Saturday, September 22, 2012

My September Nibblefest Art Contest Entry: "The Cheshire Cat"




"The Cheshire Cat", a painted 8" x 9" oval wood plaque......

It's Nibblefest Art Contest Week....!    And as per each and every month, it began on the 20th, with the theme this month being 'Cats'....


(Click to see my 'Cheshire Cat' auction link)


I'd been anticipating this particular theme for a while now.  Though sadly, not because I can call myself a Cat Lover.  Or at least to say, not a practicing one.  On the contrary, I grew up with cats in the house, having always adored my pet felines.  Yet despite being raised with cats, I suffered an adult-onset allergy to them by my early 20's, when I realized I'd mysteriously become highly allergic to my own kitty.  Tragedy!  At the time it felt like a cruel joke indeed.  Still, what could I do but accept it?   Consequently I've spent the many long years since fastidiously avoiding their company, like the PLAGUE, lest I suffer (and badly!)......


The closest to a cat I can ever get...!

No, the real reason I was looking forward to this month's 'Cat' theme, is because I've been hoarding this unusual, 2-piece, cat-shaped wooden plaque for several years now.  Regular readers will recall that these days I use almost exclusively as my painting canvases the old wooden  frames, plaques and such like that I find in second hand shops, or rummage sales, etc (as written about here, and also here).  Years ago, I picked up this particular plaque at the tail-end (pun!) of a community garage sale.  I recall at the time almost leaving it behind myself, because standing there inspecting it, painted as it was in an extremely simplistic, amateur manner, in pastel hues no less, I just couldn't wrap my head around how I would ever go about using it for my own purposes.  Dated in appearance and not my style at all, for once my imagination was not over-riding my doubts.  But heck, free for the taking because the sale was over, and being unable to ever pass up a deal, I schlepped it home with me anyway (only to have it sit around here for an age, gathering dust (which I am ALSO allergic to -- fun times!)....).

And so it was a light bulb moment when I realized the 'Cat' Nibblefest theme was soon coming  and I had the perfect (purr-fect?) excuse to dig out and dust off my funny little, second-hand, cat-shaped plaque.....:


 
Side View showing off his 2-pieces, for a sort of 3-D effect (which I enhanced with painted sides)....

So now I had my painting support -- all good.  But what kind of cat to paint....?  Happily it didn't take long for the ever-grinning 'Cheshire Cat', from Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland', to come to mind.  Of course my followers will know I *love* my classic literary inspirations -- besides, I've always wanted to do an Alice-themed piece, and here was my chance!



Another View to the Side.....

My auction description as follows:


"The Cheshire Cat"  

My entry for this month's Nibblefest Art Contest (NFAC) (~the theme for September being 'Cats', is an original acrylic painting on a 2-piece, 8 x 9 wooden cat-shaped plaque (with the separate 'cat head' glued firmly in place).  'Cheshire Cat' is signed on the front, has painted sides, and is ready to hang.

...........

"....I don't want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.
"Oh, you can't help that," said the Cat,  "We're all mad here.  I'm mad.  You're mad."
"How do you know I'm mad?" asked Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here...."


...So says the infamous and much beloved character, The Cheshire Cat, via what must be one of his best known quotes from the treasured classic, "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland".   The Cheshire Cat, known for his mischievousness, often vexes Alice with his confusing conversation.  He both entertains and befuddles her, all while continuously flashing his highly distinctive, "ear-to-ear" smile.  Who can resist that tricksy, unnerving little grin....? :-D

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(And finally, my usual little blurb about my use of old frames and plaques:


I have recently begun painting almost exclusively on supports I create myself utilizing the old, salvaged, wooden picture frames and plaques that cross my path from time to time (usually for free). I feel good about giving these unwanted homeless items a second life, not only because trees were cut down at some point to produce them, but also because by the time I get my hands on them they are usually destined for the landfil....)


Tuesday, September 18, 2012

A Few Random Fall Updates....




"...Summer's over.  Now it's Fall. 
Just the nicest time of all..."


