Different Strokes: May '08

[Charlie's Mum]

Welcome to the May edition of Different Strokes.

{Just a note before we begin ~
If any member would like to host a Different Strokes project, please let one of the Team know which month you'd like to take and we'll arrange it }.

*******************************

A Different Strokes with a difference this month folks!

There’s more than one reference and I’d like to set you a challenge in composition, using at least two of these references, in a painting - e.g. the work should have two or more cats in it!

The references are courtesy of Assaf - thank you for allowing us to use them Assaf! :thumbsup:

Please read the guidelines below carefully.

GUIDELINES:
On the first of each month a reference photo (or photos) will be posted in a thread entitled "Different Strokes".

Each member interested in taking the challenge will create a painting using the chosen reference(s) (whole or cropped) and on the 20th of each month participants will upload their interpretation of the reference for discussion within this thread, finished or not.

PLEASE DO NOT UPLOAD WORK TO THE THREAD BEFORE THE 20TH OF THE MONTH.**

At the end of the month the thread /discussion will be closed and a new challenge will begin.

Artwork can be any size on any surface but MUST be acrylic. Monthly references will be selected by the guides and moderators (but please note the additional comment above).

**Please note, the single 'reveal' date is chosen so that we do not influence each other with our individual interpretations ...... that's the whole point of it being called 'Different Strokes'!

THIS MONTH'S REFERENCES:

Feline expression (http://www.flickr.com/photos/assafs/2369340716/)

Slant-eyed cat. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/assafs/2369336724/)

Black and White cat. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/assafs/2185971860/)

Above each picture is an icon for larger sizes- click and you’ll find a higher res. version.

Have fun!

[LavenderFrost]

This should be interesting.

[Linee]

I agree....very interesting.

[Assaf]

I would never imagine that these will be the photos you'd choose. The black and white cat is something befitting Colored Pencils, and the slant-eye cat is wonderful for watercolors - so I think I'll go with Feline Expression. I have never painted cats before.

[oicclouds]

I'm in, i'm in, I'm in! I love cats! Vicki

[couturej]

Can't resist this one! I use to love doing animals in colored pencils and I miss it. I'm not quite sure how to tackle it in acrylics but it will be fun figuring it out. :)

[Ozone]

Maybe Maureen, if you promise to behave.:wink2: Where I come from, we spit in our hand before we shake. What do ya think, want to shake on it?

Oz

p.s. thank you Assaf

[Charlie's Mum]

Hope you all do manage to join in! :lol:

Assaf - don't forget that you have to combine at least two of these! ;)

I must try not to leave mine to the last minute - my pledge! ;)

[couturej]

oops didn't see the combine two references. I think I'll have to pass...sorry. Looking forward to seeing how everyone handles this one. :)

[susme48]

Don't mean to be dense....but I want to be sure I understand....is this sort of like using the cat with the beard, but put him on the fence, or the slant-eyed cat looking out thru the grass? If this is not right...then I guess I need a bit more of an explanation...lol...sorry for being slow this month.

[lilbelle]

I might give it a go this month. I wish I liked cats more but I've been finding piles of feathers in my yard and the birds I've been watching have disappeared! But I'm sure these cats are nice! This will be my first time painting cats also.

[oicclouds]

hee, hee, I know what I'm gonna do with the kitties! Meow! LOL! Vicki

[Charlie's Mum]

Susan - I've added a little bit to the first post - hope it's clearer now! :D

We've had dogs before but I don't think we've painted cats in a Diff. Strokes challenge ....... and that's what it is, a Challenge! :eek: :eek::D

[Ozone]

Thanks Maureen, two or more cats, I pass.

Ozone

[LavenderFrost]

Oh come on Ozone, it's been too long since we've seen your work.

I'm working on this project next, so those of you wondering when the yellow project will start, it will be quite a while yet.

[Charlie's Mum]

Have I made this project too difficult then? :( :crying:

[Linee]

I wanted to say "no", but then thought, "this is GOOD for me to do this." It may be a bit of a challenge, but there's nothing wrong with that. I don't think it's any more difficult than the last project.

[Charlie's Mum]

Lol, I hope a few more think the way you do Linda :D ;)

[Ozone]

Thank you Michelle, your always my friend.:)

Maybe next time Maureen, and thanks to you also.

Ozone

[antiki]

Thanks! I will try to get a painting done this time. I haven't been able to do one of these, but I am definitely going to take the time this month to do this.

Anxiously awaiting the review of everyone's painting! :)

[Cherm]

I'm in! Last month's terrified me but turned out okay, so I'm looking forward to this one!

[~~Kathleen]

I am going to pass this month.
I am not willing to tackle fur/cats right now.
I have three Projects happening right now, and
I (Honestly) am not enthused with cats.
~~Kathleen

[MrsG_SoCal]

Have I made this project too difficult then? :( :crying:
Too difficult for me, but I am definitely going to grab at least one of these for my own fun! I love kitties!

[lilbelle]

Well I'm in! I've got it sketched out already and will work on it when it isn't nice enough to be outside.

[Firehorse_Australia]

This seems to be a tough one, but I think a good one to try......
OKAY I am IN (call me mad, I've NEVER done fur before.....YIKES!!!!!!!!!!

[eyepaint]

I'm still in mulling mode. At least painted cats won't cause allergic sniffles!

[Linee]

I got some paint down today. :)

[Charlie's Mum]

I got some paint down today. :)

Hrumph! Some people are keen! :evil: ;)

I have been playing with ideas though!

As for fur ...... these could turn out be 'not-so-real' cats y'know! ...... just given myself an idea ;) ;) :lol:

[kyart]

Have I got this right? Paint two of these lovely furry friends in one painting? I'm new at cats, but I have wanted to try. No time like the present I guess. Count me in!!! :cat: :cat: :cat:

Martha

[antiki]

I have been doing pet portraits, but have only painted a cat once. It did come out nice though. We'll see what happens with these. It's funny this is Cats to paint, it just so happens that I am going to be working on painting someone's Tabby Cat on a stone. I mostly paint on Canvas now, but this was a special request for someone who's cat passed on.

[Linee]

Have I got this right? Paint two of these lovely furry friends in one painting? I'm new at cats, but I have wanted to try. No time like the present I guess. Count me in!!! :cat: :cat: :cat:

Martha

Two or more. :)

[Charlie's Mum]

Yes indeed Martha -two or more!!! ...... why not all three? :lol:

Welcome to the project to both you and antiki - hope you enjoy it!

PS - I don't usually paint cats either, so it's a challenge to myself as well ;) ;)

Linda - how far have you progressed?:D

[Sheary]

I was wandering around the forums and found this challenge, sounds intriguing. I think I will give it a go.
I just finished the 'white flower' challenge in the Florals/Botanicals in watercolors so I am feeling flushed with success and brave enough for this one, and besides we have a litter of kitties to observe and wanted to try them also.

