"Bandit" (oil on stretched linen; 12" x 9") sold

sold

"Bandit" was commissioned by Patricia for her friend who lost this handsome cat last year. He was fourteen. It is my first tuxedo cat portrait and I enjoyed painting it.

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

sold

"Hobbes" is for Robin. Hobbes, an American shorthair, had globe-like eyes with such an interesting mix of color. And he had age freckles in his nose. Robin has had many cats in her life. It's been four years since he passed, but none of them will ever be as cherished as Hobbes.

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

sold

"Binx" was commissioned by David. Binx is a 8-year-old Siamese and she loves outside (David and his wife have 7 cats and she is the only one that goes outdoors). She is a typical loving, cuddly Siamese. She loves to sleep under the covers when they go to bed and stays there the entire night.

In the reference photo, Binx was lolling under the Christmas tree with a scarlet tree skirt amidst gifts, as if she was inspecting them. I love the luxurious feel of the portrait!

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

sold

"Penny" is for Samantha, who commissioned the portrait for her friend as a surprise gift. Her aging cat loves being in the sun, so Samantha thought a portrait of the cat lying in the sun would be particularly fitting. I chose such a reference photo, but curled the tail so that it would fit in the picture and, at the same time, wouldn't lead the viewer's eye out of it. I love the way light plays on the plush leather seat on which Penny is lounging!

"Merlin and Blarney" (oil on linen canvas; 12" x 12") sold

sold

The double portrait is for Tania and based on a 17-year-old photo of a poor quality. I couldn't really see the black cat's features, so had to make up! Merlin (black) and Blarney (tuxedo) were brothers and were considered domestic long hair. The vet thought that they may have some Maine Coon in them, as they were big, playful and vocal cats. Blarney especially almost seemed dog-like with his affectionate personality, sleeping and drooling on your pillow, or joining you in the bath or the shower. Merlin was a little more reserved, but still affectionate. They were good brothers and used to sleep together and groom one another.

They were born under a friend's front porch on a farm, and Tania adopted both brothers. They were playful and funny. Merlin was a better hunter and would catch birds like robins, but brought them home still alive. Blarney was a little lazier, but wanted to hunt like his brother. His hunting, however, seemed focused on butterflies. He was so proud of his catch!

Tania still has Merlin, though he is 19 and recently had surgery to amputate most of his tail. She lost Blarney 10 years ago. I hope the double portrait brings back happy memories to Tania and her family.

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

sold

"Sweetie" is for Anne who commissioned the portrait of this gorgeous cat for her hair dresser.  She had also given him the kitten.  The gift of the cat and her portrait!  Wow, he must be a special friend.

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

sold

"Lucy" is for Vaughan.  Lucy would have been 12 years old next month. She went missing in December.  She was five in the picture.  She was a Siamese, and was very playful as a kitten. She was very cuddly and "tuned into" the family.  So sweet and gentle with our son when he was born, she loved to jump in his crib and cuddle.  I hope this portrait of Lucy comforts Vaughan's family in their loss.

"Jake" (oil on linen; 8" x 8") sold

sold

"Jake" is the second painting for Joel.  Jake is a Norwegian forest cat, which surprises Joel, because you would think that he would like the cold.  But Jake seems to like hanging out under the heater duct now that the furnace is on.  He is getting on in age and spends a great deal of time asleep, but is very awake when it is time to eat.  He thinks that his humans' meals are best accompanied by fur from his large fluffy tail!

"Lola" (oil on linen; 8" x 8") sold

sold

"Lola" is for Joel, who commissioned two portraits of his girlfriend's cats.  Lola, the Himalayan, is the vigilant guard cat and likes roaming around the house looking for squirrels and birds out the window.  She was born without a tail, but has a little nub that wiggles a lot.

When Joel first met her, she was shy, which was probably due to the fact that she was brought into a house in which the other cat, Jake, had preceded her for several years.  Now that they've moved into Joel's home, the two cats seem to be on more of an equal footing, and Lola is much more extroverted.  She even jumped on Joel's desk to help him pick which photos to send!

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

sold

"Tinkerbell" is for Dara.  Tinkerbell is a 7-year-old orange tabby domestic shorthair.  Dara adopted her as a kitten when she was in college and was dating her boy friend John. Tinkerbell blended into the family when they got married in 2010.  As Dara and her husband have no children, Tinkerbell is like their child.  She is energetic, loving, silly, and vocal. Everyone who meets her loves her instantly; she is not a typical cat that only wants affection on her terms, but is more like a puppy that constantly wants your attention and love.

She talks to John and Dara when they come home, she sits between us on the couch and sleeps between us in the bed!  Her "motor" purrs so loudly that you can hear her across a room.  They have nicknames for her, but "Pretty" is the one John uses the most.  Tinkerbell is a daddy's girl!

