Tag: cat art

“Night Fishing with a Cat Named Antibes” – A Narrative Cat Portrait of Sorts

Painting by artist BZTAT in tribute to Picasso's painting "Night Fishing in Antibes"

One could argue that all art is serendipitous in some way. No matter how well planned out an artwork might be, there is always an element of chance that brings about a surprising outcome. Some artworks are more serendipitous than others, though.

Such is the case with my recent painting, “Night Fishing with a Cat Named Antibes”.

I created the piece for a show that I curated at the Massillon Museum in Massillon, OH. For my parting act of a two and a half year stint working at the Just Imagine Gift Gallery in Canton, OH, I coordinated the “Artist to Artist” project that resulted in a fascinating display of artwork from various artists in the community.

The “Artist to Artist” exhibit paired noted professional artists in the local community with nontraditional artists from the Just Imagine Gift Gallery in a unique collaborative arts experience. The Just Imagine Gift Gallery is an arts program offered by Twi that empowers adult artists with developmental disabilities to explore their artistic talents. Although they are not as well known as their counterparts in the exhibit, these creative individuals are true artists with amazing talents. 

I have long thought that the artwork from the Just Imagine artists could hang next to that of any other artist in town and hold its own. This show proved it.  

Over a span of a few months, professional artists met with JI artists, and they studied each other’s works, learning about each other’s techniques, styles, subject matter, and purposes. They shared ideas and inspiration. Then they returned to their separate studios and created new artworks, each inspired by their encounter with the other.

I was one of the professional artists as well as the curator for the project. “Night Fishing with a Cat Named Antibes” was my piece created out of the experience.

My paired artist, Scott, creates colorful paintings full of whimsy and narrative storytelling. He also draws heavily upon references to Picasso in his works, and he often has leaves playfully placed throughout his landscaped compositions. I wanted to incorporate all of those influences into my artwork. It was a challenge. My works tend to be snapshots in time with simple shapes and composition. Adding narrative, references to Picasso and a more complicated composition pushed me to a different level.  

I channeled Scott’s fascination for Picasso by studying two of the master’s artworks. First I looked at a painting Picasso had painted of a cat, (of course I HAD to paint a cat!), and then I looked at one of my favorite artworks by the artist, “Night Fishing at Antibes”. I looked at many of Scott’s paintings, as well. I created a fantasy-like landscape, as he often does, and I added many leaves, fluttering about in the painting, in the same way that Scott often paints in his paintings. 

The cat is a bit different than my usual fare, as I added the Picasso-esque style. I made the cat with tortoiseshell markings, because torties have natural Picasso-esque faces. I also added textural elements to make the piece come alive. The title is a play on words with Picasso’s painting title.

Now for the serendipitous part. On the day before my last day working at Just Imagine, a strange sequence of events occurred that, completely by chance, brought the painting around full circle.

Early in the day, I had stepped outside to greet a coworker who had stopped to pick up my mail. As we talked at the curb, a man came from across the street and said, “Excuse me, but a cat just crawled up inside your van’s engine block.” We went to the van and opened up the hood, and I crawled underneath to see if I could see a cat. I could not. As we walked back to the building, however, a woman on the sidewalk said, “That cat just ran inside.” I had left the door open, and apparently the cat saw an opportunity.

My coworker and I went inside, and we looked and looked, but we could not find a cat. I began to believe that this whole cat tale was a myth.  But when I came in to open up the next morning, which was my last day there, I heard, “Mew! Mew! Mew!”

A cat named Antibes
Antibes in the Just Imagine back room

All day, we heard the mewing, but we couldn’t see the cat. Finally, I moved some things around in the area where the mewing was coming from, and a brownish ball of fur shot out like a rocket! The cat scrambled around the studio floor, and it found its way to the back room. I got a look at it, and SHE was a beautiful little tortie girl that LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE THE CAT I HAD PAINTED THE PREVIOUS WEEK for the “Artist to Artist” exhibit!

Ending my work at Just Imagine was very hard for me. Working with that amazing group of artists was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. The last thing I thought I would be doing on my last day there was chasing a cat around the studio. But serendipity happens when you least expect it.

I have many wonderful memories from working at Just Imagine. And now, purely by chance, I also have a Cat Named Antibes, whose portrait I painted before I even met her. It certainly was a surprising outcome that has taken me on a whole new adventure.

A Cat Named Antibes - BZTAT
A Cat Named Antibes

Life is an Adventure!

BZTAT

 

 

Creating the “Oh My, Mia Meow!” Children’s Picture Book

Much of my summer has been dedicated to writing and illustrating the “Oh My, Mia Meow!” Children’s Picture Book, which I hope to finish this month. I have been spending a lot of time creating paintings that will tell the story along with the written words for the book. Each illustration is a 30″H x 40″W acrylic painting on textured wood. I thought I would share the first eight illustrations and basic story line to give a glimpse into my creative process for the book.

1-Mia-Meow-book-illustration-window-scene-LR

In the beginning of the book, Mia Meow, a small cat with big dreams, looks out a window from the inside of her home. Although she loves her home, she longs for adventure, desiring to play with the squirrels and birds that she sees from her inside perch.

