I have heard other artists lament that viewers often complain about the price of their artworks, suggesting that the work is not worth the stated price. I am lucky – I don’t usually get that. Most people recognize the value off my work, even if it is well outside of their price range.
Still yet, I believe art is for everyone, not just those who have a higher level of affluence than others.
I do not want to sell myself short. After all, selling art is my livelihood. But it is possible for me to make artworks in varied price ranges.
I have been making some smaller drawings called ACEOs (Artist Trading Cards) so that my fans can collect smaller, lower priced artworks, yet still enjoy high quality fine art.
The selection above represents some of the ACEOs that are available. There are many more! Each is a separate 2.5″ x 3.5″ drawing. I am selling them for $15 each to help ensure I that I can cover my cat Slick’s future veterinary costs. My hope is to sell a bunch of them, making my work affordable for my fans and making my cat’s vet costs less daunting.
I have created an Etsy shop to make them easier to sell. You can visit the shop here.
Although ACEOs are small, they are still very collectible, and can be framed and enjoyed as great decorative items. My hope is that you will enjoy them, and visit the Etsy shop often. New items will be added all the time. Eventually, I will be adding drawings and paintings as well. Stay tuned!
But Slick is extra special. She has been my faithful companion for 18 years, and she is truly the greatest cat in the world.
Slick with her buddy Bub
Slick has been with me through the loss of our other feline companions, Bub and the original Beezie. She has been with me through relationships that did not last. She was with me when I went to Texas to bring my mother back to Ohio, and she was with me through the challenge of coping with my mother’s Alzheimer’s Disease.
She has been with me through different jobs, a career change, the eventual death of my mother, and other events that both challenged and enriched our lives.
It is hard for me to imagine that such a fun and loving animal came very close to a shortened life due to abandonment before she ever had a chance to bring her immense love to someone.
Slick was found along a riverbed when she was about 3 months old. She was rescued by state wildlife officers who were engaged in a wildlife rescue on the Tuscarawas River. An oil pipeline had ruptured and sullied the waters, threatening the wildlife that lived along the river. I was a volunteer with the rescue effort, and was surprised to find that the officers had rescued a domestic animal.
Slick as a youngster, making a tree out of the cabinet tops.
Slick has tortoise shell markings, which were mistaken for oil by the officers back then. She did not have oil on her, however, she did have an injured paw, which decreased her odds for survival if she had been taken to a shelter. So this wonderful cat came home with me, and what joy she has brought to my life. (Read more about her rescue story here.)
Slick is in the waning years of her life, now. She was diagnosed with chronic renal failure 2 years ago, and her illness has taken a turn for the worse this week. She is not keeping enough fluids in her body, so the vet says I need to give her subcutaneous fluids daily.
I am not looking for a miracle, and I am not looking to perform heroics with her. If I can keep her reasonably healthy and comfortable, though, while she lives out her remaining days, I will do what I can.
Anyone who has pets that are receiving intensive veterinary care knows that this does not come cheap. In order to finance her care, I plan to offer some special deals and arrangements to sell artwork rapidly. Stay tuned.
I am sharing this story now, because it is affecting me deeply, and I feel the need to share with others who have felt similar feelings towards their pets’ care.
The Greatest Cat in the World
I also am sharing this story because many cats have never had the opportunity to love and be loved as Slick has had. Many cats that were abandoned like her make it to shelters, but never find homes.
In my mind, that means that both cats and people have missed out on one of the greatest experiences to be had – the loving relationship between a human being and a cat.
Petfinder has a campaign right now to promote the adoption of cats by encouraging those of us who enjoy cats to proclaim that we are proud cat parents. I am a cat parent to 5 wonderful cats.
Again, all 5 are special to me. Today, more than ever, though, I am proud to say I am a cat parent to Slick, as I cherish every moment that I have left with the Greatest Cat in the World.
Are you a cat parent? See how you can proclaim it and share it in a way that helps cats get adopted here. If you are not yet a cat parent, what’s holding you back?
I remember the state when your wish doesn’t match your opportunities. Men, I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. I always looked with pity at the men who bought the pills along with condoms.
There are many wonderful cats waiting to make your life as special as Slick has made mine.
Brewskie Butt is both my muse and a thorn in my side. He is my feline companion who inspires my artwork, but also gets on my nerves with his crazy antics around my home.
Nonetheless, I love him dearly, and we make quite an artistic team.
I don’t know his actual birthday, but the vet seems certain that he was born sometime in April of 2004. We celebrate his day on April 1, because he is such a fool.
Happy Birthday Brew. May you have many more years of purring and driving me crazy!
The painting above is for sale. It measures 22″H x 28″W and is acrylic on wood. $350 + shipping. Please contact BZTAT if you are interested in purchasing it.