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

sold

"Kitty" is the third and last painting for Diane, who commissioned the portrait for her 82-year-old mother.  Kitty is a 7-year-old American shorthair tabby cat.  You can tell by the tip of her left ear, that has been snipped when she was fixed.  Even though Diane's mom says that she doesn't like the cat, when she can't find Kitty, she panics.  Kitty follows her around like a dog!

Collage of my August Paintings

Collage of My August 2014 Paintings

I was very productive last month.  Painting almost everyday, I created 20 paintings!  I feel a great sense of achievement.  Now tell me, which is your favorite painting?

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

sold

"Kitty" is for Melissa.  Sebastian, usually called Kitty, is a six-year-old flame point Siamese.  He is a rescue cat and was found by a police officer on a street of Chicago.  Melissa and her husband purchased him the day after they got married, so he is their honeymoon baby.  At the age of three, his bladder became blocked; he was close to death several times before finally going through surgery at a veterinarian hospital.  It was a traumatic time, but completely worth it.

Kitty is a scaredy cat and is slow to warm up.  He is also the sweetest cat Melissa has ever owned.  He loves to snuggle and follows her and her husband from room to room.  He talks a lot, especially when he wants food!  He is a master at finding the most comfortable place to take a nap.

The client sent me 10 photos, of which I picked this one.  I cropped and Photoshopped it, and decided which elements to keep and which to edit out.  I transferred the image to the Belgian linen panel I prepared (I use Claessens #66) with raw umber paint.

The transparent underpainting.
  

I started with the easiest colors in the opaque painting stage.

I mixing colors, I always look for the subtle warm/cool variations as well as light/dark ones of a certain color family (hue).

"Blue Eyes" (oil on linen; 7" x 7") sold

sold

This gorgeous white cat with extraordinary blue eyes makes me understand why the Ancient Egyptians were nuts about cats.  The cat belongs on a pharaoh's lap!

"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!

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

sold

"Zoe" is for Mary Anne.  Mary Anne inherited the six-year-old Siamese cat from her old aunt who had her for two years before passing.  Zoe is very sweet at home, but turns into the cat from hell at the vet!

One curious fact about Zoe is that she likes to get in the sink.  In one picture she was indeed poking her head out of the sink.  I loved the expression on her face, so I pasted the head to the body of another picture, in which she was looking down from a sofa.  As I told Mary Anne, I combined the sofa cat's body with the sink cat's head!

By the way, I was very happy to accept this commission, because, for whatever reason, I haven't been able to paint too many cats.  Sure, you cannot play Frisbee with a cat or take a cat for a walk, but cats have such elegant forms!

"Felix" (oil on linen; 6" x 8") sold

sold

"Felix" is the second painting for Holly's family.  Felix is a 16-year-old tabby cat and is missed terribly by her grown-up son, Simon, who has moved out of the house.  Obviously, the painting is for Simon!

In the reference photo, in which Felix is sunning next to the fire logs, there was a blur of something, sticking out of his right ear, catching light.  I couldn't figure out what it was until Holly explained it to me.  The little tufts of hair extend from the tips of his ears, and are one of his distinguishing features.  Otherwise, he'd look like any other tabby cat.  Boy, I am glad I waited for this communication, because I was going to edit them out!

If you send your pet's pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com, I will make beautiful pet portraits out of them.  How fun is that!  Besides, my pet portraits make perfect birthday and Christmas presents.  Thanks!

My readers, in case you didn't notice, I have created a new page on my blog, called "Pet Portrait Orders".  You will find all the information you want to know about ordering a pet portrait.  Please check it out.

"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!

"Maxi" (oil on linen; 7" x 5") sold

sold

"Maxi" is for Elizabeth.  Poor Maxi died 3 years ago and she misses him very much.  He loved to be tickled in the belly.  He, however, didn't like to be photographed; seeing the camera, he would shut his eyes.  Elizabeth did a terrific job of taking his picture, don't you think?  I bet this is what most cats do when their parents are gone--look outside on the window sill, waiting for them to return.

If you send me your pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com, I may make paintings out of them.  How fun is that!  At the end of September, I will do a drawing and one lucky person wins a free painting.  You can buy the painting anytime, but there is no obligation.  Thanks!

It's Day Six of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 Challenge.  Only 24 more to go!

"Merchant" (oil on linen; 5" x 7") sold

sold

"Merchant" is for my good friend and fan, Ruby.  She sent me many pictures of her three cats, among which I chose this classic pose of the beautiful cat.  He is a 13-years-old brown tabby, adopted from a shelter.  Merchant is a great companion and loves to sit in your lap when you sit down.  That's how he won Ruby's husband (a dog person) over by running to jump on his lap!

If you send me your pictures to kimstenbergart@gmail.com, I may make paintings out of them.  How fun is that!  At the end of September, I will do a drawing and one lucky person wins a free painting.  You can buy the painting anytime, but there is no obligation.  Thanks!

By the way, today is the Day 2 of Leslie Saeta's 30 in 30 Challenge.  Two down and 28 to go!