New paintings and regular art updates.
I’m just catching up this week for #bandofsketchers so here’s my speckled drawing. Our outdoor cat. He’s actually black and white but I’ve drawn him in a pointellist way. I was interested in how the speckles changed direction as I drew…
Our outdoor cat, comes in for tea. Sniffing at the food bowls, and looking for a bit of love too. X can’t really say more xxx
Three walks around and about today totalling 11.97km (almost 7.5 miles)
Two were around the university then a late walk once things had cooled down this evening. I walked up our steep hill and saw the sunset, I didn’t get a good photo of it, then on and around the top of our hill before descending again. I know I’ve gone far enough because my feet and ankles are aching.
I came home to an errant bumble bee. We tried to put it outside but it must have flown back through an open window because I caught one of my cats looking like it was about to pounce on it. In the end I used the mug and envelope technique and it was transported safely out of the back door and flew off onto the night.
Rough sketches, three panel wordless piece. I experimented with colour and the positioning of the panels. Also could it be a front, side or top or bottom view of the cat and of it breaking out through the cat flap? Could the sequence change? What are the cats emotions? Why does it want to get out? Fear, adventure, looking for a friend? Lots of reasons, even sunshine….? Or a bird it’s seen singing outside… Oh dear!
My indoor boy cat went exploring tonight, in the dark. I called him in a few times but it was only after he’d gone onto the next door but one’s garden and got soaked in a heavy shower of rain that he came back in. In the meantime I had to prevent his sister from going out. I can’t cope with both out at the same time.
How did he get out? The cat flap had been forced open by the outside cat again. It’s just indoor boy hasn’t worked out how to open it outwards yet.
Now he’s lying quietly on the mat, having a gentle wash with total unconcern. I know I need to stop worrying though.
X
Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth he’s so cool!
I was given a cat shaped jelly mould a few years ago but never used it. Then yesterday I decided to make an orange jelly for fun. I could have added fruit or trifle sponges to strengthen it but I wanted it to be pure jelly, and I was going to call it ginger and maybe take a few photos in different places before we have it for tea.
I tried mixing the jelly powder but I didn’t realise it hadn’t all dissolved until I cleaned the bowl I’d made it in, would that weaken the jelly? Then I couldn’t lie it down level because it’s head is higher so I had to prop it up in a bowl to put in the fridge. I let it set overnight. But how to get it loose? I tried running a thin knife round the edge, then turned it up on a plate, wobble, no! Tried running the mould under the hot tap, no! Tried tapping the mould, whoosh, a few bits dropped out, tried a knife again and tapping.. It finally came out, a saggy, wibbly wobbly brother cat to the solid mould.
Does anyone know what I should have done?
You can make a collage with almost anything. If it can be glued you can use it. You can also colour match things like felt pens with coloured paper to extend the image. I also add black pen to mimic the patches of black monoprint and shade the picture more. Experiment, learn, enjoy art.
Sometimes they just decide
The box we had
The curry delivered in
Is ideal for
Sleeping arrangements
Bird watching
A full wash
And brush up…
Chasing your tail
Putting your paws
Through the handle holes
Ambushing your sister
Playing with toys
Purring…and pouncing!
With a bag? She was staring at me, getting into my mind, so I decided to do a collage with her. This seems to be my creative ‘go to’ at the moment. Photo, then draw onto monoprinted paper, copying the photo. Two holes for her orange eyes. Then stick the paper down. Next post it notes for the bag that holds a couple I’d packs of felt pens. I cut out shapes then drew over it to give it more shading. Finally the mat… Another bit of monoprint. It’s hard to cut out the negative shape of the cat, and the mat is red and green, but I wanted it to stand out from the cat and my red and green pens have just about run out, so I used pink and what was meant to be a pale blue instead. It’s a bit scruffy, I didn’t have enough pattern to extend across the whole page so part of the mat is just coloured in. Anyway it was fun to do. Ignore the date by the way, I hadn’t done anything on the 18th so I filled in the gap.
Crash! Smash! Clatter!
The big outside cat who now comes in has finally broken the cat flap! It was cracked in two yesterday, but with both parts still in place, but today? When we came home from my studio the cat flap was broken with two side pieces twisted away from each other and a pizza wedge shaped piece on the ground outside. The outdoor cat was inside and my female inside cat was staring through the cat flap from the outside! I opened the door and let her in. But how to try and fix this? Glue and wide clear tape. I tried gluing the edges, but I was just making a sticky mess. Next I dabbed glue on the flat surfaces and stuck the clear tape to them like a bandage. Next I slid the wedge shape up between the sides and wrapped another lot of tape and glue around the bottom of the flap. Finally I supported the flap on our toilet roll holder so it’s inside the door and horizontal. Why? Because it’s raining heavily and it would soon be soaking wet if I shut it. The door is also open to keep it out of the rain. I’m relying on the door between the kitchen and the backdoor staying shut to keep the cats in (and out).
Fingers crossed x
Mallaband-Brown