Saved by a cat

"Who are you?" 8 x 10 acrylic on canvas board

 I've been working a week on another acrylic painting, going back to brushes this time.

But the subject to this time is very similar to the last painting, "Adobe Sunset." Every day is a step in solving problems, and usually my problems in painting come from not planning far enough ahead. So it was this time.

The painting was unbalanced and the foreground drab. There wasn't much to distinguish it from the previous one. I was down to painting the shadows and some touch up, and stumped.

Then last night my wife Susan said, "It needs a cat."

Saved by a cat.

So here is the result, modeled after our cat, Sophie, curious about a visitor. Still on the back porch easel in case I see something to fiddle with tomorrow. To be framed and at In Your Eye Studio and Gallery in about a week. I'm not sure about title. "Cat House" came to mind, but that seemed disrespectful to the cat. 

Calm

"Why Worry?" 5 x 5 acrylic on canvas

"Peace, peace, there is no peace..." --Jeremiah 6:11

In stress-filled times like these as a pandemic and politics rage on, we need calm more than ever, for our mental and physical health, yet it can be hard to find.

Medicine, for blood pressure and anxiety, works some, but not always. I've said for quite a while, not really jokingly, that painting is my therapy. When I'm working on art, the rest of the world goes away as every painting is a series of problems to be solved, to be created.

I've also found other sources of daily peace, daily calm as well. Every morning as I sit down with coffee in an easy chair, I have two immediate visitors in my lap, one on each leg, Snoops and Sophie, our rescue cats.  I have an "equal catortunity" lap. Petting or stroking them, while they purr does wonders for enjoying present tense and morning sunlight, preventing doom  scrolling media.

So today's acrylic painting lesson combines calmness, inspired by Sophie, though she's prettier than this.

Profound poodle

"Profound Poodle," 5 x 7 watercolor holiday greeting card

Maybe the phrase "Going to the dogs" isn't such a bad thing, I thought yesterday, walking in Hafer Park.

People who are out walking their dogs, of all varieties (humans and canines), seemed pretty friendly, a lot more so than the poisonous vitriol  of the still-current political and pandemic chaos. The dogs seem well adjusted, and their owners.

"Beautiful dog. Cute pooch. "Passing people in the park, I always compliment their dogs, and get a smile and a "thank you." Yep, going to the dogs.

I took this photo this week of an old guy (probably my age) on a walker, with his little dog. No hurry, no acrimony, just enjoying the outdoors on a mild December day. Friendly. We need more days, and years, of going to the dogs.

So as the end of the year approaches, and my annual holiday greeting card project as well, I want to post one of the cards made especially for some special friends.  

I used to be a dog person, still am deep down. I originally wanted an indoor-outdoor dog and my wife said no, she wanted indoor cats. So we compromised. I am now owned by two indoor cats

But our friends are indeed dog people. I'm sure Carlos is a profound poodle. Today's card, Carlos, for the Brekkes.

Moon Memories

"Moonlight Memories," 5 x 7 watercolor holiday greeting card

           "Memory, all alone in the moonlight.
             I can dream of the old days, life was beautiful then."

                                                     --From Cats

Another full moon has become a memory today. In this world of sickness, racism, violence and hard times, it's been good to gaze into the night sky and see beauty, and remember good times.

There is comfort in knowing  the full moon will be back once more this year. For us uncertain mortals, it's good to be able to count on that, to anticipate more light and beauty and memories as this dark year comes to a close.

Four Months of Pandemic Paintings!

"Catnap," 5 x 7, in the slide show below

Here is my slide show of four months--April through July--of my almost daily watercolors, trying to be an antidote of color and hope and peace to the pandemics of virus, racism and political bigotry in America.
Enjoy. Pandemic Peace

What's "valuable"?

"Cat convention," 5 x 7ish watercolor, 140 lb Fabriano Artistico extra white cold press

"Valuable" was today's #WorldWatercolorMonth prompt, which is wide open for interpretation.
You can tell what is valuable to most people by where they spend their money and time, what they "own."
But as you age, your priorities change with perspective and experience. If you're sane, you probably come to realize that what is most valuable in life isn't really in possessions.
Time becomes more valuable indeed, and  frivolous material items become a waste of breath.
That's why family, friends, relationships become more important, thus more valuable.
I can't paint family, but one of my treasures, a small thing really, is my daily cat convention. 
Early morning cup of coffee, quiet house, favorite chair. And here come Sophie and Snoops for some quality lap time, vying for who gets to sit on which leg. Soon they're purring,  soaking up my petting, and I get to sit there, be valued, and spend a few minutes just thinking, meditating, enjoying the present moment. 
It's valuable.

