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....)