bigcatheads ~ the blog

At long last...

2011-02-26T15:39:00.004-05:00

I've finally revamped bigcatheads.com to better show what is available for purchase. Head on over and have a lookie.

New Portfolio site.

2009-05-08T21:30:00.005-04:00

After almost 10 years I've finally updated the old portfolio site (bigcatheads.com). Now you can find the new, more streamlined version over at bigcatheads.com

Waiting for Gov - 60" x 30" acrylic on canvas

2009-02-07T09:45:00.007-05:00

I received some very sad news back over the Christmas holidays that a friend of mine passed away unexpectedly. Govinder Nazran (1964 - 2008) was a very talented and successful UK artist and really good guy. My condolences go out to his wife Sarah and his young daughter Eden. (click for obituary)

I was working on the painting Feeling Pink in the post below when I heard the news and there was something in that piece that almost seemed right for a memorial painting. With a few adjustments this new variation is called Waiting for Gov - 60" x 30" acrylic on canvas. This painting will stay in my personal collection and is not for sale.

Feeling Pink - 40" x 30" acrylic on canvas.

2009-01-04T17:04:00.003-05:00

Feeling Pink - 40" x 30" acrylic on canvas. Not feeling blue - feeling pink. It's an all together different state of mind. I like the super simplicity of this one. Nothing extra, just the big blocky stacked up shapes. They work well with the simple tints of pink.

You Go First - 48" x 36" acrylic variation.

2009-01-01T14:24:00.007-05:00

You Go First - 48" x 36" acrylic on canvas. I've been wanting to do an acrylic variation of the original pastel version (below) for some time. Happy New Year everyone. I sure hope it's better than last year.

Sleepy Face - 20" x 13" pastel.

2008-05-12T12:59:00.006-04:00

It's a combination look on the face that says "how dare you disturb me" and "this better be good". Sleepy Face - 20" x 13" pastel and charcoal on paper. Oh, and this one is dedicated to my ex publisher who always said "don't do green paintings. People don't buy green paintings".

The Weight - 20" x 13" pastel.

2008-05-09T22:46:00.005-04:00

Finally, new work! The Weight - 20" x 13" pastel and charcoal on paper. When the afternoon sun pouring through the window is so thick and luxurious the weight of which pushes you to the floor and forces a nap upon you.

Want - 30" x 36" acrylic.

2008-01-05T09:44:00.002-05:00

First painting of the new year (happy new year to you all) Want - 30" x 36" acrylic on canvas. One of my favourite scenes to paint is a cat looking out the window of his house, this is my fourth variation. We see it all the time so it's easy to relate to the situation and create an emotional connection with the viewer - in this case empathy. When the piece was nearing completion, I was thinking something was missing, some element. But it's that missing element that creates the empathy. The cat is waiting for someone to come home from work, or the cat sees the beautiful day and want to go outside, or the cat sees his nemesis - the squirrel. The missing element allows the viewer to make up their own story and therefore the painting becomes more relevant to them. The stylized planes of colour in this painting indicate dappled light on the side of the house, reflections off the glass and the shadow of a big tree just outside the window.

The Cat's Pajamas - 36" x 36" acrylic.

2007-12-15T00:19:00.002-05:00

The Cat's Pajamas - 36" x 36" acrylic on canvas. A big bright fun painting. I always knew I would do this idea and it may not be the last time either. This painting took an unusually long time to finish. Last week I thought it was done but it wasn't feeling right. As you can see below, the plan was to use the same colour pallete as Tolerance which would've made the fuzzy mice on the pj's really pop but instead it just felt too obvious and forced. It was always intended to be a happy painting and the greys made it feel drab. Today I added colour all through the background and the result is quite interesting. The dark cat and pj background make the cat recede away from you into what looks like a stylized fluffy quilt. I'm liking it today but let's just say I'm not going to varnish this one just yet.

Freddy on the Fridge - acrylic variation.

2007-11-30T11:02:00.001-05:00

Up until now all my variations have been from acrylic works to pastels. This is the other way around. Freddy on the Fridge - 24" x 30" acrylic on canvas. The piece is so highly stylized I didn't include the drawings of Freddy that I did in the pastel version but I did use the shapes of the papers to create some layered depth.

Tolerance - 48" x 24" acrylic

2007-11-18T14:00:00.002-05:00

This painting was great fun to do. Tolerance - 48" x 24" acrylic on canvas. It's peaceful and still but you know there's great tension lurking just beneath the surface. The background of built up overlapping planes of greys further tugs on that tension. I had to be careful to have just the right combination of typical cat aloofness/irritation in the eyes. It's not huge but at 48" wide it's quite impactful.

