The Cat Calls
Today I have to finish up a cat portrait.
No excuses.
The cat portrait has sat around unfinished for about two years.
Now I must finish it by next week to be transported to its requester
by someone who will be traveling across the country to visit his sister,
whose cat it is.
In my gyrations to get this cat down in pastel and watercolor and ink,
the face has (since this photo) taken precedence and become too large
for the body.
A week ago, I removed the bottom part of the painting (by overpainting the surface with appropriate absorbent gesso for watercolors) and we are here now (see below) but without
whiskers and specific strokes where you see white sketch lines.
And now, for the second time in my life, I am pressed for time to finish.
I like to sneak up on paintings.
I like to find (or put) myself in the proper mood/roll/mental place, and with enough freedom to stay with the painting until it is really done, which usually happens when I am alone in my own space and with open-ended time.
Pause….
And here I am back at the computer looking for a photo I just took and put on “My Drive” but I can’t seem to lift it from there to here.
During the pause I photographed the current painting and also visited with someone who takes care of things around the house and who brought me some pretty herbs and such to plant outside. We talked and laughed and she happened to see the painting I was about to work on, and loved it.
There went another hour. Now it’s time to fix lunch. Sigh.
Attempt at a promise: Abby, you will be here on the work table when I finish lunch. I will TRY to stay awake after lunch instead of crashing as I usually do.
Sigh.
Postlude: The cat goes to the framer today. Sunday May 2, and will then be UPS-ed to Abby’s “mom” in time for Mother’s Day. POW~ DONE!!!