[Charlie's Mum]

Hi Sherry :wave: ....... I should have told you about this one too! :lol:

Glad you're joining us - you'll have fun .... and as this 'reveal' is 20th you'll still have five days after that to complete the Plant Parade one for 25th!!! ;) ;)

[lorna12]

I'm in a kitty cat kinda mood...just finished 2 (separate ones) in scratchboard. It's a good challenge...sign me up, I'll give it a go!

[Linee]

Not quite done with the first layer. I'll probably finish that today and then get to the fun stuff later. :)

[lilbelle]

I started painting last night. Even though I'm not much of a cat person I enjoyed working out the composition and starting on the fur.

[Assaf]

I made a sketch that joins the slant-eyed cat on her porch, with the feline expression cat behind the curtain of leaves. I'll need to refine it a bit before I could make it into an acrylic painting. I suspect I'll work on paper, for the first time.

[lilbelle]

Assaf, it sounds like you and I had the same idea! It will be interesting to see. I've finished one cat and started the next.

[Charlie's Mum]

I'm so glad you accepted the challenge Assaf! :thumbsup:

We've been partying today, so no painting yet ;) :D

[Cherm]

I have mine all sketched out and plan to get some paint down this week.
I'm going for all three - I've never painted fur before so this should be interesting!
Cheryl

[Linee]

I got the paper covered with paint, so I'm well on my way. I won't tell you which way I'm taking, though. ;)

[eyepaint]

Yay!


I've started, too :)

[Charlie's Mum]

Oh! Damn!!! ..... the weather is soooooo nice just now :( ...... just have to garden ;) ....... but I still have a couple of weeks, just about! :smug:

[Linee]

You won't believe what happened to me. (I should have been gardening instead. ;)) An oil-based paint pen exploded on my picture! I finished it today and was going to sign it with my favorite pen. When I took the cover off it exploded! I quickly got out my turps and wiped my picture. It worked! However, the oil paint took off some of the acrylic so I had to do some touch-up work. I thought for sure the painting was ruined when that metalic gold sprayed everything! I see a few spots of gold, but they're unnoticable on my kitties. :D

[antiki]

I am not usually a fast painter, but since I want to make sure I get this done, I started painting the Cats at a furious pace yesterday. The painting is well on its way, I will try to work on it again today. I will use all 3 kitties.

Have a Great Painting Day Everyone! Leona

[antiki]

I am not usually a fast painter, but since I want to make sure I get this done, I started painting the Cats at a furious pace yesterday. I will use all 3 kitties.

Have a Great Painting Day Everyone! Leona

[LavenderFrost]

Linda, I thought I had bad luck. At least you were able to save it.

I finished mine yesterday. It was fun. :D

[Linee]

Michelle, I'm glad my family was gone when it happened. They didn't have to see me freaking out! :eek: :lol:

[eyepaint]

Oh Linda - that must have been awful!! Glad you got it all resolved.

[lilbelle]

Great save Linda! I'm also done :)

[Linee]

Yep, it could have been a CATastrophe. :D

[changingpaths]

Decided to join you on this one. :)

I needed a break from the Renoir, and I've been mulling over this one ever since you posted the Kitty photos. Finally yesterday I came up with an idea. Being new, I don't know how well it will fit in with what is normally submitted...but it will have two of the three kittens in it...maybe the third too if I can figure out just where to put that wild face. hehe.

I really needed a "just for fun" painting to work on. Started it yesterday, should be done tonight. (Of course it helps that DH left for China for a week, so I can paint whatever hours I want without distractions. hehe.)
Thank you for giving me a start ...so I could get back to FUN!:heart:

[eyepaint]

I'm done! And you could call it ... different :)

[lorna12]

I'm done, too...wouldn't have been if WC! hadn't been down.:D

Linda...good save...yikes!

[artastic]

just starting here!
have a long wknd coming up, so will get mine done then (if life doesn't get in the way)

[jocelynsart]

Wow, the references are great!!!!
I wish I could but am away 6 days so have to pass :-(

I saw the invite on WC main page and have never checked this monthly thing out. I will try next month. What a great idea!!!!

Jocelyn

[Charlie's Mum]

Ach! My post got zapped on Monday .... so did EP's becasue she answered mine .... and I had all these 'Cat...'words too *sigh*.

Anyway, I've worked hard yesterday and today and finished ....... unless I start tweaking!
It's definitely different - for me :lol:

Jocelyn - if you can manage to finish before the end of the month, why not give it a go? The thread's open until then. ... and remember, there's a different Different Strokes every month :thumbsup:

[Sophia.Rose]

Hi, I'm new here and just came upon this thread. This sounds like a very interesting challenge. I can't wait to see what everyone had painted.

Sophia

[Linee]

Ach! My post got zapped on Monday .... so did EP's becasue she answered mine .... and I had all these 'Cat...'words too *sigh*.



I wish I could remember all your cool cat words. At least you're not caterwauling about it. ;)

[oicclouds]

I've started! Now need to finish! Vicki

[susme48]

I am posting this now because tomorrow I won't have time. I am getting frustrated with not getting things done "on time"...but I don't want to quit doing the challenges. I thought I was gonna have more time to paint the last couple days, and I did not get that time. So here is how far I got. I am so tired now I am making more mistakes than doing good :o ...so for tonight I am done.

I was not happy with the 3rd cat, but since I just stuck my finger into his face I really hate it...gonna work on him/her some more, and probably the others too...they were better yesterday (actualy most of it was better yesterday...should have left it alone tonight... :o ). Might have been easier to make them bigger...but was trying to kill two birds with one stone and do a challenge and incorporate the inevitable watermelons...:lol:

Please feel free to point out anything that needs fixed. I know the perspective is still just a bit off...but it is so much better than it started out...you would not believe. :p

It is 8x10 on canvas, and actually looks a tiny bit better in real life...but not much. :)

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-May-2008/51170-picnic3x.jpg

[lorna12]

:clap: You did a fine job, Susan and you had a lot more imagination with this project than I did!

By my watch it's 10 minutes into the 20th and I'm posting because I will be busy all day. I'm calling it either "Bird? What Bird?!" or "I Wanna See Too!"

C&C more than welcome...I know there's some issues with face sizes...that was the real challenge! :D

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-May-2008/11613-img757_sm.jpg

[alija1001]

Here is my interpretation of the cat in the jungle.
I did it in pastels by mistake and also did it in accylics so here are both.
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-May-2008/78136-Jungle_Cat.jpg http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-May-2008/78136-Jungle_Cat_acrylics.jpg :wave:

[alija1001]

I love your cats lorna12

[ANGHWAR]

Susan, what a lovely spring picnic for the kitties.

Lorna, I wish to sit over your shoulder and learn how to handle acrylics this well, absolutely outstanding. :clap: :thumbsup: :clap: Maybe we can all beg for a tutorial from you :D

Gill even though it was mistaken medium I love the pastel.

As for me time caught up with me and I am only half way, however I won't be able to touch it before month end again so I share it with you now even though it is at the real ugly stage.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-May-2008/109760-three_kits.jpg

[Charlie's Mum]

Lol Anghwar - that's a novel interpretation! Cats in the Stocks!!! I hope you manage to get it finished!

