Putting the Cat Out or Offering Up Her Empathy By Way of Cupcake
You know how really old books have two names? One that is short and will fit on the front cover, and another on the inside across the title page. The one inside is usually much longer, and sometimes gives a little clue as to what the book is about.
Well, this painting has two names like that, too. It’s called Putting the Cat Out or Offering Her Empathy By Way of Cupcake. heh heh Or something like that, anyway. Okay, so I’ll work on the name.
This is one of the six unfinished paintings I was talking about the other day. I am so truly out of practice, I forgot to scan or shoot a photo of this before I started painting on it again. Oops!
So, I can’t show you what it looked like before, but trust me..this version is better. I had no idea what it was even about last time I worked on it. No clue. No story to tell..nothing! I had a flower, which somehow developed a face. I had a woman with a cat. That was it. But, now I’ve figured out that the woman has been kept awake by a very noisy, naughty cat! I mean, look at her face. Her expression says it all. And, although the jury is still out, the cat looks guilty to me!
You can’t have a cat in the house and not know this feeling. You just want to get some sleeeeep!! My three are all indoor cats, so I don’t have that option. But, there are nights when all three of them would go outside, for sure!
The flower with the cupcake is offering up her empathy. She can only imagine what it’s like to live with a noisy, naughty cat.
It’s not done. The story may develop more as I go along. Or, I may decide to put the finishing touches on it and call it a day. I have about 10-15 hours in this right now, and I don’t know how much more I’m going to work on it.
Oh, btw..this was done using Kelly Rae’s style (I plan on writing about Kelly’s book once I have a chance to read it all the way through). You can’t tell by this lousy scan (something is still wrong with my scanner. grr!), but the background has layers and patterns beneath the paint. It shows up a bit too dark here to see all the colors under there. I’ll show close up shots when I get ready to sell it.
So, yeah, I did the background first, and then the woman. I felt like I was working backwards the whole time I did it. It just didn’t feel right to me, but I’m definitely going to try it again. I loved the challenge, even if I was feeling very uncomfortable the whole time. You gotta try new things and mix it up now and then. Otherwise, it gets boring.
December 2nd, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Miz K, this painting is just stunning, you really must try this again even though, as you say, it stretched your comfort zone….because your artistic juices are literally dripping all over this one, seriously. I think you have just gone up a whole new level in your painting style, I really love it (and I love all your work !!) this has a rich velvety smoothness and a depth to it that I just love. I do the background first and I find it much easier than fiddling a background around an existing centerpiece, but like you, it did feel uncomfortable at first, but now it makes so much sense and I feel it creates a more cohesive picture.
Great stuff…..can’t wait to see more.
:)
December 3rd, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Thanks, SM! I’m not sure I’d go as far as saying this is a new level for me, though. IDK..it’s ok. I think I’ve done better..much better. But, then..who am I to say? haha If you like it, I say thank you! You are too kind. :)
You do the background first all the time!! Ooh, I’m not sure I’d ever get used that. It’s really hard for me. I seem to need to jump right in there with the main subject(s). It’s like I HAVE to know what the painting is about before I can even consider doing the background. Maybe I’m too much of a control freak?
The other painting that I did a few entries ago was background first, too. I have struggled more with these two paintings than any of the others. It’s definitely a challenge, and I will do more..but not very often. :)