May 14, 2009

"Sisters"

Oil on museum quality ampersand gessobord panel 6" x 8"

Meet the new kids on the block. You may recall my dear Anna was called home back in March. This opened the door, literally and figuratively to bringing the feral kittens that we had been looking after since last summer into the house. Anna was too set in her ways to tolerate three new kittens into her world. She had stoically declined JJ's constant invitations to play. This would have been too much. I must say that I, too, was not prepared for 24/7 living with feral cats in the house. At first it was like having live squirrels inside. They would run and hide if you made a sharp noise, had shoes on your feet or made a sudden move. I am happy to report that we are going to need a bigger bed as Ella and her brother, Sammy, have discovered the joys of the electric blanket and the comfort of snuggling with humans (a.k.a. the big pink monsters). I don't have the heart to tell them the season is changing and they will have to wait until November to feel its warmth again. While they were still living outside we put a litter box out for them and they all caught onto it right away, so all is well in that department, although policing 4 boxes does take more time. Shirley is still very much afraid of everyone and everything - except JJ. She is in heat right now and we are very careful to not let her escape. She seems to think JJ can help her out, but he is not up to the task, if you catch my drift, nor is her brother Sammy. From this painting one would think that Ella, formerly known as Dino before her femininity became apparent, was a bruiser. She is actually quite demure. Her slender body and tiny stature are almost ferret-like. She can squeeze into the tiniest spot and gets into more trouble than the Beav on an outing with his friend Whitey. Ella is her nickname, by the way. Her full name is "Elegy to the Spanish Republic Number 57" because she looks so much like that Robert Motherwell painting. I hope to paint her brother, Sammy, very soon. Stay tuned.

18 comments:

Diane said...

These two members of the "rat pack" are looking like they are enjoying the domestic life. You've painted them so well I can feel their fur shedding on your bed!

Mark Adams said...

As well as the red sofa, the dark green velvet fainting couch, the front stairway. the... Oh well, you get the idea. Actually these guys aren't in it with Clara. She was a world class shedder. I could have knitted an afghan with what she lost in a week, assuming that I could knit, which I can't.

Delilah said...

Oh mark! You do such a wonderful job painting cats. I wish I could get the fur right like you do.You did a wonderful job of getting that black spot on the nose.

Unknown said...

Okay - they are so beautiful that I want 2 just like them!!!! The fact that I already have 2 cats and 2 dogs means nothing when I see your paintings of creatures - I simply want more that look just like THAT. :-) Did I ever tell you that if you were to give an oil painting workshop I would be the first to sign up????

Unknown said...

Wow.... again..such attention to detail on such a small canvas. Amazing.

Bob said...

You continue to amaze us with your artistry. I try to close my eyes and imagine what just one of your walls must look like with so many of these fantastic paintings hanging on them. Or maybe they go immediately to a gallery for sale. I'm curious.

Mark Adams said...

Thanks, Delilah.
Ella, who is named after Robert Motherwell's "Elegy" series, does have some unique markings. I was concerned about how they would translate into paint. It is reassuring to know you think it worked.

Mark Adams said...

The new girls are cuties aren't they, Joanne? If I ever decide to give a workshop, I promise you will be the first to know.

Mark Adams said...

Thanks, Sheila. I am really into this miniature painting thing.

Mark Adams said...

Thanks, Bob. Believe it or not my walls are mostly filled with the work of other painters. Well, maybe half are by artist friends and colleagues. As for the daily paintings, I only have perhaps a dozen propped on my studio bookcase. To my good fortune, they are wildly popular and usually get snapped up as soon as they are posted. I'm not getting rich selling them for 150 - 175 but I am having fun and they are traveling all over the world, which is really cool. I am truly an "international artist" now.

Unknown said...

Beautiful work and you capture the spirit of the cats as well as the physical characteristics. Great work and since I have 4 cats, I know from where you speak!

Mark Adams said...

Thanks, Linda.
I pity the artist who tries to create without at least one cat under his easel!

Dean Grey said...

Beautiful cat portrait, Mark!

I love their expressions.

The red background is just so rich looking. I like how it's only intense in certain spots, creating a nice sense of depth for those cute kitties.

Just charming!

-Dean

Mark Adams said...

Thanks, Dean. I am becoming quite fond of using intense reds in my work. The paintings do command attention, even the tiny ones.

Deb O said...

Love the finished picture! But I thought that Ella was named after Ella Fitzgerald. I sort of pictured her singing "A Tisket, a Tasket." Learn somthing new everyday.

Deb O

Mark Adams said...

I love Ella Fitzgerald, too, but I am also reminded of Rihanna's song Umbrella, to wit - "You can stand under my umbrella, ella, ella, ella, eh, eh, eh..."

Eugenia Wadsworth Martin said...

Mark your cats are so beautiful.
I'm not selling or getting any kick back from this but I have discovered a brush called the Furminator. This brush is great, I got enough fur off my cats to knit a sweater for NY. as I have a lot of long haired ones. It has really cut down on my having to vacuum and fur balls.

Mark Adams said...

Thanks for the kind comment and the tip about the furminator, Eugenia. I'll have to look into one of those.