Susan - I do like the idea of a picnic table and the cats taking over!
Maybe making the cats much bigger and making them the focal point would have been esier for you? I find then difficult to paint small too ... (same problem for me!!) -but I do like your textures and summery feel to this :D

Gill - did you forget you were in Acrylics!!!!! :lol::lol: ...... and that the challenge was to combine at least two of the cats? :D - but I do like the intense stare you caught there.

Lorna - what can I say - knowing how well you paint anything, but especially the cats, this was bound to be another beauty!
Love the second title - 'I Wanna See Too' - brilliant! :D

I don't 'comfortably do' cats at all - they're a struggle, so this was some challenge for me. Here's a little bit of a rub-of from Rousseau - hehehehe -

'Sheba was above their game of waiting for the unwary passers-by.'
7x8" on a piece of gessoed mountboard.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-May-2008/30494-maycats_wc.jpg

[Linee]

I love the creativitity in all your paintings!

Here's mine. 8 x 10 " on paper.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-May-2008/101851-Jungle_Cats.jpg

[alija1001]

Thanks for your comments. I forgot the other cat.

[oicclouds]

My idea is a LoLKatz. I'm pretty embarrassed by this. NONE of this painting is finished. Even surprised kitty. I made mistakes and just threw paint over them to cover them up b/4 repainting---which of course, I haven't been able to do. Only one pair of slant eyed kitty even has any color on them. With the others, I've only blocked in the darker hair, eyes and nose.

The words were photoshopped. "Oh hi! Do you have catnips?".

Vicki
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-May-2008/120619-Picture8888888_054.jpg

[Cherm]

Great interpretations on this month's challenge eveyrone!

I'm fairly happy with the way this turned out, being my first attempt at animals and fur. I had to redo the eyes on the center cat and they ended up too blue but had to stop myself so I didn't make it worse.

I'm calling this "Family Purrtrait" hehehe
9x12 Canson Acrylic paper
C&C Please, composition, technique, anything, everything

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-May-2008/131595-CatsMayWC.jpg

[eyepaint]

Yay it's the 20th and here come all the cat combos!

Susan - a picnic table with the watermelons ... for your watermelon project I presume? :) I'm not sure I see the third kitty unless that's him hiding under the railing on the right. The guy on the table looks guilty - maybe he's been in the picnic basket?

Lorna - what a beautiful family portrait! The centre cat looks so startled :)

Bars - nice expression on the acrylic version :)

Anghwar - LOL! The black and white cat looks startled :) Your painting reminds me of a photo on Flickr where there were cement blocks and there was a lab's nose peeking through. If I find it again I'll post the link.

edited to insert link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dustypixel/1375577294/ "What's Up Pussy Cat" by Dusty Pixel

:) :) :)

Maureen - your cats are watching Charlie hunting hedgehogs in your garden :)

Linda - love all the greenery and foliage in yours :)

Vicki - awesome poster!

Cherm - that's a great setting to show that the third kitty is peeking through the leaves :)

[eyepaint]

Here's mine. 9x12" on watercolour paper. Fauvist/naive style.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-May-2008/96240-IMGP3470.jpg

:)

Cheers,

[Linee]

Susan, love the setting. Purrrrrfect!
Lorna, they look soooo soft.
Gill, good contrast between both. Makes a great set.
ANGHWAR, sneaky little things. Fun!
Maureen, love the garden scene. You KNOW your plants, and the cats fit right in.
Vicki, Fun piece! Very creative.
Cherm, love the stairstep comp. Those blue eyes rock!
EP, what a surprise! Great style. Love the details such as the landscape on the wall.

[lilbelle]

How wonderfully creative everyone!
Susan, I love the picnic setting!
Lorna, great job on all the cats!
Gill, wonderful eyes peaking out of the jungle!
Anghwar, what a neat idea. great faces!
Maureen, wow, fantastic composition. The cats are amazing and I love all the different plants!
Linda, I love the fur on the black cat. They are all excellently painted, and I really like the composition and the touch of red in the foliage!
Vicki, wonderful job!
Cherm, good job on all three of the cats! I really like the green background.
Ep, what an excellent arrangement! Very creative!

Here is mine, 8x10in. canvas
http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-May-2008/103642-DSC02263.jpg

[Ozone]

Hi ANGWAR,

I thought it was a triple french guillotine. But then, I also thought about painting a burlap bag on the bottom of a lake. Lots of good and fun paintings today.

Oz

[Linee]

Lillian, you captured the cats perfectly. Love the butterfly touch!

[Cherm]

Susme, I like your composition, I too do not like "small" can't get all the detail I think it needs.
Lorna, beautifully done, love the ears on the calico and eye reflections on all.
Gill, well done, i liked the eyes on this one the best.
Anghwar, very playful, great eye reflection on all.
Maureen, love your comp and beautifully done.
Linda, great fur and foliage.
Vicki, I love your kaliedascope cats around the edges, great job.
EP, yours is so fun, love the colors and the pic of the cat on the sidetable. Have to go look up Fauvist style, it will be my art education of the day.
Lillian, yours look so real, i expect them to get up, stretch and walk away.

[Charlie's Mum]

Thanks for the comments on mine everyone :D

Linda: I love the eyes of your cats and the way the b/w cat seems to be so protective of the other two. I also like the way you incorporated the tiger cat's foliage and used it to link them all. Nice setting and good comp - I like the solution to slant-eyed cat, bringing her down to the front.:thumbsup:

Vicki - this promises to be another novel take on the subject. Good idea! I hope you manage to finish it. :D

Cherm - these are lovely pristine cats - just like they should be after grooming most of the day!
Love the way the tabby is under that leaf! Mr. B/white has a beautifully brushed chest - lovely painting of fur.

EP - this made me chuckle! Super interpretation/setting of the cats .... M'lady gets the comfy chair, little tabby-tiger only gets to look through the window and the b/w is reduced from his large presence to a photo frame - to keep him in bounds? :lol: In spite of the Fauvist, wild colours, there's an air of calm about this.

Lillian - what beautifully painted cats! A real double portrait .... like the way Slant-eyes is eyeing the butterfly ... but she's too lazy to pounce! :lol:

I think this challenge has produced some very creative thinking ladies - I like all the works!
Thank you for making them :D

[eyepaint]

Linda - thank you
Lillian - thank you. As Cherm says, your cats look like they could stand up and walk away
Cherm - thank you
Maureen - thank you :) You don't have pink walls and a green chesterfield in your sitting room? LOL

Cheers,

[changingpaths]

These are just wonderful. I had no idea what to expect and you all have truly raised the bar for me to shoot for!

Susan, Your picnic is wonderful. Love how you squeezed the third cat in.
do I dare ask about the watermelon story? :D

Lorna, wonderful. Your cats are fantastic, and I love how you sized them to make the composition more believable.:clap:

Gill, very fun seeing both mediums...and the contrast in colors you used between the two. Very enlightening.;)

ANGHWAR, Got a great chuckle from yours. thank you! :D very ingenius.

