New Painting: Too Much Tuna

This painting features a rare glimpse into Pistol's life. Most of our photos of him are crap, due to him being an indoor-only cat -- and due to the fact our house has poor lighting in the room he's normally in -- we always have to use a flash. Which distorts his colors and features. With him being a solid black cat, it makes it even worse!

Allyson had captured the below photo of him on Paul's bed. He was sitting (laying?) is his OH-MY-I'M-SO-STUFFED position. Despite the fact he doesn't eat tuna fish or anything other than his normal cat chow, I could "see him" with an empty can of tuna to go with his bloated look in the photo. So I decided to do a painting of him -- in the way I thought the scene should look.

I've titled this painting "Too Much Tuna". Cards, prints and other cool gifts are available at the GalleryJai.Com shop on Zazzle.

Cat Painting #11, Listening...a black cat painting

Pistol, our black cat, loves to sit on the kitchen chairs and catch a little sunshine. On this particular day, he was listening intently for the sound of our German Shepherd coming down the hall. See, they have this little game they play...it's one of chase, and they've played it since Max was a pup. Two and a half years later, nothing's changed...Pistol still sits in the chair, his gaze fixed on the hallway and his ears listening for the sound of those dog toenails. :)

This painting was a tough one for me...it's been so long since I've painted a solid black animal, which, of course, is NOT just solid black. There are so many colors involved. After I got my brain wrapped around the direction I needed to go, the painting went smooth and fast. I think Pistol looks very handsome in all his colors. :)

This painting is available here:

Listening, oil pastel on board, size 8x10" $100

Cat Painting #11, black cat portrait in progress

Today I'm working on a black cat portrait. It's been a long time since I've painted a black animal - which any artist knows, doesn't involve *just* black. :) There are many, many colors in the fur of a black animal...it's just a matter of being able to see them. He's coming along pretty good so far. This is our black cat, Pistol. He's an indoor only cat, so most of the photos I have of him are not so hot....plus he doesn't like to pose for me, which makes it difficult. As usual, it's challenging, which I love. :)

Ho Ho Ho! I AM Santa Cat.

Since Bill *forgot* (ahem) that we have *5* cats...I thought I'd better post a photo of the big guy who stays hidden indoors. This is Pistol - seen only about once a year. Sorta like Santa, ya know? :)

Black Cat Deep in Thought

Allyson go this great shot of Pistol (our indoor cat) sitting in the sun recently. I never noticed the little pattern around the edge of his eyes before. It's amazing how a photo can help you notice things you didn't know were there!

Allyson found some craft doll hair in a drawer here. What in the world I was ever going to do with that hair, I don't know. I think it came in a lot of stuff I bought on Ebay once. Anyway, it's been here for years. Poor Pistol was snoozing in the living room chair last night, and Allyson thought it'd be cute to see what the hair looked like on him. Needless to say, Pistol looks less than thrilled!

Here Max is checking out Pistol's new "do". Pistol is looking even more ticked off now!

And here he finally escaped, ditching the hair and getting down behind the chair where he wouldn't be bothered. "I cannot believe you did that to me," he says, under his breath as he gives me the evil eye. :)