Even though my paintings are simplified and humourous, I still like to include a basis of reality to ground the idea. If birds would ever be so confident to actually perch on a cat, they would still be somewhat on guard. Below you can see how I added that small touch of reality. In each of the three groups, one of the birds is intently watching the cats face. The solo bird sitting on the cats tail is the main lookout. Everyone else is just doing bird stuff.

Fred & Ginger 24" x 36" acrylic.

2007-10-28T12:16:00.002-04:00

I've been planning to do a companion piece to Bill & Ted and here it is - Fred and Ginger 24" x 36" acrylic on canvas. I think these two originals would make great 'bookend' paintings on either side of a window or bookcase.

Don't Fence Me In - 19" x 10" pastel.

2007-10-14T15:45:00.002-04:00

Don't Fence Me In - 19" x 10" pastel and charcoal on paper. I was so please with the original acrylic version of this, I just had to try a pastel variation.

Back Soon.

2007-09-30T11:40:00.001-04:00

My usual pattern with this blog has been to post at least once if not twice a week. Lately though, I've only been able to post a few times over the last several months. Nothing is wrong and I will be back to regular posting hopefully in a few weeks. Several things have happened though. An old friend from my days in advertising called needing help with some very large projects and the timing was good so I've been doing some of that. I also had a very busy spring and summer and felt like taking some time away from the studio and actually get out and be with people again. Some artists can keep things fresh just by doing wildly different styles but my work is usually more consistent and if I'm not careful can turn into a routine. Also, because I can and often do produce two or three new originals a week, the pressure I put on myself to keep the ideas fresh can be tiring.

My solution to this is to not be so obsessed with one thing and to not be in such a hurry all the time. Once I get back in the studio my plan will be to produce one new painting a week. This will allow me to only paint up the ideas I'm really excited about plus making my originals a bit more of a rarity isn't a bad idea either purely from a business standpoint. It'll also allow me the time to be involved with other creative projects which I've always found a good method to stimulate fresh ideas that I never allowed myself time for. It's an interesting time with plenty of options, all of which are good. Be back soon.

Gallery Cleaning.

2007-09-08T23:29:00.001-04:00

I did a major tidy up over at bigcatheads.com. There was too much older work that had been sold long ago cluttering up the place. And I put quite a few original acrylics in The Backroom to move them out (half price folks).

A Little Leg Love - 20" x 26" pastel.

2007-09-03T13:16:00.002-04:00

Here's a new pastel. A Little Leg Love - 20" x 26" pastel and charcoal on paper. This is the first time I've combined the semi-cubist style of my recent acrylics into a pastel piece. And I like the results. I can still maintain enough precision in the linework (provided I'm working large enough) and the looseness of the pastel within the arcs compliments the style and acts as shadow elements between those layers. I'll be doing more or these. And expect an acrylic variation of this idea at some point in the near future too.

T-shirts.

2007-08-31T20:58:00.002-04:00

I've discovered a new supplier for doing printed t-shirts. Printfection offers all kinds of colours, the clothing is of good quality and most important, their printing is excellent. I don't intend to do a lot of this but I thought Just Passing Through and Don't Fence Me In would look good on some tees. Click here.

Foots - 28" x 22" acrylic.

2007-08-19T12:46:00.002-04:00

Sorry for the lack of posting lately, busy with other projects. I'll be back soon with a new batch of originals. Meanwhile, here's a smallish one I finished a few weeks ago. Foots - 28" x 22" acrylic on canvas. Many years ago I lived with a few buddies in Vancouver. One of them had a cat who would sit exactly like this on a sofa. Usually he rested his one paw on the arm of the sofa but if you sat beside him he'd rest it on your hip. It was hilarious.

Ambush - 24" x 36" acrylic.

2007-08-04T18:58:00.001-04:00

Here's the latest. Ambush - 24" x 36" acrylic on canvas. A dangling tail can be just about the most irresistible thing in the world.

Here it is hanging just outside my kitchen to provide some scale.

And here's a group shot. On the left is Don't Fence Me In - 60" x 36" and back in the dining room is Group Hug - 60" x 48".

The Sunny Spot - 36" x 36" acrylic.