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Mia Meow lives in a creative place with her human companion who is an artist. Her particular art tends to be creating havoc!

1-Mia-Meow-book-illustration-pouncing-crayon-LR

In a bout of mischievous play, Mia Meow discovers a red crayon on the floor. She whacks the crayon around the floor as cats will do…

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…and then she hits it so hard, it sails through the air onto the table. On the table is a collar and a piece of paper.1-Mia-Meow-book-illustration-scribble-LR

Being a curious cat, Mia Meow dons the collar. Cats are not naturally given to drawing, but with the collar, she feels a creative impulse that she has never experienced before. She begins to draw with the crayon. As she draws, she discovers that the collar has given her magical powers, and her drawing comes to life off the paper!

“Oh My, Mia Meow!” Children’s Picture Book Illustration Squirrel and Bird in tree

Realizing that she can bring her imagination to life, Mia Meow uses her crayon to draw the squirrel and bird that she had dreamed of earlier, watching from behind her window on the inside. Mia befriends the bird and squirrel that she has created.

“Oh My, Mia Meow!” Children’s Picture Book Illustration Farm animals

Next, Mia Meow creates a farm, drawing a cow, a pig, a goat and a chicken, and she enjoys visiting her new friends.

“Oh My, Mia Meow!” Children’s Picture Book Illustration Forest animals

After visiting the farm, Mia explores the forest, creating more new friends, including a bear, a raccoon, a skunk, a fox and a rabbit.

Mia has a few more adventures ahead of her, and new friends to meet. Stay tuned for more illustrations and more of the story!

The book and the illustrations should be completed within the next month. My plan is to have the book self published and ready to have preordered copies shipped before the 2016 winter holidays in time for gift giving.

You  can preorder copies of the “Oh My, Mia Meow!” Children’s Picture Book  here. All hardcover preorders made before 9/15/16 will include a pdf copy emailed to you for mobile device reading.

Life is an Adventure!

BZTAT

Coloring my own coloring book art.

Just Meowin' Cat Coloring Book for Adults
From “Just Meowin’ with Brewskie Butt” Coloring Book by BZTAT

I am often asked for materials recommendations for coloring the pages in my coloring books. I am not sure that I am the best one for making recommendations, as I color my drawings in a manner different than most people would choose to color. Even so, I thought I would share my process of “coloring” my drawings in case you’d like to try some of my techniques.

I begin my drawings by filling in shapes and areas with permanent markers. This step is my first layer of color.

Markers only
Markers only

As I do with my paintings, I begin with a layer of color that will change when I add subsequent layers that either contrast or visually mix with the underlying color. My choice of marker colors is determined by years of experience experimenting with different color combinations.

I use permanent markers that are less likely to fade over time, such as Prismacolor Art Markers and Sharpies. Crayola and other less permanent markers can be used as well, however, they do tend to fade.

After bBrewskie-Butt-okey-coloring-book-page-colored-prismacolor-pencil-BZTAT-croppedlocking in colors with marker, I go over the different areas with Prismacolor Pencils. Prismacolor pencils are very soft and waxy. Unlike other colored pencils, they “sit” on top of the underlying color in the way that a crayon or oil pastel “sits” on the surface of a colored paper. A light color on top of a darker color stands out, giving a very soft but rich texture as well as a unique color effect. Also, some colors visually “mix” in the way that paint on a palette does, again, giving interesting color and textural effects.

As you can see in the inset, I colored over a darker orange with a yellow, leading to the two colors visually “mixing” and creating that characteristic Brewskie Butt ginger color. A red pencil over a purple gives a different “mixing” effect. Yellow over an aqua blue creates a unique green. White over light blue brings out a light/dark contrast, making the two cats’ white fur have more texture and interest than if they had just been left blank.

Just Meowing' Cat Coloring Book for Adults by BZTAT
Uncolored
Markers only
Markers only
Just Meowin' Cat Coloring Book for Adults
Pencil over marker

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my process for creating finished drawings. The entire process can take quite a long time, and it may be a bit laborious for a coloring book page. It might be fun to give it a try, however. I suggest that you do some experimenting on scratch paper before coloring in a drawing with these techniques. On your scratch paper, color in some areas with different markers and test out different Prismacolor pencils over them to see how the two layers interact.

What is your favorite coloring technique? Please share in the comments!

Just Meowin' Cat Coloring Book for Adults

My finished coloring of the drawing of Brewskie Butt and Okie watching birds on a wire is available for purchase ($60.00). The 8.5″ x 11″ drawing was created on Bristol Board and comes with a white mat. Click on the “BUY NOW” button below to make the purchase.




Learn more about my “Just Meowin’ with Brewskie Butt” and “Artist BZTAT’s Color Me Cats” coloring books here.

Just Meowing with Brewskie Butt Cat Coloring Book for Adults

Artist BZTAT Color Me Cats Coloring book for adults

Life is an Adventure!

BZTAT