Tuxedo Calm Cat-astrophe series no. 8

"Tuxedo Calm," 5 x 7 calm cat-astrophe watercolor series no. 8, 140 lb Fabriano Artistico extra white cp

Uptight? Stressed with the everyday pandemic, racism and tRump catastrophes?
That's when it's time for some calm, to break out of the ordinary, put on formal wear, get ready  early for a special evening, and then lounge around, enjoying the anticipation.

Snoops, my model

That's the feeling I get when I see our cat Snoops, a tuxedo cat, actually the first cat I can actually call mine, though he chose us rather than the other way around.
Yes, he gets up tight a lot, but he really knows how to get calm. He'll roll on his back, put the paws curled up, and tile his head back and just enjoy the moments. Secure, trusting, relaxed, calm. We have lots to learn from our felines. 
Thus today's "cat-astrophe" watercolor series no. 8.

Colorful Calm Cat-astrophe series no. 7

"Color me Calm," 5 x 7 Calm Cat-astrophe watercolor series no. 7, 140 lb Fabriano Artistico 

Cats come in all colors, patterns, shapes, personalities--like colors. The more you mix them, the more variations you discover, the more surprises you find. Genetic principles apply, but variations seem limitless.
You never know exactly what colors you'll get when you start mixing them, beyond a few simple physical principles, because water adds another variable to the chemistry.
In the catastrophes of pandemic, racism and political chaos in America, those same examples seem to apply today.
I know that colors can in certain contexts be alarming as with a Nazi or Confederal battle flag, but in the midst of alarming times, colors, literally light incarnate, for the most part, bring happiness, ideas, calm, like cats. And we need color and calm more than ever.
Today's Calm Cat-astrophe is something different, an experiment in color and cats.

Upsidedown Calm Cat-astrophe series No. 6

"Upside down Calm," 5 x 7 Calm Cat-astrophe series no. 6, 140 lb Fabriano Artistico extra white cold press paper

When the world seems like it is upside down in catastrophe after

catastrophe,  how do you cope?
Pandemic, racism, political danger build stress upon stress. 
Perhaps we need to keep "tabs," (pun) and learn even more from our feline friends. How long since you've seen them nap, or doze or sleep? 
Notice their posture, their body language. Secure, contented, turning their heads upside down, or covering their eyes from the light, curled up and comfy.
Need calm? Turn off the news, cuddle up, take a nap.
Thus today's cat-astrophe watercolor series no. 6.

Stretcccching, Calm Cat-astrophe No. 5

"Stretcccching Calm," Calm-cat-astrophe watercolor series no. 5, 5 x 7 140 lb Fabriano Artistico extra white cp

"Did you do your stretches this morning? " she asked.
The answer these days is, "Of course."
Ever since some physical therapy for back pain, the answer is "Yes," for an old guy who was always in too much of a hurry to do stretches, too stressed to slow down, and too undisciplined to form simple habits
I should have been taking lessons from our cats. 
Have you noticed how much they stretch, no matter their age? Have you noticed that even when they're tensing every muscle, they're calm, content, at ease?
Hmm. So in these times of pandemic, racist and t-Rump catastrophes that continually stress us, I find my morning stretching calming.
Thus today's "Calm Cat-astrophe" watercolor series no. 5. This ought to stretch your imagination.

Calm Cat-astrophe, number. 3

"Calm 'n Composed," Cat-astrophe series No. 3, 140 lb Fabriano Artisitico extra white cold press

You can afford to be calm in catastrophes if you have your senses about you.
Just because your ears  pick up the most delicate of sounds, and your eyes are sharp and focused on every movement, doesn't mean you're not calm.
You're alert, and always prepared to instantly react if need be, but there's no need for worry, because you know you always land on your feet.
No wonder the Egyptians, and others, considered you a god...a superior being in calm control.
Amid the catastrophes of pandemic and racism, we have much to learn from our feline creatures.
Thus today's watercolor, number three of the calm cat-astrophe series.

Calm cat-astrophe

"Calm Magic," 5 x 7 watercolor, 140 lb Fabriano Artistico extra white cold press paper

I have two friends who demand to sit on my lap every day...early in the morning with coffee, and later in the day, usually when I am trying to work, paint or survive some new stress or anxiety in these pandemic, racist-plagued catastrophes we hope to survive.
They bring calm to me, take my mind off everything but the present. Petting them, sharing affection, reminds me of what is important in life...living, enjoying the moment, those who are important to you. For this old dog person, my first cats Sophie and Snoops won't take "No" for an answer, so I have to stop and enjoy the magic of calm.
Thus comes the idea for another watercolor series. I've done barns and unicorns. It seems it's time for a "Cat-astrophe"series.
Here's the first...inspired by the silhouette of Sophie looking out the door. 

What the world needs now

"Intimacy," 5 x 7 watercolor,  140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press paper

Thoughts while watching two rescued rivals for attention and space, decide it is time for a nap.
Yin and Yang?
Here's to Sophie, (alpha female, orange and white), and Snoops, (curious provocateur, tuxedo cat). They know what the world needs now.

