"Francis" (oil on linen; 8" x 10") sold

sold

"Francis" is for Mike DiCenzo.  Mike commissioned the painting for his friend, John, who just got a cat that he loves.  When I saw the picture of Francis, my heart melted, so I can believe why this cat is special to John.

Francis is a six-month-old kitten of an unknown, but beautiful, breed.  I asked Mike about Francis's fun facts.  In my mind, I could see him scratching his head.  How would he know much about his friend's cat?  He said that Francis likes to spoon with John!

I have a fun fact about Mike for you.  He is a writer on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.  So is John, by the way.  I am feeling famous, painting for famous people and all.  Hahaha!

"Figaro" (oil on linen; 7" x 7") sold

sold

Figaro, who is all eyes and ears, is a short hair domestic.  He is a black (except tiny white spots on his belly), spunky, lovable, and talkative cat.  He started off as the runt of the litter, a bottle baby brought to the shelter without a mother, but he is now larger than his litter mates.  He is raised with two small dogs and he thinks he is Number One.

I don't usually paint a footwear in a pet portrait, but made an exception in "Figaro."  He was sitting on Christina's foot, not wanting her to move.  Initially I was going to edit out the blue jeans and sneaker.  As I was composing the painting, I realized that without the vertical plane of the leg, the dark shadow with a pointy ear on the left wouldn't make sense.  The blue of the jeans also matches the otherworldly, beautiful blues of Figaro's eyes.  Besides, the cat on the foot has such a narrative power that it makes me giggle.  I remember carrying my daughter hanging onto my leg when she was little.  You can tell Figaro is very much loved!

"Sheba and Shaman" (oil on linen; 6" x 8") sold

sold

"Sheba and Shaman" is for Patricia and happens to be my first cat painting! Both are Maine Coon cats.  The black one is Sheba, who is seven years old.  Patricia and her husband bought the white one for her as her "boy toy".  When their 26-year-old cat, her constant companion, passed, she grieved so deeply that they had to find poor Sheba someone else to love.

His name is Shaman, two years younger than her.  He was supposed to be a show kitty, but was sold as a pet, because he didn't "meow." Patricia often finds them "holding paws."  Both of them play fetch, and Sheba will even take a small ball in the glass shower and play Jai Alai.

If you would love to see your beloved pet painted by me and shared on my blog and Facebook page, please email me at kimstenbergart@gmail.com.  Send me a picture or two, preferably taken in natural light without flash.  I will do a drawing at the end of September and give one painting away!