2007-07-23T10:19:00.001-04:00

The Sunny Spot - 36" x 36" acrylic on canvas. This was a bit of a tricky one. From the first sketch right through to the end of the painting process I literally didn't know which end was up. The painting works the way it's shown above, and it also works upside down. Signing the piece would finally decide which way was up. At one point I was going to sign it top and bottom so that the buyer would have the option of displaying it either way. It isn't varnished yet so I still can do that. What do you think. Let me know in the comments if you feel this is a good idea.

UPDATE JULY 24: Yup. I agree it's a fun idea to make it work both ways. It's now signed top and bottom so whichever way it's hung there will be a signature in the bottom right corner. And to make that option even easier for whoever buys it...

...that's right, double wires baby!!!

Don't Fence Me In - 60" x 36" acrylic.

2007-07-21T10:29:00.001-04:00

Here's the latest in my semi-cubist style series. Don't Fence Me In - 60" x 36" acrylic on canvas. It's not really a cubist style but more of a stained glass effect. I find it almost impossible to walk by this painting and not sense your mood brighten. There's a happy, confident feeling radiating from this big boy.

Pussy Galore - 48" x 36" acrylic.

2007-07-12T09:21:00.001-04:00

This one just came together on it's own. No rough drawings, No planned layout. My only thoughts going in were to use tints of my two favourite colours - Naples Yellow and Cerulean Blue. Pussy Galore - 48" x 36" acrylic on canvas. A while ago one of my collectors - Kristen from Nevada, suggested I shoot my new acrylics in a room setting to show the scale of the paintings. Usually I just shoot them outside on my back deck in the natural light, then crop them tight in Photoshop. Even though I always indicate the dimensions, these 'in situ' photos do give a much clearer picture as to how big some of these paintings are and how they can impact a room.

Rainbow Bridge - 40" x 30" acrylic.

2007-07-09T09:39:00.001-04:00

A number of years ago just after my first cat Maxine passed, someone sent me the poem below. I found it to be very moving and wanted to do a painting about it but I didn't have any worthy ideas. Since then I've done a number of sketches and still nothing seemed right. Last week while I was doodling up some new cubist themed layouts, the painting above started to take shape. For me the painting works because of that cubist style influence. There's a built-in unreal magical quality that seems to represent the idea better than anything else I've tried. Rainbow Bridge - 40" x 30" acrylic on canvas.

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Rollypolly - 48" x 24" acrylic.

2007-07-01T14:13:00.001-04:00

Rollypolly - 48" x 24" acrylic on canvas. This is the first in a new series of paintings I'm doing incorporating a simplified cubist style. They'll all be very happy paintings featuring bright colour palettes. Stay tuned for more.

Heroes of the Great Dog War - UPDATE.

2007-06-26T21:20:00.000-04:00

A while back I posted a series of three ink and pastel pieces themed Heroes of the Great Dog War. It seemed to me at the time there was a larger idea lurking. Well, I'm going to do a book.

I have about thirty ideas for medals roughly thought out plus a 'historical intro' and perhaps a dozen illustrated scenes of the troops. There's all kinds of secondary imagery I could incorporate as well like maps and newspapers. If it pans out nicely on the drawing board I might even (stay calm now) do a second book from the dog's side. I'm not sure, if the page count seems thin, perhaps the dog book might be on the back but flipped over.

Will it be an art book or a children's book? I don't know. If it's a children's book, the concept is already in a dangerous territory being a 'war' theme. A large majority of mothers today would never consider buying a book celebrating heroic deeds in battle even if the protagonists are cute cats and dogs. My instincts are to keep the concept as sharp as possible so it feels more like a fun art book. We'll see.

I won't say much more then that for now and inevitably these types of projects change as they evolve so the final may be quite different. If it does turn into a book hopefully my publisher will make it happen or else I'll be shopping it around.

Any ideas, thoughts, half thoughts, jokes or stories would be very welcome. I can't promise I'll use them but hey, you never know.

Camo Cats - 24" x 24" acrylic.

2007-06-22T08:56:00.001-04:00

I did these Camo Cats a while ago as a small series. They're very simple paintings but because of the camo effect, they change their appearance in different lighting situations. In dim light the cat disappears into the background except for the eyes. It's pretty cool. Cat Camo Green - 24" x 24" acrylic on canvas, Cat Camo Purple - 24" x 24" acrylic on canvas, Cat Camo Orange - 24" x 24" acrylic on canvas.

The Silver Paw - 28" x 20".

2007-06-18T22:15:00.001-04:00

I thought The Silver Paw - 28" x 20" ink and pastel on paper from my Heroes of the Great Dog War series, would be an interesting interpretation of the theme 'rejection' for Illustration Friday. (click image to read)

I.F. - The Pacifist.