Maureen, lovely. I really admire the way you did the overall composition. The blues in the black cat. The flower pot. the florals setting off the cats. just wonderful.:thumbsup:

Linda, your reds really make the composition brighten. Your cats are wonderful. well done.:cool:

Vicki, you had me lauging out loud. Thank you. hehe:p love your humor. And the Cats around the edges was so unique!

Cherm, another very nice way of getting the three together in a composition. Great job.:) The Cats are wonderful and i really like your foliage.

EP, I have already in a short time learned to never know what to expect from you. hehe. LOVE the black cat in the picture frame. very clever!:D

Lillian, what can one say. It's fabulous. I really like how you added the butterfly for a focal point for them to be looking at. :clap: :clap:

[changingpaths]

Here is my first attempt at a Different Strokes. I really had no idea how to do this, so it is already obvious to me I should have made the cats larger...but I will know for next time. :D Thank you for giving a beginner the opportunity to take part. It is more vibrant in person, and I lost detail too in the photographing.... but then I just am not great at taking photos. Hopefully while I am here on vaca, my Dad will give me some lessons at that as he is fabulous. lol.

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb82/hoperising_2007/WetCanvasStudies/MayCat08.jpg

[Shirl Parker]

Cyndi, that's the thing about "Different" strokes. Everyone approaches differently. Yours is well within the guidelines and very nice. Welcome.

[oicclouds]

Susan-love the deck kitty's! The red table cloth and watermelons really pop!

Lorna-WoW! I wished I was this good at fur!

Gill-excellent look of surprise on the face!

ANGHWAR-this one made me laugh! You captured an awesome "trapped" look in their eyes!

Maureen-spring kitties hiding! or resting. LOL! love the greenery!

Linee--more spring kitties! excellent cats, love the red splash!

Cherm--excellent rendering of fur! I still suck at it! You'll do great with animals!

ep-Wow! I love the colors! Also love Santa kitty framed!

libelle--excellent paint. great kitties and love the butterfly

Cyndi--ok, my favorite. great perspective and comp. eye travels up painting. love the color of the flowers!

Thanks everyone! Vicki

[Charlie's Mum]

Cyndi - that's a lovely setting for the puss-cats - love the steps and the position of the cats. It's very typical of some Mediterranean scenes - hot and sunny :D

EP -of course, in my lounge I have pink walls and green ....... well, no, not exactly .... but I do have one bright orchid pink wall in my kitchen! Honestly! :D :D

[alija1001]

Lillian I love your cats

[LavenderFrost]

Susan, that's a sweet picture! I had to smile when I saw the watermelon. :D

Lorna, very nice work! I don't think face size is an issue because cats come in all sizes.

Gill, both are cute, but I really like the eyes in the first one.

Anghwar, I'm not sure what they are peeking through, but that's a neat idea. If you say that's only half way, I can't wait to see it done.

Maureen, that's wonderful! You did a great job on the cats. Not sure about the evil dandelion though, lol.

Linda, very nice, and love the red.

Vicki, that's cute! Really creative.

Cherm, nice work, the cats have a nice soft look.

EP, very creative. I like the way you incorporated one cat as a picture.

Lillian, wow! Very nice work.

Cyndi, beautiful scene you created for them!

And Ozone gets a big pinch for the burlap bag idea. Tsk, tsk.

I thought of a throne room right away, and then I looked at the expressions on those cats. lol Two looked mad and one surprised. So I worked that into the idea and felt it needed some text. Maybe if I ever do children's books they will look something like this.

5x7" on posterboard. It is hard to paint cats that small.
I framed it and gave it to my mom for Mother's Day. She loved it.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-May-2008/104871-ThroneRoomCats.jpg

[lilbelle]

Cyndi, wonderful setting for your cats. Great perspective on the steps and lovely colours on the flowers!
Michelle, that is great! The cats really look like royalty! Great job on the chairs and I love the cat peeking out from under it!

Thank you everyone for the kind comments on mine!

[ANGHWAR]

Maureen your kitties look so at home in that garden, totally relaxed. I like that big yellow cat (Dandy Lion :lol: ) can see it reflecting in the black kitties eyes. Glad I could make you smile with mine.

Linda I love the way you placed your kitties and that splash of red is marvelous. Thank you for your comment on mine, it was fun (not a keeper though. :o

Vicky now that is what I call thinking outside the box or is it thinking inside the box looking out :lol: (you and I must be riding the same astrological chart, mine is half finished too :o ) btw I love lolkatz, you did very well.

Cherm I love the black kitty, he seems to know something, and peekaboo is precious, gosh they are all nice. Thank you, you are so kind with your comment, I swiped the eye reflections in quickly just before posting, I have a long way to go to turn mine into a painting.

EP Those pooches are so funny, my inspiration came from a similar memory, I once saw these stray (wild) kitties sleeping inside some plumbing pipes on a construction site, they would peek out to see what'sa hap'ning.

Your cat in the garden reminds me of a computer game where the cat would peek out of the bushes. Love the idea of the framed cat, and missy slant eyes is just totally unconcerned with the world. Love it!!!

Lillian Oh my your cats are so realistic, exquisite painting!!! Thank you for your comment, I was just playing around with mine.

Cyndi Thank you, Happy that you had a good laugh

You have a great composition here, the cats are at home and comfy, and welcome to Different Strokes, you met the challenge in my book.

Vicki , thank you, here is a secret I meant to do 2 cats only and place them in the wall openings lower down, maybe wouldn't have been so cramped :lol: realized my mistake too late.

Michelle they are peeking through the wall in Mz Slant Eye's picture, I had to block it in because I placed the kitties too high, and still have to create the roundness of the concrete (I think that is what it is)

Oh my how could I forget, of course ALL cats are royalty, that peeking kitty gets the fish though, very innovative and well done. Love the buttons on the chairs.

My fingers hurt :lol: :lol:

[artastic]

finally got mine done today, now that is cutting it short:
Susan: love your cats' picnic (do they eat the watermelon too?)
Lorna: your are a skilled cat painter and your feline a trois is super
Gill: your jungle cats are great
Anghwar: your poor kitties in the stockade (curiosity gets them every time)
Maureen: your garden is now complete, it has cat-tails growing too!
Linda, the cats-in-the-grass is purrfect, mine like to hide behind every blade they can find
Vikki: LOL for sure, how fun!
Cherm, your family purrtrait is awesome
EP: your cats live in a wonderful colorful house (along with the family portrait)
Lillian, great comp with the butterfly added (you know how cats like to chase them!)
Cyndi: love the stairway to cat heaven, love all the hanging planters too
Michelle: you know your cats, mine always thing THEY are queen of the day (and week, and year)

well I saw your photos Maureen and recognized my menagerie right away
the wide eyed kitty is the spitting image of my Lacey, the long hair is a tuxedo cat, but my long hair (Kaylee) is more a torty-grey-black, my calico (Kodi) is not as white as your photo, then for a mix I also added my old white girl (Cleo)(she is 12)

