Adding a newspaper texture to my pet drawings.

Above the fold: pet drawings on a newstype image.
“Favorite Resting Place” Drawing by BZTAT

The Canton Repository, Canton and Stark County Ohio’s long standing newspaper, is celebrating it’s 200th Anniversary this year with a number of celebratory events. One of them is an art exhibit/contest entitled: Above the Fold – Newspaper as Art.

Organizers have asked artists from all over Stark County to submit artworks for the exhibit that somehow include newspapers in the creation of the work, either thematically or in the actual materials of the artwork.

I initially began a collage/assemblage piece using scraps of newspapers and other miscellaneous found objects that I had around the house. The piece is far from finished, and it took a very feminist turn, which is not what I wanted for this exhibit. So I got out my Prismacolor Pencils and markers, and I came up with this cat, inspired by a photo a friend shared on Pinterest.

As I drew it, all 5 of my cats attempted to disrupt my process in each of their individual ways. It occurred to me that these interruptions to my creative process were fitting with the theme. Do not all of our cats attempt to perch themselves above the fold as we try to read the paper?

So you know how I created it… I first saved an image of some nondescript news type and printed it onto my drawing paper. I then drew the cat on top of the news type. From there, I inked in shapes forming the cat with markers. I then added color and texture with the Prismacolor Pencils.

Westie (West Highland Terrier) Dog Drawing by Artist BZTAT
Drawing by Artist BZTAT

I really liked how the texture added to the simple cat drawing. I liked it so much, I decided to draw a dog as well. I enjoy Westies (West Highland Terriers) so I created this one from one of the photos submitted for my Six Westie Portrait Painting.

There is a jury process for the Above the Fold Exhibit. If the piece is accepted, it can be purchased at the Joseph Saxton Gallery in  Canton after April 3, 2015. The framed piece is priced at $100 (size 5″ x 7″ drawing in a 12″ x 16″ frame and mat).

The Westie can be purchased unframed for $50. Let me know your interest in purchasing it in the comments below or send me a message.

I am not certain, but I might explore this direction further with other animals. What do you think?

By the way, I will let you know when the collage/assemblage is completed. it is one of those that will be created in spurts I think.

Life is An Adventure!

BZTAT