Palette knife kitty- starring Millie


After several technical glitches and delays, I finally got to paint online last night with some awfully patient friends to chat with. I'd changed my mind about working on the current commission, as it would mean carrying a wet painting on the bus to the gallery- something I've done, but would rather avoid. So I was going through my reference folder with the viewers and showed them a photo of my cat, Millie. Sue Bailey, a pastel painter friend from Austin, suggested that I paint Millie with a palette knife- that's how this painting came to be. In the photo, Millie's feet and tail can't be seen, so I made them up. This morning I realize Millie has white feet. I'm actually thinking about changing them, but will need to wait until the paint has set up a bit more. I did make up a white-tipped tail as a compositional device to direct the viewer's eye back into the painting. There was no black used in this painting. It's all a mixture of red, blue and green. Since I painted on a grey-toned canvas panel, I couldn't just scratch down to white to make the whiskers, so had to use the palette knife. Much harder!
When I paint with a knife, it always leaves me wanting to do more. It's an exercise in letting go, that's for sure!

12 comments:

myra anderson said...

I used to have a black and white cat like this named 'Tasha'. This is beautiful!

Debbie said...

Susan, I loved watching you paint with the palette knife, and listening to your decisions about color and composition while you paint adds so much to it. Your kitty looks just like mine, she also has white feet, white chest and chin. (debra716 on ustream)

Shelley Bittick said...

I love your palette knife paintings and this one is fabulous!

Diana Marshall said...

wow you did this with a knife, amazing! Brilliant.

Ann Rogers said...

What a great painting, the palette knife gives so much depth to the subjects, especially the sunflowers. Love it!

CandynRA said...

Oh Susan...Millie is a beauty! Fooey...I was gone and didn't get to sit in on this one. I hope you taped it. I'll check. I would like to, some day, try painting with the palette knife. It looks fun! I sure do like this one...fabulous job!

Karen Hargett said...

Too cool and I love the flowers too!

Barbara Muir said...

Gorgeous Susan,

You let go with amazing grace I must say.

xoxoxoxoxBarbara

Jo Castillo said...

Nice work on this. I like the lost edges on the background flowers and vase.

r garriott said...

Oh Susan! Just wonderful. In addition to Millie's rapt gaze, I love all the colors that make up her white fur.

Gwen Bell said...

Dang! I missed watching. Your knife work is wonderful...and the perfect tool to create those great sunflowers and the thick fur on Millie. Love it!

Peggy Montano & Paintings said...

Love it. sorry I missed this, please do a palette knife painting again soon.