“The Hunt” Acrylic on MDF, 7″ x 5″

“The Hunt” is the 5th in my Gatti Liberi paintings (see link at top of page). This nameless boy is beginning his nightly hunt, and is just as likely being hunted, since that’s the reality of a free cat’s world. And because he’s hunting in the King’s Woods (my yard), I will call him Robin Hood.

This painting uses a “limited palette” called the Zorn Palette, named for Anders Leonard Zorn (February 18, 1860 – August 22, 1920), who was a successful artist from Sweden. It consists of just two colors: Cadmium Red Medium and Yellow Ocher, plus Ivory Black and Titanium White (both are non-colors). Zorn is known to have used other colors at times, and there are arguments as to whether or not this color palette should be attributed to him. But it is.

This is my first effort using it, and it has some wonderfully interesting features that I have yet to explore. The excessively dark nighttime walls and steps, surrounding the bright splash of light, is what tempted me into this palette.

This painting is available as Note Cards.

“Jimmy” Acrylic on MDF, 6″ x 6″

This is a painting of Jimmy that I did on Thanksgiving morning. It’s the 3rd in my series of “Gatti Liberi” (Free Cats—or strays as we often think of them). I met Jimmy about two years ago when he became best friends with Triangles (see painting #52). Around the beginning of June, after a year-and-a-half of daily morning and evening visits, we enjoyed an especially nice summer evening and the next day Jimmy and Triangles were gone.Jimmy is one of the biggest, sweetest, and friendliest cats I’ve ever known—and whom I hope to see again one day, along with his pal Triangles.

NFS

“Jimmy” Note Card

This painting is available as Note Cards.

“Triangles” Acrylic on MDF, 7″ x 5″

Triangles is the 2nd in my series of “Gatti Liberi” (Free Cats—or strays as we sometimes think of them). I met Triangles on Halloween night almost two years ago.We became friends. She greeted me each morning when I brought her food, and she returned each evening to chatter and play. After my heart surgery, she often walked up and down the sidewalk with me each day to hasten my recovery. About two months ago, we enjoyed the evening and the next day she was gone, and has not returned. There isn’t anything harder than saying goodbye to a friend. Nevertheless, I wish I’d known to say goodbye to Triangles that night.

NFS

“Triangles” Note Card

This painting is available as Note Cards.

“Snowberry” Acrylic on MDF, 5″ x 7″

Snowberry appeared in my life at the same time as Brambleberry, but she never approached me until Brambleberry disappeared. She is no doubt his Spirit Companion still. After two years, she still greets me each morning on the front porch, or sometimes I find her resting in the old MG. This is the 1st of a new and ongoing series of “stray cats” that I meet.

NFS

“Snowberry” Note Card