I add the thumbnails of my refs too

so this is my furrbabies portrait:
cleo, kodi, kaylee (yes the white on her mouth is lopsided IRL, kind of looks like she is smurking)and lacey
the BG leaves much to be desired, and I think the afghan on the couch took longer than the cats
it is on 11x14 canvas panel

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/20-May-2008/104250-my_menangerie.jpg

[brusher]

Hi:
Here is my piece for Different Strokes - this is the first time I have participated :) Well of course I was excited to do a big "cat face" and upon further reading said, as maybe some have, "What can I do with TWO cats?" So the bearded cat reminded me of a sheriff with his stance, but I decided on pirate for him. He is Captain Whitebeard, with his compatriot on board, and their treasure chest and jeweled mouse. Not finished and there are a few things composition-wise I would have liked to have done better, but here it is! It's great that Different Strokes has a deadline and it's OK whether finished or not - Makes a reluctant painter keep moving and JUST KEEP GOING :)

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/21-May-2008/30494-Cathy.jpg

There are so many beautiful entries, I must look at them all one by one and would like to respond to each, but first things first - must get this posted!

Thanks and thank you Maureen for this purr-fect challenge,
Cathy

[artastic]

Oh Cathy, how KEWL is that!!
love your pirates and their treasure!

[susme48]

Thanks Lorna! Yours is simply wonderful!! :thumbsup:

Gill...Nice job! :thumbsup:

Thank you, Anghwar! I love yours! :thumbsup:

Maureen, painting them less than an inch in size, well...difficult is nowhere near the words I have been using...:lol: ...yours are adorable!! And very well done! :clap:

Oh. Linda, those are cute!! I love the reds! :clap:

Vicki...so cute...nice idea!! :thumbsup:

Cherm, I like them, love the one under the leaf..nicely done! :thumbsup:

EP, yep...gotta keep churning out watermelons...if they don't sell, I'm gonna be sick of the sight of them...:lol: Yours are really cute...I like the photo of the one! :thumbsup:

Thank you, Linda, Lillian ,and Cherm!

Lillian, I love yours...so lifelike! :clap:

Cyndi, thank you!! The story is no secret, the little town I live in, has a watermelon festival every year...I have been trying to do alot of watermelons, but trying NOT to do the same old, same old...trying anyway...:lol: I want to do something that other people may not do...not just pics of watermelons on a plate...tho' I did one of those too. Yours is really well done!

Thanks Vicki!

Michelle, thank you!! I love your card...I bet your mom loves your cards!

Thank you, Bonnie! I don't know if they eat watermelon....I did have a dog once that loved cantaloupe. The kitties are so cute!! :thumbsup:

Brusher, I love this!!! So adorable! :clap:

Cannot wait to get some more work in on mine...but alot is going on here...my dad is back in the hospital, and my daughter had a bad recheck on her possible cancer...soooooo....don't know how my time will go! At least we got my son all graduated, in spite of himself...he wanted to stay home! :lol:

[Linee]

Thanks for all the kind comments.

Cyndi, I love the setting you chose!

Michelle, great narrative with your royal kitties.

Bonnie, love the afgan on the couch. A perfect place for cats to congregate.

Cathy, I love the cat pirates. You and Michelle should get together a make a book of additional scenes. :)

[lorna12]

Thank you everyone for your comments on my trio! I must say I sure enjoyed this challenge and will certainly do another...in July as I will be away all of June.

There are some wonderful works here from all of you and it's great to see how everyone took on the challenge...same 3 kitties... each one so very different!

Gill...even tho it shouldn't be here ;) the pastel is great and so is the acrylic one!

Anghwar...love the kitties all peeking through the holes!

Maureen and Linda...beautiful garden setting for your kitties and they look right at home!

Vicki...what an imaginative idea...can't wait to see the finish!

Cherm...wonderful purrtait!

EP...purrfectly clever and wonderful colors! A very homey scene!

Lillian...beautifully painted cats and lovely touch with the butterfly!

Cyndi...such a pretty scene...welcome to WC!

Michelle...cats have always seemed liked they were rulers of the roost so that is a purrfect setting for them!

Bonnie...lovely family of cats!

Cathy...yours sure made me chuckle...what a clever idea, love it!

[Dewi]

Hello, it's been a while since I post my work here, sorry for not posting on the 20th.
I'm afraid I could not finish these cats before the end of the month, so post it right now just as is.
This is on paper size 30cm X 45 cm, those leaves took more time than cat and turned darker, IRL the upper cats has many colours :).
Didn’t paint the wall that tall like on the ref., is the compositions OK (upper cat too big?)?
Happy to hear inputs and thanks, would comment on yours later.

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/21-May-2008/61325-WD_Cats-adstrokes-5-08_001.jpg

[Dewi]

Hi again, wow so many beautiful cats paintings.
Susan, those cats must have enjoying the picnic, very cute.
Lorna, what a very lovely group of cats, I like the "I wanna see too"
Gill, cute peeping cat.
Anghwar, cool idea curiosity cats.
Maureen, what a lovely cats in your very beautiful garden, so many variety of plants.
Linda, beautiful compositions, cats and their fur.
Vicki, interesting poster people will pay attention to it.
Cherm, lovely family and very good fur too.
EP, very creative, what is the youngest doing out there?
Lillian, both are very beautiful, one is calm the other one is timid, love your fur.
Cyndi, lovely setting, nice steps and flowers too.
Michelle, they fit for the special chairs, I like the peeping one.
Bonnie, what a bunch of lovely cats, the white one has cute profile, beautiful afghan, very nice colours too.
Cathy, very creative, nice for story book.

[antiki]

Oh my gosh! I was looking all over artistnetwork for this yesterday, lol! Sorry I couldn't remember where to post. Now that I'm here I don't see paintings yet, but I was sure they were to be posted on the 20th?

Anyway, here is my painting. I probably would take longer at this. I am use to taking lots of time, due to the fact, I am self-taught and am winging it the whole way. Never know what the painting will be like (Most of the time) until it's done.

[LavenderFrost]

Bonnie, great job of putting your cats together in a picture.

Cathy, need idea!

Dewi, that looks really good already, I can't imagine that there is much more to do to it.

Antiki, nice job. It looks you and Dewi were reading each other's minds. lol

[antiki]

Dewis' was the first one I saw when I got here and I had to do a double take. Great minds think alike, lol.

What great paintings I see! I think cats are hard. I will definitely try to do this again. I have to go now, I haven't really got to look at everyones paintings yet.

Have a Great Day everyone!

[antiki]

Cindy I think this a beautiful painting! Nice Job!

[ANGHWAR]

Bonnie I think your kitties are waiting for "THe running of the mice" :lol: I think this is extra special since they are your own, I love Cleo and the afghan looks lovely.

Cathy welcome and what a neat idea for a setting. I agree this could make a yummy story for children and ME!!:lol:

Dewi I like the composition and the colors you put in both cats even though the lighter one doesn't show up as much

Leona Welcome to DS. I like that you have included all three cats and the peeking one is cute, it looks like that one leaf took a bite out of the poor black and white kitty, it is a little dark on my screen so I am not sure what that is :confused:

Thank you to everyone who commented on my silly kits.