"Now It's Fall", by Lois Lenski, published in 1948

....or so read the first line in one of my favorite childhood tomes.  Did anyone else have this vintage classic lying around their house growing up?  I so adored it, pouring over the simple/sweet illustrations while reading it over and over -- so that even today, all these years later, I can still recite the thing pretty much verbatim.  Well in any case, it indeed IS Fall.  Shorter days and cooler temps can mean but one thing around here -- Midwestern autumn color is soon to bloom.  May it be good and showy this year. Plus, don't know about you, but I myself am looking very much forward to the imminent appearance of pumpkin-flavored Everything (yummm)....

In other news, my private, youth art classes have started up again this fall.   I do so enjoy working with children -- such a pleasure.  Here are two of my students experimenting with Still Life painting...:

I set up a vase of roses for each...



Working out their compositions...




Acrylic paint on stretched canvas....


This was after a couple of sessions.  Aren't they coming along beautifully...?


Now for some randomness...... 

Rock talk:  I was recently lucky enough to stumble across this pebble below.  Long time readers will understand how thrilled I always am to find special wee 'Rock People' (click to see Rock People gallery here) -- that is to say, little faces and characters in the bumps, cracks and crevices within a rock's natural shape.  Can you not spy the obvious profile in this one, along the left side...?  (with an eye, nose, mouth and nice strong chin?)


A Face in the Rock:  His Left Side....



And his Right Side (again, an Eye, Nose, Lips and Chin.  He's Perfect!


I was thinking at first that he looked like another "Man in the Moon" (much like this little fellow) -- but just today, when taking these pics, I realized there is also an 'Abraham Lincoln' thing possibly going on here, of all things.  Hmmm, an Abraham Lincoln painted rock -- now that would be a challenge....!

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One last tidbit for now.  I want to share with you a fabulous little surprise gift I received from a friend when we recently met for coffee.  She said she had a little something to give to me, but I couldn't imagine what it might be.  How I laughed when I unwrapped this little gem...!

Mini Statue of Liberty, in all her glory...!



Again, long time readers reading this will recall my epic project from a few years ago, back when I was commissioned to create a ten-foot tall replica of the Statue of Liberty, in papier mache, to be shipped 2,000 miles across the country....: 


For comparison purposes, here is my ten-foot Lady, once she was all finished)


While I welcomed the challenge of the Project (having blogged all about it here), and it was fun, I have to admit it was still intense at times, such that by the time she was finished and out the door, it did take some months before I could stand to see Statue of Liberty references and not freak out, if only a little, heh (shudders).  Because I promise you, once you become hypersensitive to the Statue of Liberty's image...?  She's popping up everywhere.  Via commercials.  Movies.  Magazines. Books. Videos.  Ads for the most random stuff imaginable (I swear she's used to sell anything and everything) -- it's clearly not called 'iconic' for nothing.  But while I once had to practically shield my eyes, lol..., the fact that I absolutely adore my Lilliputian Lady must mean I'm in full recovery...!


She really is wee, but nice and heavy for her size (given that she also happens to be a handy-dandy pencil sharpener) ...



It would have been fun to have taken a pic of my two Liberties together, for size reference.  Guesstimating, I figure the Mini might be about the length of my 10-footer's nose...?

As for the Real Deal...?  Gosh I dunno, maybe an eyelash...? 


The real Lady Liberty in her harbor home, in a photo I took from our speeding car on a trip through New York several years ago.  How excited I was to spy her!  (this was well before I had any inkling of The Project, mind)....


And lastly, here I am introducing Little Lady to my pet cockatiel 
(he's not so sure he cares for her very much):

"Hey, what is that thing...?!?"


Also let us not forget that the Nibblefest Art Contest starts in less than two days (on the 20th).  The theme for September is 'Cats' (read about it here) -- here's hoping you'll join us then for a look/see of all the great Cat entries (starting at just .99 cents!).   Note that I've been working on my entry -- check back soon for updates....


Happy Autumn, all (well, all those in the Northern Hemisphere that is)....!