2007-06-08T09:10:00.000-04:00

The Pacifist - 30" x 36" acrylic on canvas. He seems to be a conflicted kitty.

You Go First - 17" x 11" pastel.

2007-06-07T12:15:00.000-04:00

You go first. No you go first. No you go first. No you go first. You Go First - 17" x 11" pastel and charcoal on paper.

You Complete Me - 28" x 20" pastel.

2007-06-06T13:44:00.000-04:00

You Complete Me - 28" x 20" pastel and charcoal on paper. I got the idea for this piece after seeing a group of small kittens all sleeping on top of each other. They were mostly white with tan patches but a few of those patches seemed to form complete circles because of the positions of the other kittens. Their choreography was excellent.

10 Questions for Russell.

2007-06-06T10:54:00.000-04:00

I've given a number of interviews lately and now it's my chance to play boy reporter.

Russell is the technical director of the Picture Perfect Gallery in London, England. An established family run gallery that carries a wide range of originals and limited editions specializing in contemporary and canine artwork. And best of all, my cats are in there too (ha!).

1) Tell me about your gallery and how did you get started?

Having previously been in another line of work for 20 years, my father took a risk and decided to change direction in 1983. A chance encounter meant he was offered a sales position for a high street picture gallery in London. This company also did exhibition work (displaying their pictures at these events attended by the public) and it was this that my father particularly enjoyed. During a quiet period for the gallery in 1983, my father left the company and formed Classic Designs, which was initially solely exhibition based and originally dealing only in original oil paintings, which were very popular in the UK at that point. He then progressed to selling dog & wildlife prints by UK artist Nigel Hemming, (now one of the UK's premier canine artists and who at the time had just become a published artist) which were bought from Washington Green Fine Art publishers...from there things grew and grew.

2) Most artists have a specific direction they follow as mapped out in their artists statement. Does your gallery have a similar directional plan?

That's a tough question but I'd say the underlying ethos is to offer a friendly customer experience and to maintain the feeling that you are dealing with a family business (which we are) and you are not getting a hard sell - as you may find in some galleries, and we are not trying to meet any sales targets! Also to be informative and offer advice when needed. eg: on mounts (matts) and framing combinations for products etc.

3) How do you go about choosing which artists show at Picture Perfect?

Today we generally choose artwork from the big publishing houses Washington Green, Demontfort, & Soloman & Whitehead Fine Art and we also carry other artwork and originals in our shops which we source at the trade shows or artwork from artists we have had personal dealings with over time.

4) Can you describe your average art buyer or is there such a thing?

I would say there isn't one as such.

5) What are your thoughts on the current fine art market in the UK and how it may differ from the US and Canada?

My knowledge of the US & Canadian art markets is limited right now but I know there are less of the products we sell on our website available over there. This makes sense really as a lot of the artists are UK based who don't have an outlet to sell to the USA, certainly this was the case pre the internet boom in the UK.

6) Is there any advice you can give to artists that are trying to get their work into galleries?

Be creative in your approach to this and try new ways of getting yourself noticed, read around, contact the publishing houses etc if you want to get your work published into limited edition print format. Contact other published or successful artists for advice. Also not all galleries taken on unpublished artists but there are some that do!

7) You've just started up a blog - As one of the very few gallery director/bloggers I've come across, what do you hope to achieve with your new blog?

To be informative and try and transfer some of the knowledge, news, facts and my opinions to the customer and get them to comment/ post back. A customer viewing our website can't attain such knowledge simply browsing images. I am genuinely interested in what customers have to say about the product; it shouldn't be the case that limited edition art is produced and some sell better than others. It's better to produce less but more sought after products!

8) Trends come and go in the fine art world. What trends do you feel are ending and where do you see the future going?

That's hard to answer as we sell such a diversity of products every week. I think more traditional pictures, such as landscapes are becoming more popular and also the genre of contemporary and specifically naive contemporary work, is here to stay.

9) People in the UK seem to have a great passion for their pets and artworks reflecting that passion. Why do you think that is?

The UK has always been a nation of dog and cat lovers and I think more so than say Europe, where unfortunately stray animals are very common. It must be traditional and something that has continued for 100s years in the U.K. I would imagine.

10) Anything else you'd like to tell folks?...

Well obviously I would like them to view the blog (and our retail website!) and ask them to post if possible, I am interested in what they think!

Thanks for your time Russell.