[antiki]

Thank you! I know what you are saying. I would definitely work on this. I kind of ran out of time. Every time I looked at it, I was finding something that needed fixed, then before I knew it, it was time to post.

[lilbelle]

Bonnie, what a great idea painting all your own cats. Nicely done!
Cathy, fantastic cat pirates, you are so clever to come up with the idea!
Dewi and Leona, it's amazing how your compositions turned out so similar! Both are wonderfully done! Great idea with the brick wall.

Thanks for the challenge Maureen, it was fun! Also thanks again everyone for the nice comments.

[Linee]

Dewi, I like the painterly look, and comp. The calico looks great against the blue sky.

Antiki, welcome. I enjoy your painting, too. Do I see a little brave bird? :)

[Charlie's Mum]

Antiki - I really like those cats! I can see from the small image that the painting is lighter than appears here .... I hope you do finish this, but that b/white cat is super as-is!

Dewi - I love these two cats! I know you paint animals well and these are no exception! I like the brightness of the colours too - love the browns in the b/w cat's fur and his face is delightful!

Cathy - such a creative interpretation here - love the idea of the pirates ... just like cats pinching and hiding things ..... or maybe they'll bring the treasure home to Mum? They're super characters! :D

Bonnie - what a great way to interpret the challenge! Your four furbabies are delightful - and seem very well behaved!
Love your treatment of the afghan too - meticulously painted as usual! :D

Michelle - the Royal Personages reign supreme (until the real royals return!).
What a splendid idea to give them the seats they deserve! Love it! :D

How lovely to have all these creative responses to the refs set - and we all had lots of fun it seems - notwithstanding the frustrations of time and things going not-quite-right!

[lorna12]

Dewi and Leona...were you peeking over each others shoulders?? Amazing that you came up with almost the same paintings and both well done!

[C_Line]

Wow! These are all so creative and well done - cat's aren't easy to paint - bravo to everyone.

[eyepaint]

Cyndi - thank you. You have gorgeous hanging flower baskets!! The kitty in the back would like the kitty in the front to get off his steps but he's too chicken to tell the other cat directly.
Vicky - thank you
Maureen - I'm going to need to ask for photo verification of the bright orchid pink wall in your kitchen :)
Lavender - thank you. Oooh kitty royalty! Love the rich colours. (yellow, red, green, and blue)
Anghwar - thank you. Hmmm which computer game was that?
Bonnie - thank you. FOUR cats!! Wow! We get a bonus cat - the white with the dark tail - lovely!! The key question, though, is how often do all four tolerate sitting so close to one another? I see that two can take it but all four?
Cathy - awesome pirate kitties! The rear cat looks startled because he discovered Davy Jones' locker :)
Susan - thank you
Lorna - thank you.
Dewi - thank you. The youngest cat is playing "mighty hunter" out in the garden and he's spying on the indoors cat. Aaww, great "I'm being serious!" expression on the dark cat. The only thing you might consider adding is a shadow under/beside the lower cat.
Antiki - welcome to Different Strokes! Hooray for getting all three cats into the same painting. I like the one peeking through the bushes.

Cheers,

[susme48]

Dewi, Very nicely done!! :thumbsup: And thanks!

Antiki, you and Dewi must be on the same wavelength...lol...and both of yours are terrific! :clap:

I finally had some time, and just simply started the black cat over (amazingly enough, even tho' it had been two days, I was able to just scrub the black cat off the table...now I am nervous, cause I did not think you could do that after the paint was dry), and re-did the other two. I like them a little better, and I don't think I can get any more detail with them being so small. It is what it is....:lol: unless someone sees something glaringly bad.

C&C is welcome since I am using this in the festival!

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/21-May-2008/51170-picnic4x.jpg

[Linee]

Great finish, Susan. Such creativity, and well painted.

[susme48]

Thanks, Linda!

Ok, when I look now...the watermelon seems to be floating to one side....lol...sigh....any suggestions?

[Linee]

It looks like it's leaning against the handle to me, Susan. Your call, though.

[ANGHWAR]

Sus this look so much better, that kitty on the table is showing so much character now.

Btw I don't think acrylics are that permanent either. I once spilled something on a completed painting and when I used a wet rag, the color stained the rag slightly so I would say there is definitely a curing period to concider.

[Dewi]

Thank you everyone for your kind comment, appreciate it.

Antiki, they are very cute, I like the one peeping behind the bush, yes I see a bird too, a self-taught myself and my teachers are here at W. C. :)

Susan, nice finish and I think the water melon won't fall it is supported by the basket's handle.

[artastic]

dewi and leona: imagination linked across the miles! what are the odds? great job on both!
maureen: the furbabies are a terror sometimes (the long haired (kaylee) is 10 months old and she torments them all, but she is also the social director and has them all playing together)
EP: all 4 actually co-habit fairly well, (in the same room, but not all on the same couch) but Cleo is the oldest and crabbiest, and lets them know when she has had enough
Susan: nice finish on the cat's picnic

and thanks everyone for your lovely comments

[brusher]

Hi:
Thanks for your comments on the pirate cats! It sure was fun participating in Different Strokes, and a very great learning experience - in fact I'll have to look up some of the older ones in the Archives and keep the new ones in mind!

It's funny, I didn't paint the 3rd cat as I thought he was just plain ugly - but I think he makes the cutest subject for the paintings, now that I see that expression (of disgust, which cats are famous for and so much loved for), it comes through so cute in all the paintings - like being photogenic - or paint-o-genic I guess :)
With that said, now time for C&C (Comments and Congratulations)!! Wow, so many paintings and so many different styles & approaches!

-Susan: I like your cat picnic, and the black one looks much better! Glad that you were able to scrub it out, and if it helps to know, with acrylic as opposed to watercolor, often things can be just "covered up" with light layers. The back cat's (tabby) body and tail (in my painting) were moved several times on the board and are not at all in the position they started out in. A lot of "painting" for me is "correcting the drawing", and in acrylics, it's actually not hard to do that! When in doubt, you can always "paint over" something in acrylics with a little patience. I've been reading the posts about your watermelon festival paintings and wish you good luck - it sounds great!!

- Lorna - Your cats are so soft; I love the green background which really makes the green "pop" in the eyes of 2 out of the 3 cats.

- Gill - I like your cats; it looks like the cat is advancing through the jungle, first at "night" and then "by day"!

Anghwar - I really like those decorative faces peering through the lattice work. Would love to see it when finished!! They look like kittens since the faces are so round & sweet!

- Maureen - Thanks for your hosting and help! Your painting looks like an album cover, a la 60's, with the flora and fauna and the group standing there - There are any number of groups that this reminds me of, in fact the white cat in the back kind of looks like Eric Burdon! (!) Just the attitude and stance :)

- Linda - I love the beautiful colors and fine finish of your painting - you make it look easy! I really like the touch of red on the right to offset the cool greens, blues and also cool browns of the cats.

