Art for the Catio

I am in the process of creating some art for my cats' catio.  I have a lot of ideas and have been working diligently on them.  One idea was inspired by Soo Sunny Park's lovely art installation "Unwoven Light," where she used many pieces of dichroic plexiglass suspended in the open holes of chain link fencing.  When I saw what she had done, I thought how perfect to turn my cat tunnels into works of art!  I used dichroic glass instead of plexiglass because of this being outdoors.

 Here is Morticia looking out of her stained glass cat tunnel.

 I left plenty of spaces so the glass doesn't block the cats' view.

 The dichroic glass changes color depending on your viewing point and also with the time of day and the light.  The squares catch the light and throw dancing fireflies of colored light all around - it is very magical!  And I only attached the squares on the top and one side so they can move and twinkle in the breeze.

Here are some photos of Soo Sunny Park's installation ...

 

 

 

Another part of my art-if-cation plan for the catio was to paint three huge paintings on plywood to go on the fence panels.  So far, I have completed two - a 8 foot wide by 4 foot tall painting of Mortica and a 4 foot wide and 5 foot tall painting of Luna.

 

 So on to more soldering of the dichroic glass squares (lots more!) and another large cat painting and several other fun projects.  I should be finished with it all by early June.

 In the meantime, the cats could care less about art and are just enjoying the great outdoors in their favorite spot - their catio!

Black Cat Closeup Original Oil Painting by Diane Irvine Armitge

I haven't painted in a while!  Time to get back to it.  Today's painting is 6 x 6 inches and is painted from a cropped-in photo of one of my favorite black cats, Cole, of Cole and Marmalade fame.  Cole has beautiful eyes, so I concentrated on them and left the rest very understated.

You can find this original oil painting HERE on my ebay auctions.

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!