Be sure to visit Russell's new blog and give him lots of feedback or if you're in London why not drop into the gallery for a chat and buy lots of artwork. Here's a map.

Picture Perfect Gallery

71 High Street,
Wanstead, E11 2AE, UK

0845 644 7877
Gallery Website
Blog

Flowery Chair - 20" x 28" pastel.

2007-06-04T13:58:00.001-04:00

The Flowery Chair - 20" x 28" pastel. In this one I'm playing with monotone blues and cyans exclusively to create a cozy textural effect. Look out below.

The Seven Siamese - 40" x 30" acrylic.

2007-06-04T13:51:00.000-04:00

The Seven Siamese - 40" x 30" acrylic on canvas. This painting has been on and off my easel for weeks now. Usually when I start a painting I'll go straight through till it's done but this one had a mind of it's own.

Fine Art Quiz.

2007-06-01T12:08:00.000-04:00

I found a fun and quick quiz to test your instincts for judging Fine Art. Is it a fake or is it Fine Art? (I got 100% heh. What did you score?) link.

White Paw - 18" x 20" pastel variation.

2007-06-01T11:34:00.001-04:00

White Paw - 18" x 20" pastel and charcoal on paper. The original acrylic painting is here. The two variations are very different to my eye with the pastel seeming more tranquil and restive. The acrylic has quite a powerful graphic impact and feels more like a stylized frozen moment.

Upon Reflection and Lush.

2007-06-01T09:34:00.001-04:00

Illustration Friday's topic this week is Your Paradise. I've got two for that. Upon Reflection - 30" x 36" acrylic on canvas (above) and Lush - 48" x 36" acrylic on canvas.

Fatherhood - 28" x 20" pastel.

2007-05-31T10:43:00.001-04:00

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm redoing a number of my acrylic paintings as variations in pastels. Fatherhood - 28" x 20" pastel and charcoal on paper. I've made a few small changes to the background because with the more textural effect of the pastels, I didn't think it needed any more elements competing with the foreground.

Teddy - 20" x 28" pastel.

2007-05-30T14:48:00.001-04:00

You might remember this one. I did an acrylic version about a year ago. Teddy - 20" x 28" pastel and charcoal on paper. I seem to be getting far more requests and interest from galleries for the pastel work. Always being eager to please, this will be the first of many new variations of my acrylic paintings done in pastels. More soon.

500 Years of Women in Art.

2007-05-26T16:54:00.000-04:00

Heads Up - 28" x 20".

2007-05-24T10:32:00.000-04:00

Now where did those little kits get to? Heads Up - 28" x 20" pastel and charcoal on paper.

Holiday!

2007-05-21T14:40:00.000-04:00

It's Victoria Day here in Canada so everything is closed, but it's such a beautiful day I spent the morning working in the backyard. Lily (above) oversaw the whole operation. I'm not much of a gardener but it's feels good to grow things and it's a great space for hanging out when I'm working on new ideas.

Very tranquil.

yes, very tranquil indeed.

I.F. - Sign.

2007-05-18T10:06:00.001-04:00

Keep Off - 48" x 24" acrylic on canvas. Yeah, just like a cat.

I did this painting about a year ago. Why blue you ask? Well, my publisher believes that green paintings don't sell. I'm not sure I believe that but I'm willing to play along.

A technical question.

2007-05-17T14:25:00.000-04:00

Is anyone visiting using Internet Explorer as your browser? If so, is the site locking up on you? I made a few small changes in the template and when I checked it out with I.E. it kept jamming. I haven't used it in years so I'm not sure if it's my conflict or a browser conflict. Anyhoo, the site works just fine in Firefox or Safari. Let me know if you're having problems.

Two Lazy - 30" x 24" acrylic on canvas.

2007-05-16T12:42:00.000-04:00

Two Lazy - 30" x 24" acrylic on canvas. This is now my third variation on this image. Previous ink piece and reversal here.

Big Leap - 17" x 11".

2007-05-16T09:26:00.000-04:00

Big Leap - 17" x 11" pastel and charcoal on paper. Yes, a very big leap indeed.

I.F. - Citrus.

2007-05-11T09:25:00.000-04:00

For this weeks Illustration Friday topic - citrus, I had to go back a few years in the archives to find Fruit Bowl 36" x 36" acrylic on canvas.

A Warning to all Artists and Galleries.

2007-05-09T20:53:00.000-04:00

Over the last few weeks I've been contacted via email by two scam artists. At this point it remains to be seen if they're working together but I think they're just working the same territory. It's remarkably smart and stunningly stupid at the same time.