- Vicki - Great idea - LOLcat - I often look at them and they make me laugh out loud every time! And yours did too! I can has LOLcat!

- Cherm - Your cats look peaceful and yes, I like the small cat peeking through the tropical foliage.

- EP - I like your style and the mint and pink colors you used. Also like the big "cat head" peeking in the window!

- Lillian - Yours is so well-resolved and perfect - And I love the butterfly! Whimsical!

- Cyndi - Your painting looks like a French setting, and the cats look serene. It almost looks like the 1st scene in a movie, which introduces the scene. They look like they are waiting for the return of somebody. Wonder who?

-Michelle - I love your "coronation cats"! At least that's what it makes me think of - they are awaiting their crowns :) Very fairy-tale look.

- Bonnie - What an adorable group of cats you have, and the afghan looks soft & comfortable. I can see why it would have taken so much time - so much detail, and fabrics are very difficult (I think).

- Dewi - Your cats look good and they have a lot of expression - I see the cat on top of the wall has a fish, yes? I like the multiple colors in the white cat, these are the colors we see all popping out when we see "white".

- Antiki - Your cats are very good and I really like the cat peeking out of the waving, winding leaves & foliage!

What a great challenge, it sure has been fun! Look forward to next month's!
Cathy

[susme48]

Sounds good to me, Linda!

Thanks, Anghwar, Dewi, and Artastic!

Thanks, Cathy...I know what you mean about correcting...I spend alot of time doing that...lol. I hope all these watermelons are worth it!

[TheEclecticArtiste]

Hi all
I have mine finished, and scanned it into the computer, but when I go to upload it, i get a message saying either i am not logged in or my browser is doing something with the cookies. When i log out, it says cookies cleared!! What's up with that. Maybe i will get it before the end of the week.

[Charlie's Mum]

Eclectic - try clearing cookies and temporay internet files via Tools and Internet Options - see if it helps.

BUT, also try using the Uploader Tool via Quick Links - that definitely should work.

Failing that, try sending it to me via a PM and I'll add it to your post above :D

Make it 72dpi and no bigger than 500 wide or 600p high. :thumbsup:

[alija1001]

Thanks to everyone for their comments.

[changingpaths]

Thank you to all for you comments. I really appreciate the positive vibes you sent me on this one. :)

Shirl, thank you for the positive reinforcement. I really needed to know what I did was ok and met the guidelines. I really appreciate you responding so quickly and easing my worries. :)

Vicki, Thank so much. so glad you liked it! I worked hard on the composition and leading the eye...probably to the detriment of the Cats. :eek:

Maureen, thank you. Ironically hot and sunny was what I was going for...and I must have created a generic setting...as I made it up and was thinking more about the US Southwest than the Mediterranean. :cool:

Michelle, I love your throne room kitties...especially the one peaking out from under the chair! What fun!:thumbsup: Thank you for the compliment on my setting.

Lillian, thank you for commenting on the steps perspective. I was having a hard time deciding how to get the cats in their perspectives, and knew it came down to getting the stairs correct.:)

ANGHWAR, That you for the comment about the composition. I was really trying to work on that with this piece. I had to do it so quickly, but I really wanted to make it work. I'm so relieved you felt it did!:)

Bonnie, Love the furkids on the afghan. It looks so cozey! :thumbsup: Enjoyed your calling my work the stairway to Cat Heaven.

Cathy, very cute pirates me matey. :) I think my setting must be universal...ooh la la...now it is French. kind of cool. I too thought it seemed like perhaps there should be a person in the scene...love how you described it as a movie scene.

Susan, thank you for sharing the watermelon story.What fun your town must have! I hope all goes well with your family.:heart: ps...the black cat looks fab since you reworked it!

Dewi, Really like the colorations of your bricks. The hair on the cats is really nice also. :) Thank you for the kind comments on my work.

Antiki, Love your little one peaking out of the plant. :p Thank you so much for your compliments. They are greatly appreciated.

EP, thanks for the comments about the planters.Love your narrative of my cats. :D

Thank You's to Lorna & Linda for the positive input on my setting. When you are ad libbing it is twice as nice to get such feedback. :D

Have a great weekend all.

[TheEclecticArtiste]

Eclectic - try clearing cookies and temporay internet files via Tools and Internet Options - see if it helps.

BUT, also try using the Uploader Tool via Quick Links - that definitely should work.

Failing that, try sending it to me via a PM and I'll add it to your post above :D

Make it 72dpi and no bigger than 500 wide or 600p high. :thumbsup:

Thanks

Looked at the uploader thing the other day. on a newbie post. I dont know why it is not working now, since I had to have been able to post a photo before cause I have my tiny head. That was pretty recent. And I have done other photos. Will try again.

Oh and if it makes it easier, just call me TEA.

[TheEclecticArtiste]

Finally!! I was scratching al my hair out! I had changed my edit options to wysiwyg. i had thought i had changed it AFTER I could not get image in. But now, by golly, here it is! Then again, maybe that was not a good thing. Anyway, I had a god time painting it. http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/25-May-2008/1903-kitty.jpg

[eyepaint]

Susan - great makeover of your black and white cat.
Bonnie - aww - I love the interactions between animals in a family. They let each other know when enough is enough.
Cathy - thank you
Cyndi - thank you
Eclectic - what a fun piece! All your kitty needs now is a pair of Drew Carey glasses :)

[lorna12]

Electric...delightful kitties...almost missed the 2nd cat :)...so glad you managed to post it!

[ANGHWAR]

Betty I like how you incorporated the wall in the border. Funny how we see things which is not there, like EP sees those glasses I see a big fat cigar. I agree with EP though, it is fun and happy, colorful and cheerful. I am glad you sorted out the gremlins with the puter.

[antiki]

Thank you. Sorry it took so long to reply, things are so busy around here. Great minds think alike, right! Have a Great Week!

Thank you all for your kind words. I loved looking at all the different ways they were painted. I paint dogs a lot, but Cats are really hard.

Have a Great Week!

[LavenderFrost]

Eclectic, glad you got things sorted out. That is cute and funny!

And thanks to everyone who has commented on my painting.

[susme48]

Thanks Cyndi, EP, and Alison!!

Eclectic...looks like you did have fun!

[Charlie's Mum]

Damn! I posted a reply here earlier and it's vamoosed!

Betty - glad you finally managed to post the pic!
Almost missed that little kitty peeping in at the top - would the Big White not let her in? :lol:
Clever use of the wall pattern - fun painting :D

[artastic]

oh betty what a cute card (he loooks like 'Catmanchu') with his own 'familiar' peering from the corner

[gakinme]

Hi, this is my first time here at the acrylic challenge and Maureen said that beginners may join.

I haven't figured out how to use acrylic totally with all thickness and have so far been experimenting it as if it is watercolor.

I wasn't sure if I am allowed to use extra media such as soft pastel, markers or pen to enhance some details for these challenges because I think this painting would have been better if it were allowed.

