Sur Rue Claude Monet, Giverny

Sur Rue Claude Monet, Giverny 8x10in. Acrylic on stretched canvas

“Sur Rue Claude Monet, Giverny” 8x10in. Acrylic on stretched canvas.

I visited Giverny, in Upper Normandy, France. Giverny is the birthplace of Impressionism and was the home of Claude Monet from 1883-1926. This window overlooks the street named for Monet, and is just a few blocks from his house. It was overcast and chilly on this particular morning in October, and hot coffee was the order of the day.

This place, sadly, has been remodeled since I was there. It was at first a country grocery, then a cafe-bar during Monet’s time, and now a bed and breakfast called “Le Coin des Artistes.” I’m glad I came across it before the renovation.

The title translates to: “On Claude Monet Street, Giverny.”

$180

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The Hunt

the hunt, acrylic on mdf, 7" x 5"

“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.

Brambleberry

This painting is available as Note Cards.

brambleberry, acrylic on mdf, 6" x 6"

“Brambleberry” Acrylic on MDF, 6″ x 6″

This painting of Brambleberry is the fourth in my series of “Gatti Liberi” (Free Cats—or strays as we often think of them). He was the first of the Free Cats to visit me regularly. He was shy, but tough. It wasn’t until he met my daughter that he allowed himself to be held and cuddled. Once he became comfortable around me, Brambleberry taught me something I should have learned long ago: to just lie back and watch the clouds go by, which is what he’s doing here. He has a Beethovenesque seriousness about cloud watching.

Brambleberry disappeared about 5 years ago. His spirit companion, who arrived about the same time as he did, is Snowberry, who still visits me each day.

NFS

brambleberry note card

“Brambleberry” Note Card

This painting is available as Note Cards (4-1/4 x 5-1/2″). Note Cards can be viewed and/or purchased here: “Brambleberry Note Cards” (Secure Zazzle page will open in new tab.)

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Awakened

awakened, acrylic on mdf, 5" x 7"

“Awakened” Acrylic on MDF, 5″ x 7″

So many things are beautiful while sleeping—children, woodlands, animals—and magical when they awaken! This kitty’s barely open eyes are like a blue sunrise.

NFS