The smart part is they're targeting independent artists who, on average, aren't the most business savvy group around and they only seem to be after your higher priced paintings. The stupid part is in their sloppiness. The first scam began shortly after the website Drawn did a post about me and sent a ton of traffic my way. Perhaps they're fishing around the artists linked there.

Here's how it works. It's a variation on the ol' Nigerian email scam. You will receive an email from out of country. The writer will be very complimentary of your work and will request prices for a multiple piece purchase. In my case it was for 4 paintings totaling $7000. They will often present themselves as successful business people who are looking to buy artwork for their new home.

Believe it or not I was already suspicious as I regularly deal with buyers and the combination of successful business people and art collectors usually adds up to someone who can communicate with ease and clarity. This email had neither. Clue number two was the email address was simply a gmail account. Artists can be quite vulnerable in this situation as it's never a good idea to begin a potential artist/collector relationship by questioning their honesty.

I provided the total price plus an estimate of my shipping costs (I always allow for insurance and shipping costs in my totals). Several hours later I received a reply approving the price and an enthusiastic green light to proceed with the transaction however I need not worry about shipping because it's all arranged and paid for. I provided my contact details and waited for the check to arrive. The next week it shows up in a (clue number 3) envelope with no return address. The check itself was for $9900 - $2900 more than the quoted price (clue number four). Receiving a check for a larger price than you expected is the single biggest red flag to look out for. He gave me some double talk about his accounting department screwing up by sending me the extra money meant for his shipping company - BUT - I could straighten the whole mess by sending the $2900 overpayment via Western Union to his shipper.

His plan got pretty wobbly at that point as I made it very clear that my bank has a non-negotiable policy for holding international checks for a period of three weeks to verify the funds. He seemed disappointed but said he understood. The very next day he phones me (!) and gives me a sob story that he's having a big party at his new house and would like to have the paintings picked up immediately. Now I got really pissed off with this guy and told him point blank that I would not, under any circumstances, release either the paintings or the funds for his shipper until his check to me had cleared. At this point I didn't care if he was legit or not, he was being a prick. What I didn't tell him was I googled the shipping company and their address and it came up empty.

He's tried calling back each day for a week plus regular emails. He may be stupid but he is persistent. Here are a few more things to be wary of: they will promise a "certified cashiers check" and you will get one with big type saying Cashiers Check, but it isn't certified. The check will also be from a different country than he claims to be from (his was from a Florida credit union) and there will not be a bank address or phone number printed on the check to make verifying easier. Also check to see if the postage is from 'his' country.

I'm only midway through this process right now. My bank has not yet said the check is bad but there are just too many problems with this deal, too many sirens. I was going to hold off on this post until it was official but I received a second email this afternoon from a new scammer trying the same thing. That's why I'm posting this now rather than waiting as I'm afraid this may be a new scam aimed at the artist community. I can just imagine some young artist who is so desperate for not only a sale but a big one, could easily get sucked into this. I'm only going to get dinged 35 bucks for a bounced check but hopefully this might help someone else avoid these bastards.

In the end, I may be wrong but I don't think so. If I am, I really owe thing guy an apology.

UPDATE: 5/10/07 - yup, the bank confirmed it, he's a fraud. Beware of a Mr. Samuel James - samueljames2000@gmail.com

About Painted Edges.

2007-05-09T15:23:00.000-04:00

I was in a gallery the other day looking at some very impressive paintings but was ultimately disappointed because the artist left his edges unfinished. In fact, they were downright sloppy (the style of the work was highly controlled so sloppiness wasn't part of the effect). And they were really expensive paintings too. The artist either didn't care or simply never thought through how the work would ultimately be displayed. I find that stunning.

Ever since I started painting many years ago I've always painted my edges. To me, it takes so little time and it looks good but most important, it provides the buyer with the most options possible for showing. The painting can be hung as is which looks quite clean and neat or it can be framed with any style of frame they wish. Cover it up or show it off, it's their choice. Deep shadow box frames look particularly nice on a painting with painted edges. Plus I always use 2" deep gallery stretchers (box canvases in the U.K.) so the painted edges have a bold, solid feel.

Perhaps this is just my little 'thing' but I'm surprised how often people bring it up, even several reviewers have mentioned it.

Freddy on the Fridge - 20" x 28".

