June has been a hectic month so far. Gardening and property maintenance has taken a huge bite of my time. With spring rains and warm weather, all the vegetation has had explosive growth. Everything needs to be weeded, watered (if no rain), planted, trimmed, etc. The drive alone is a third of a mile long and requires whacking back all the brush and briars. When I do it, it usually takes three days; even then it still takes two people to do the overhead branches as I’m certainly not getting any taller.
Then there are all the other things to do around here. Library programs. Grandkids. Driving people for appointments. Welcome house guests. Not much free time for R & R.
But…I have still been pursuing my newest painting direction which includes more cat paintings with touches of real gold and silver. My “Glam Cats.” Why? Because it amuses me. That is what keeps artists and creative types going.
This is a painting of Pria, the pretty white cat from the animal shelter. First I painted her with just a blue background. I’m putting the cats on oriental carpets for an added bit of class. Then I add the gold and /or silver. This is not paint. It is real sheets of 23K gold and real sterling silver. The sheets are so thin that I can’t have any air flow in the studio otherwise it’s impossible to control and it flies everywhere. I’ve also discovered that timing is everything. Putting on the adhesive where I want the metal to stick, then judging when it is the right amount of tackiness, then transferring the gold. After this step has dried for a few days, I then spray the whole painting with a coat of acrylic. This prevents damage to the thin layer of precious metal, and prevents the silver from tarnishing over time.
I’m not sure how much longer I’ll pursue this direction of painting but I’m having fun now. I’ve often wondered how some artists just keep doing the same type of subject and style their entire lives (thinking of Renoir or Wyeth) while others have long and successful careers by seeking new avenues (Picasso or Calder). I guess it’s just temperament in the end. No right way or wrong.
P.S. Pria was adopted from the shelter shortly after I painted this picture.
I'm a professional artist, retired director of a performing arts center, bona fide book addict, and enjoy the quiet life...most of the time. I'd love to hear from you or get your ideas for future posts. Come back soon!
my90acres 