Ebony a Black Cat Original Oil Painting by Diane Irvine Armitage

Today's painting is of a pretty black kitty I found on Petfinder named Ebony AKA Eboneezer (love that name!).  You can read more about Ebony here - maybe you can adopt him!  This original oil painting measures 5 by 7 inches and is available on my ebay auctions HERE.

Thanks for taking a look!

Help Marmalade with his Fight Against Cancer - Buy a Raffle Ticket to Win an Original Custom Painting of your Cat - Only $5!!

The raffle is now closed - thanks for participating!

Please join our raffle to win a custom oil painting portrait of your cat - all proceeds from the raffle will go to help Marmalade (of Cole and Marmalade fame) win his battle against cancer.  Each raffle ticket is only $5.00 and you can enter as many times as you like.  Click on the DONATE button at the top of this post!

(Example - custom portrait of my cat Luna)

The raffle will go until midnight November 30th and then Marmalade himself will choose the winning name the following week.

If Marm picks your name, I will have you email me a photo of your cat to paint from and I will paint a custom portrait in oils, either 8 x 8 inches or 8 x10 inches.  You will receive your painting in time for Christmas!

And as a special bonus, Marmalade will choose one more name and that winner will receive a special portrait I painted of our favorite duo - Cole and Marmalade!  This painting is 8 x 10 inches and will also be mailed out in time to be received by the holidays.

Please help our sweet buddy Marmalade and you might win a painting in the process!!
Thank you,
Diane Irvine Armitage
(This raffle is approved by Cole and Marmalade's humans and all proceeds will go to them) - thanks!

Two Headed Black Cat Original Oil Painting by Diane Irvine Armitage

Today's painting is of a two-headed Tish!  I'm going to be using this painting for my holiday window display at my booth, Pandora's Parlor.  Yes, a cat with two heads is going to fit right in with my twisted Christmas theme, don't ask how ... you'll see!

 This original oil painting is 16 x 20 inches and will be available for sale after the first of the year.

Luna My Tuxedo Cat - Original Oil Painting by Diane Irvine Armitage

Today's small painting, 6 x 6 inches, is a study for a large 3 foot by 3 foot painting I'm going to do of my Luna the tuxedo cat.  Luna has the prettiest eyes, they really are the color of a luna moth - that pale greenish yellowish color - so lovely.  I can't wait to try this painting BIG!

My Lou is the sweetest cat with a shy expression - she's a really gentle soul.

Edgar Allen Poe - Black Cat Annabel Lee Original Oil Painting by Diane Irvine Armitage

Today's black cat painting is done from a photo of my customer Patty's beautiful black cat Annabel Lee.  Such a pretty kitty Annabel is!  Just a really striking black cat with lovely green eyes.  Patty commissioned me to paint a portrait of Annabel and this was one of the photos Patty sent me.  A closeup photo to show Annabel's collar, but I just loved the pose of Annabel in this so I had to paint this as well as the commission.

This was the commissioned portrait I did of Annabel Lee for Patty ...

And fun in the studio today as my kitties Tish and Luna explore all the dusty corners whilst I paint.

 The intrepid Tishy, always looking for an adventure.

 Hanging out on Pandora's cat climber.

 And Miss Lou getting her pretty face into the picture.

 

A good day in the studio with the ladies!

Three Eyed Black Cat Painting by Diane Irvine Armitage

Finally the weather is not topping 100 degrees, so back into the studio for some fun.  I painted the blue-green fescue grass that the 3-eyed black cat is looking through.  I'm happy with this one and plan on doing more fantasy and surreal paintings in the future.

This painting is available on my ebay auctions HERE.

3 Eyed Black Cat Original Oil Painting by Diane Irvine Armitage

Here is my progress so far on this three-eyed cat painting.  It is Tish in the garden, but with an extra eye : - )  Once it is dry, I want to add some thin grass in front of her.

 Original oil painting on archival gessoboard, 8 x 10 inches.

Black Cat Original Oil Painting by Diane Irvine Armitage

Back to painting a black cat today.  This one is 6 x 6 inches on gessoboard.

You can find this painting on my ebay auctions HERE.

White Cat with Golden Eyes - Original Oil Painting by Diane Irvine Armitage

Another white cat for today : - )  This time I used a dark background for some contrast.  I had a few panels laying around and I gessoed them white for my white cat series.  Much easier to paint a white cat on a white ground!  Today's painting is 6 x 6 inches on archival gessoboard.

This painting is available on my ebay auctions HERE.

White Cat Painting Number 3 by Diane Irvine Armitage

I think I'm finally getting the hang of painting these white cats.  I'm happy with today's painting, it has the look I was trying for.  Original oil painting, 8 x 8 inches on archival canvas board.