2007-05-02T10:11:00.000-04:00

Freddy on the Fridge - 20" x 28" pastel and charcoal on paper. This seems to be a fairly common position. High up as a lookout and toasty warm on the bum.

Studio Tour.

2007-05-01T13:15:00.000-04:00

It's been quite a while since I showed any studio pictures so here's a whole bunch. First we begin in my painting studio where you can see the paint tends to fly (above). I've got a set of old Ikea curtains up on the wall to protect it from splashes but I also use it to quickly wipe off any hardened 'bits' of paint that sometimes get on your brush. And an old carpet keeps the hardwood floors in good shape.

The reverse angle of the painting studio is were I have a small drawing table. I bought it off Ebay for next to nothing which is a good thing considering I've never used it. And of course the TV which is almost always on in the background. The old shipping trunk contains a ton of misc. art supplies. On the wall to the right is a photo of my first cat Maxine. She was almost 20 when she passed.

Just off the painting studio is a large walk-in closet which is used for canvas and painting storage. The tube rack above is for finished rolled up paintings.

Yup, it's not a surprise to find one of these laying around (Lily).

This is my desk. It's an old steelcase tanker desk from the 50's I picked up cheap. It's built so well, so solid, that it quickly turned into my drawing table for pastels and inkwork.

Here's a nifty trick I discovered. At first, when I was doing a pastel on this table I would tape the edges down to keep it from moving around. The tape would sometimes tear at the paper if I wasn't careful but then I discovered these small round magnets. They're very powerful and come as flat discs. A small stack of three discs on each corner makes a very secure work surface. For really thick papers just add another disc or two to each stack. It works flawlessly, of course, as long as you have a steel desk.

New paintings waiting to be picked up by Fedex. These paintings are being shipped while still on their stretchers which is why they're so big (very expensive) otherwise I would roll the painting up and send it in a shipping tube (much cheaper).

This is my stretching, mounting and assembly area. It's not usually this messy but I've been pretty busy lately. I built the contraption myself with two long folding banquet tables and a piece of durable carpet wrapped over the top surface. On the front I hang a roll of primed canvas which makes stretching a breeze. On the back I've hung a roll of bubble wrap. And if you're shipping paintings around the world you know you can never have too much bubble wrap.

More paintings about to go into storage...

...and another stack of paintings waiting for buyers.

...and a few more.

Reference books, sketchbooks, pastels and charcoals.

Short rolls of canvas for small paintings or pigment tests.

Canvas and fine paper storage.

Acrylic paints and brushes (just the daily use brushes - I have hundreds). Those with a sharp eye might notice a twenty five year old tub of paynes gray on the shelf. It's still good, and I use a small amount in every painting I do.

More reference books and misc supplies tucked away.

Just Passing Through - 28" x 20".

2007-04-27T13:57:00.000-04:00

Number two in a mini series of magical stars. Just Passing Through - 28" x 20" pastel and charcoal on paper.

The Dreamer - 28" x 20".

2007-04-27T10:26:00.000-04:00

What do they think. What do they remember. The Dreamer - 28" x 20" pastel and charcoal on paper.

Group Hug - pastel 28" x 20".

2007-04-23T15:56:00.000-04:00

Group Hug - 28" x 20" pastel and charcoal on paper. I was going through my old sketch pile and I came across the original rough drawing I did for a large painting called Group Hug 60" x 48" acrylic on canvas (shown below). I thought it would work well as a pastel however not in the same colour palette. For the pastel I kept it to golden browns and dirty reds.

Heroes of The Great Dog War.

2007-04-14T14:50:00.000-04:00

Gold Paw - Sgt. Thomas (Tom) Katt - 28" x 20" pastel, charcoal and ink on paper. - Sargent Thomas (Tom) Katt is awarded the Gold Paw for valour in the rescue of civilian felines from behind enemy dog lines. Sgt. Katt attacked the dog house with a deadly combination of hairballs and scary growly sounds. The retreating dogs were heard to say "rot ra rell ruz rat".

Silver Paw - Lt. Puss E. Cat - 28" x 20" pastel, charcoal and ink on paper. - Lieutenant Puss E. Cat is awarded the silver paw for service above and beyond the call of duty during The Great Dog War. Lt. Cat single handedly fought off a brigade of determined beagles advancing on the front yard of the cat forward base. Thanks to the bravery of Lt. Puss E. Cat the dogs were deterred until feline backup forces completed their nap.