Relaxing Flight of Fancy

"Flight of Fancy," 5" x 7" watercolor

What is more relaxing in the morning that a good cup of coffee, sipping while, perhaps, cats perch in your lap? Blood pressure goes down, quiet time, think time, relax time before the chores of the day's "To-Do" lists and obligations sink in.
It seems to be my routine--more cat time than coffee time. Savoring the moment time, enjoying the aroma of coffee, the warm touch of petting soft felines, their pleasing purr of contentment.
Those thoughts came to mind in a flight of fancy for today's #WorldWatercolorMonth daily challenge prompt, "Relaxing."
Here 'tis, 300 lb. d'Arches cold press paper.

Heat and cheat

"Desert Heat," 7 1/2" x 7 1/2"

"The world is too much with us... ." Wordsworth must have been both poet and prophet, I thought, looking back on this week personally, and the materialistic world that consumes "civilization."
It's more a case of too much going on, or at least that's my excuse for not painting a watercolor yesterday. "Furry things," 
was yesterday's challenge prompt for World Watercolor Month. 
Today the prompt was "Monochromatic." 
It's going to be 100 plus degrees tomorrow, as Oklahoma slides into the sweltering heat of summer. 
That's partially responsible for today's painting, featuring essentially one color, oozing the start of another blistering day, "Desert  Heat," on a piece of 140 lb. Indian rough paper I bought once.

"Lookit those birds!" 5' x 7"

The cheat part? Since I missed painting for the first day this month, to occupied to repaint two furry critters who have adopted me, I pulled this former painting out of a frame by our fireplace. Sophie and Snoops, looking out the window at birds. 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press paper. 
Tomorrow, the prompt is "Relaxing." Don't know yet. 

Coffee with Clark kind of morning

Sophie and Snoops demand attention

The Shape of Happiness

The Shape of Happiness, 5 x 7 watercolor, 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico, cold press paper

Adopted. That's what I was just a couple of years ago, when I thought we were adopting cats.
I've never been a "cat person," and there's a long history of misfortune behind that statement. I'm a dog person.
But since adopting two "rescue" cats, I've changed, realizing they chose us. Fittingly perhaps, the first one, now named Snoops, a tuxedo cat, acts almost like a dog in affection and loyalty. But he's still very much feline in temperament and independence.
Still, my adoption comes with unexpected benefits., including lowering blood pressure. 
When I think about it, what is happier than a cat sitting on your lap, purring.  Or soaking up the warmth of a fire in the fireplace on a cold winter day? The shape of happiness.

(Daily paint happy things watercolor, challenge #worldwatercolorgroup)

A rainy, poetry day

There is work to do, but...

"In which window did I remain..."

Outside my window the birds seem to frolic
 in the first rain in a long, long time.
Their reflections on the wet sidewalk flutter
from tree to ground seeking food--
Junkos, wrens, blue jays, cardinals, doves
squawking, cooing, chirping, 
joined by squirrels busy  gathering acorns
or running from limb to limb.
Our cats are fascinated, and then bored,
being cats on the floor stalking or fighting each other.
Water, like time,  drips from the eaves and branches.
There is work to do--
writing due Monday, a storage closet half cleaned, 
still messy on the floor but...
First a cup of coffee, a trip to the bookshelf...
Poetry calls, and
Pablo Neruda answers
with his Book of Questions...

"En que' idioma ca la lluvia
sobre cuidades dolorosas"
In which lanuage does rain fall
over tormented cities?"

"Hay dos comillos mas agudos
que las silabas de chacal?"
Are there two fangs sharper
that the syllables of jackal?

"Y no naufragan los veleros
por un exceso de vocales?"
When they stow too many vowels
don't sailing ships wreck?

"Puedes amarme, silabaria,
y darme un beso sustantivo?
Can you love me, syllabary,
and give me a meaningful kiss?
Un diccionario es un sepulcro
o es un panal del miel cerrado?
Is a dictionary a sepulchre
or a sealed honeycomb?
En que' fentana me cquede'
mirando el tiempo sepultado?
In which window did I remain
watching buried time?
O lo que miro desde lejos
es lo que no he vivido aun?"
Or is what I see from afar
what I have not yet lived?

Now, there is work to do....

Two cats

Two cats fighting
for a smell lingering
on a piece
of smell
from a book bag
or a blanket
or discarded clothing
or mere territory
of the human whose odor
they can't ignore

Cute, amusing, but so
like us
Wanting to belong
to be valued
to be touched

A cat and fireplace kind of day

5 by 7 watercolor

March 1
Outside--cold, gloomy, wet, colorless.
Inside--it's a colorful cat and fireplace kind of day.