You can find this painting on my ebay auctions HERE.

White Cat with Green Eyes - Impressionist Oil Painting by Diane Irvine Armitage

Wow - white cats are much harder to paint than black ones!  I painted a Facebook friend's cat yesterday, a white cat, because I have been wanting to paint some white cats and now's the time to get started.  Today I painted a white cat from Petfinder.  My first attempt today was a wiper, but I stuck with it and am pretty happy with the results.  I am learning new things and that is what painting is all about.  White cats are not exactly white, more of a nice grey in most areas.  Who knew?  More white cats to paint on the horizon!

This original oil painting measures 5 x 7 inches and is available on my ebay auctions HERE.

Black Cat Extreme Closeup - Original Oil Painting by Diane Irvine Armitage

Today's (and yesterday's) painting endeavor is a very large, 24 x 48" canvas with a closeup of a black cat.  I have painted this cat before (Nancy's cat) and this is a variation on a theme.  Another painting for the booth at Pandora's Parlor.

 You can see more of my black cat paintings on Ebay HERE.

Impressionist Style Black Cat Painting by Diane Irvine Armitage

Another small impressionist style black cat painting.  I am trying to paint softer but still keep things sketchy.

This painting is available on my ebay auctions HERE.

The Cat with Kaleidoscope Eyes - Black Cat Original Oil Painting by Diane Irvine Armitage

I'm really happy with today's painting!  I call it "The Cat with Kaleidoscope Eyes" because of the sketchy impressionist style painting of the eyes.  I like to paint closeup cat faces where the emphasis is on the eyes and keep the rest of the details to a minimum, like today's painting.

I think I will paint this in a large version as well - maybe 4 feet by 4 feet.  That should be fun!  Today's painting is 6 x 6 inches on archival gessoboard and is available on my ebay auctions HERE.

Two Black Cats - Original Oil Painting by Diane Irvine Armitage

Not one black cat today, but two!  This pair of black cats was fun to paint.  I kept the front cat very simple and focused my attention on the black cat in the back that was catching the sunlight.  My favorite part of this painting is the front cat's eye - very sketchy and interesting colors, but quite simple.  This is a larger painting, 24 x 24 inches on gallery-wrapped canvas.  This one is destined for the antiques booth as soon as it dries.

Check out all of my black cat paintings on Pinterest HERE.

BIG Black Cat Painting - Closeup of Cat Eyes by Diane Irvine Armitage

Back to painting some bigger paintings!  Today's painting is 24 x 36 inches on canvas.  Once this one is dry, I will be bringing it down to my antiques booth to hang.  I like to have a dramatic painting at the entrance to the booth to lure the customers in : - )

If you are in town (San Juan Capistrano, CA), stop by and see my paintings in person at The Old Barn Antique Mall.

Antique Impressionist Style Black Cat Oil Painting by Diane Irvine Armitage

Today's black cat painting is very loose and sketchy with a diagonal slant to a lot of the brushstrokes.  I really like combining my favorite parts of a sketch with an oil painting.  Scumbling the black paint on very thin and then coming in with the smaller, sketchy paint lines.  Like sketching and painting, all at the same time!

This is an original oil painting on canvas with stretcher bars measuring 10 x 8 inches and is available on my ebay auctions HERE.

Sketchy, Loose Original Oil Painting of a Black Cat by Diane Irvine Armitage

Another painting of a black cat (no surprises there!).  Keeping it loose and sketchy.  This one has a tail that is moving in the background - fun to do!

Today's painting is 8 x 8 inches on archival canvas board and is available on my ebay auctions HERE.

Black Cat Oil Painting by Diane Irvine Armitage

Today's black cat painting was done with as little strokes as possible.  I just wanted to put the paint where it went and not mess around too much.  I'm happy with the results.

This original oil painting on archival gessoboard measures 5 x 7 inches and is available on my ebay auctions HERE.

Black Cat Impressionist Painting by Diane Irvine Armitage

Another loose, sketchy black cat painting for today.  This one is 8 x 8 inches on archival canvas board.

Click HERE to see my available cat paintings on ebay.

Black Cat Portrait - Original Oil Painting by Diane Irvine Armitage

Another 8 x 8 inch painting today, this one straight on, almost mug shot style!  Working on keeping things loose and sketchy.

I sell high-quality prints of most of my paintings at my antiques booth.  If you are interested in a print of this or any other paintings you see here on my blog, let me know.  They are $15.00 each plus $7.00 shipping.  This painting is available on my ebay auctions HERE.