Anyway, this is all Liquitex Basic acrylic on canson watercolor paper. 5.75 x 4.5 inch. The other cat is on the right bottom. :lol:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/26-May-2008/86669-acrylic_incense_small.jpg

[Charlie's Mum]

Lol Sandra, that's certainly a different interpretation - I'm still trying to work out where the other ct is .... the black smudge?
Pot plants and smokin' candles reflected in a fish tank, and the cats are eyeing the fish ..... that's it! :lol:
I like the colours very much!
Glad you joined in :thumbsup:

[gakinme]

Ah, no, Maureen. Is it that bad? haha...

It's a temple where the incense are burning in round urns and the other cat is the tail of the black cat. I didn't have enough room to stuff it in.

Thank you.

So are we allowed to use other media to enhance it?

[artastic]

ahso sandra, a temple for our wonderful feline friends, (but the black one isn't sticking around for our adoration)

[lorna12]

lol...what fun Sandra! I was looking for cat-fish!:D Great imagination!

[LavenderFrost]

Very pretty Sandra. Yes, I believe I read somewhere that you can use other mediums too, as long as it's mostly acrylic.

[susme48]

Pretty cute, Sandra!

[gakinme]

Thank you, Bonnie, Lorna, LavenderFrost, Susme.

Cat-fish...hahaha....

I gave the cats another try today. This time there are definitely 2 cats.

It's still all acrylics but I used Sharpie ultra fine marker to help outline because...:p after I did a wash and block the important shadings according to my pencil outline, I completely lost all my pencil outline and couldn't figure out where to do my whites. :p So the whole temple background turned into ad hoc masses and so....

It took me an hour to figure out how to draw the circular brick structures with a perspective and I didn't have the heart to chop it off where the white is but I ran out of the brown that I mixed which took me 2 or 3 tries. And besides, there's the tail I don't want to lose.:lol:

I'm definitely learning by my mistakes.

6.5 x 4.5 inch

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/27-May-2008/86669-acrylic_cat2.jpg

[susme48]

Ooooh, how cute!!!

[ANGHWAR]

Sandra Wow you did 2 and I still haven't finished my first one, I love that kittty peeking over the wall, hmmm would that make him a Peking cat :lol: :lol:

[TheEclecticArtiste]

Eclectic - what a fun piece! All your kitty needs now is a pair of Drew Carey glasses :)[/QUOTE]

Sandra Wow you did 2 and I still haven't finished my first one, I love that kittty peeking over the wall, hmmm would that make him a Peking cat :lol:

oh betty what a cute card (he loooks like 'Catmanchu') with his own 'familiar' peering from the corner

Betty - glad you finally managed to post the pic!
Almost missed that little kitty peeping in at the top - would the Big White not let her in?
Clever use of the wall pattern - fun painting

Eclectic...looks like you did have fun!

Eclectic, glad you got things sorted out. That is cute and funny!

Betty I like how you incorporated the wall in the border. Funny how we see things which is not there, like EP sees those glasses I see a big fat cigar. I agree with EP though, it is fun and happy, colorful and cheerful. I am glad you sorted out the gremlins with the puter.

Electric...delightful kitties...almost missed the 2nd cat ...so glad you managed to post it!

Thank you all. That is all so funny. If I had any color ink in my printer, I would go about copying and adding the glasses and cigar to the copy!! Catmanchu!!!:lol:

gakinme-- i know what you mean about spending time on the perspective. i dont know how many things i have erased and done again when it comes to that

[TheEclecticArtiste]

MAN!! Some very good cats!
Antiki-Adorable
Lorna- Whoah! Great eyes!
Anghwar-Fabulous--Peeping Toms?
Maureen-Love it that the cat in the background looks a bit peeved
Linda-I too like the red. Fabulous personalities
Sus-I have seen this kitty picnic so many times in real life. Excellent
Cyndi-Beautiful spring day. Kitties are resting up for the mice race.
Michelle-Man, I laffed so much when I saw your great painting.I luv! kitties
Bonnie-I miss my kitties so much. You have captured "the cat" so well.
Cathy-Excellent fun pirate kitties.
Dewi-Wonderful white breast. My Snow Kisses was just like that.
Vicki-Only you know it's not finished. It reminds me of an Escher print
Cherm-Excellent fuuuurst attempt
EP-Purfect fauvist impression
Lillian-Left cat says "Pffft, You think you can move me with a butterfly?"

This was such a great idea. Even more fun to read others interpretations.

[Charlie's Mum]

Sandra -sorry not to get back earlier! Lol - incense, of course! I should have realised, knowing some of your other work!!!
I love your second painting - Peking Cat just seeing over the wall! This is even more fun than the first! :lol: .... the wall is really good :thumbsup:.
Yes, additional media are allowed as long as the main bulk of the work is acrylics - say 95%?
I think you'd find it easier to work on a larger scale with acrylics - do hope you keep experimenting with them and bring your work to the forum.

[Charlie's Mum]

Your Galleries, my friends :D

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-May-2008/30494-Gall_1.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-May-2008/30494-Gall_2.jpg

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/28-May-2008/30494-Gall_3.jpg

[artastic]

Sandra Wow you did 2 and I still haven't finished my first one, I love that kittty peeking over the wall, hmmm would that make him a Peking cat :lol: :lol:

so very funny!!! I agree about the kitty peeking over the wall, he is WAY too cute, very nice finish sandra and what FUN

and thanks again Maureen for the fun challenge and the final gallery

[Linee]

Sandra and Betty, good show!

Thanks for all the positive comments. And Maureen, thanks for the gallery. :)

[LavenderFrost]

Nice work on the second one Sandra.

We made a very cute gallery this month. :D

[gakinme]

Thank you, LavenderFrost, Linda, Bonnie, The EclecticARtiste, Maureen for your compliments.

Yes, next time, I would definitely try a larger size and try it with thicker paint.

And thank you, Maureen, for these references. I'm not an animal person and for me to do two in one go surprised me. I look forward to next month's.

[susme48]

Thanks, Maureen!!

[brusher]

Congratulations to all us painters, and thank you for the nice Galleries, Maureen! It's been a great challenge!

Well, now if anyone says, "What's New, Pussycat?", we'll have a smart answer :) (!)

Cathy

[eyepaint]

Sandra - I really like your second cat painting.
Eclectic - thank you :)
Maureen - thanks for the gallery of whiskers and fur!!

[lorna12]

Sandra...I could have sworn that I posted a reply about your second painting because I loved the kitty in the corner! Nicely done!

Maureen....thank you for the galleries...always nice to see them altogether...my, oh my...we are a good bunch of artists!:D

[changingpaths]

Maureen, thank you for the galleries, the support and the opportunity. this was really fun to do. Can't wait for the June challenge. :)

[ANGHWAR]

Maureen, thank you so much for all the hard work you put into the hosting and the galleries. To all participants, you are a great bunch and talented to boot, well done!

[Charlie's Mum]

Thank you ladies :D

Elizabeth has something nice for you later today so I'm looking forward to that.

See you all in the new DS thread :D