-october-2022.htm the floor was the last part that I painted as I hadn't preplanned much of the composition. I came up with the checkerboard as a solution after trying dark grays or similar colors. Nothing worked. The checkerboard made the other colors sing. 

In the third painting "Jazz Trio" https://archive.aweber.com/newsletter/awlist5956777/MTI4NTI2ODQ=/life-with-cats-and-art-january-2022.htm an abstract musical theme, the keyboard in black and white contrasts with the bright colors and brings it all together.

I see so many posts from people looking to re-home their cat or dog because their partner is allergic (more often they just don't like competing with a pet). This is my response. I added this text to an existing painting "Waiting For You" and call it "She Loves Me Most". 

Red, my ginger boy and Bella, my calico/tortie love relaxing on the wicker rocking chairs. They always choose the same ones. Guess they worked it out. They sit by the door alerting me that their box of goodies from Chewy has arrived.

So far in "Anatomy of a Painting" I've shown the history of Cats and Flowers, Meowjongg - Cats Playing Mahjongg, Jazz Trio, Jazzy Cats, CAT Scan, Cats and Koi, The Cat Cafe, The Cat Crew and from my Safari Series of Moms with babies- Lioness and Cubs, Giraffe and Calf, Elephant and Calf. If you have a favorite you would like to see featured just contact me. 

Some recent sales. Click on the images for info on purchasing.