Cat Oil Painting - Black Cat by Diane Irvine Armitage - Original Art

Well, it was like pulling teeth getting started painting today!  I hadn't done much painting at all for at least a month because I was so busy getting everything packed and ready for the new antiques booth.  So my first attempt at painting today got wiped off - we call that a wiper.  But not to be discouraged, I went in the house and watched some of Susan Lyon's portrait painting video and after watching I was much inspired and made another attempt.  This time the painting worked out just fine.  I highly recommend any and all of Susan Lyon's painting videos - she is an amazing painter and a wonderful teacher.

Today's original oil painting closeup of a black cat's face is 8 x 8 inches on archival canvas board and is available on my ebay auction HERE.

Pandora's Parlor Antiques Back at The Old Barn Antique Mall!

We're back!  Pandora's Parlor is finally back at The Old Barn Antique Mall in haunted downtown San Juan Capistrano.  The new booth is in the second room, just past the cash register area.  Please come down and take a look!  And for those that are out of town, here is a virtual stroll through the new space.  Many thanks to my sisters for all of the help and especially to Nancy for doing all the work in setting everything up!

I have several of my large black cat paintings in the booth.  Here is the huge Tish painting (24 x 48 inches) surrounded by antique funeral vases.

 

 

 Inside the cases, lots of fun oddities and curious collectibles.  Here is Gumby's funeral niche, surrounded by creepy crawly bugs encased in acrylic.

 

 The haunted monkey's paw and three strange old paper mache heads on a tray.

 More wonderful bugs, including several pairs of bug earrings!

 A set of 6 acrylic blocks showing the development of a frog, fun mad scientist glassware, and an antique taxidermy bird form.

 A pair of incredible vintage Wolfman candles, a hand in a box and a taxidermy bird in peaceful repose.

 The much-coveted antique casket shoe display piece along with old embalming instruments.

An antique funeral suit and embalming pump.

 Another funeral suit, this one in the original display box from the 1940s.  Another huge black cat painting and a bobcat taxidermy form.

 The 1920s black cabinet with hand-painted panels of black Bombay cats.  This cabinet is filled to the brim with various skulls for your skull collecting enjoyment.  Notice Resuscitation Anne on the ground - that is a 1970s version with lots of nice guts on display.

 

 A lovely ghostly pale Victorian chair.

 Arts & Crafts era tiger oak music cabinet with hand-painted black cat panel.

 Antique dresser, ebonized with two hand-painted black cat panels.

 Huge black cat painting called "Bad Attitude" and beneath that, a vintage 1960s white satin baby coffin.  Also, a cabinet filled with glow in the dark things, from bug jewelry to Vaseline glassware.

Beneath the strangely glowing cabinet, an antique "Gas X-Ray" sign from an old hospital.  Rewired and ready to light your cozy asylum.

 Inside the eerily-glowing black lighted cabinet ...

 

 

 

 An Effenbee Bubbles baby doll head (Queen of Flora), alongside the Unknown Lady of the Seine and a happily grinning skull.

A full-head casting of an antique death mask, along with a gold-painted death mask.  Freaky folk-art style pug doll and a very scary 4th of July doll.

A favorite area of the booth, the Madame Talbot posters!  Everyone loves Madame Talbot's gorgeous black and white artwork - they are always a big hit with my customers.

 

 I have a black cat theme going on with my booth these days and this antique photo of a young girl holding her black cat fits right in.

 Framed mourning art - a feather wreath, a mourning picture and hair art.

 An antique shadowbox with a casket plaque in the shape of a cross at the bottom.

One of two dead bride Hindsgaul mannequins, with antique Victorian shadowbox with wax orange blossom bridal wreath, along with a pair of small skeletons.

 Beautiful antique box with small drawer for storing your magical supplies.  I painted an original black cat painting for the top.

 Antique youth-sized coffin from the late 1800s with ghostly mannequin inside.

 I have archival quality prints of many of my black cat paintings available at my booth.

And be sure to grab a business card ...

 One of my favorite things in my new booth is this cabinet with all of my antique finds that have a cat theme.

 I have some wonderful art deco cat bookends, there are cat skulls, and some really fun antique ink bottles with black cats on the labels.

 A mummified cat and some lovely antique photos, including the one above of school children playing cat and mouse.

 There is a really fun mid-century modern cat ashtray (see above) with two cats snarling at each other.  That piece is new old stock and mint!

 I found the most amazing old cat postcards, just beautiful images!

So whether you are a cat fancier like me, or just love yourself some creepy antiques, be sure to stop by and take a look at the new booth.  It is full of weird and wonderful finds!!