Bronze Paw - Maj. Tabby Mckittycat - 28" x 20" pastel, charcoal and ink on paper. - Major Tabby Mckittycat is awarded the bronze paw for bravery in leading a squad of stealth attack pussies against a well defended dog bunker. Alone and at great personal risk, Maj. Mckittycat showed true feline ingenuity by creating a distraction with his big fluffy tail allowing pussycat forces to overwhelm the canine position.

These were great fun to do. The drawing was a quick and loose hairline technique. And I was chuckling to myself all evening as I was writing the awards. I've never seen anything quite like this hanging in a gallery but I think my collectors would enjoy these. We'll see.

Two Lazy - 28" x 20".

2007-04-13T21:23:00.000-04:00

As much as I like heavy black outlines, I also like hairlines, especially reversals. They look so elegant. Two Lazy - 28" x 20" ink on paper. The brutal simplicity is a challenge. I do the rough about twenty times trying to find the most efficient route from start to finish using only one line. Of course it's not possible but it's pretty clean and maintains the illusion. And when it's just one thin line it has to be right. Good thing the slight shakiness adds warmth (humanity) to a cold sterile technique. In this case I would do the reversal of the image in the production of prints. The original line drawing was done in positive (below).

Macavity.

2007-04-13T20:51:00.000-04:00

I don't normally do links like this, but this is just too funny. There's half a kids book already written with the story of a cat who takes the bus to the chip shop. I love it.

link

The Hills of Catilonia - Pastels.

2007-04-11T13:40:00.000-04:00

As promised here are two new pastels in the Catilonia series. The Red Hills of Catilonia - 17" x 11" pastel and charcoal on paper (top) and The Golden Hills of Catilonia - 17" x 11" pastel and charcoal on paper (middle). If anyone would like to weigh in with comments of these two compared to the acrylic The Blue Hills of Catilonia - 48" x 36" (bottom) I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts.

Good Comments.

2007-04-10T19:59:00.000-04:00

There's been a lot of talk in the blogosphere recently about people being rude and threatening in blog comment sections. Mostly on political blogs where opinions can sometimes run hot but I've seen them right across the board even on art blogs. While I get just a small fraction of the traffic the big guys get I'm happy to report I've never received a single nasty comment here at Bigcatheads. There's been a few head scratchers but nothing out of bounds.

I'd like to take a minute to thank everyone for commenting here, I really appreciate it. And specifically in the Meet the Wiskersons post where I showed the same idea executed in both acrylic and pastel. I thought it would be interesting to show both versions but I really enjoyed hearing the reactions to the two mediums. By the time I'm finished painting I'm way too close to the work to be objective. Both have their strengths but I do this for a living so it's always good to know which medium is pushing the most buttons.

Good thing my fingers have now healed with nice thick calluses because it seems people really like the pastels and after a few weeks off I have plenty of new ideas.

New Series - Catscapes.

2007-03-30T14:49:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking of a new series of five or six paintings that use cats as stylized landscape elements. Catscapes will be the series title and this is the first of that series. The Blue Hills of Catilonia - 48" x 36" acrylic on canvas. More to come soon. Comments are always welcome.

Meet The Wiskersons.

2007-03-26T16:54:00.000-04:00

As I was taking some time off to let my fingers heal up from all the pastel work I went back to the acrylics. A pastel piece I had just finished seemed like it would work well for a painting too so I did it up. (top) The Wiskersons - 30" x 36" acrylic on canvas and (bottom) The Wiskersons - 20" x 28" pastel and charcoal on paper.

I'm going to start doing this for any idea I think will work in both mediums. I've been torn lately over having two distinct styles competing with each other, not wanting to abandon the acrylics but push hard into the looser pastel world as well. So why not do both. It's my blog so why not. And it's actually an interesting exercise to see how one idea shifts slightly between the two mediums. Looking at The Wiskersons, the acrylic piece felt that it had to be happier. The technique is clean and bold with bright colours, it's fun. Pastels, to me, feel naturally a bit emotionally darker so I was able to keep the piece more design driven. The relationship of the family re: blue plus yellow for green work better here. It's still a warm family portrait but the emotions work on a more subliminal level.

Bug Eyed - 17" x 11".

2007-03-23T15:25:00.000-04:00

For Illustration Friday topic - I Spy. Bug Eyed - 17" x 11" pastel and charcoal on paper.

Ouch!

2007-03-19T16:30:00.000-04:00

Everything I've read about pastel technique says "don't blend with your fingers", so of course, I blend with my fingers. And I've done so many pieces recently I've worn holes in the ends of my two best blenders. I guess this would be a good excuse to take a few weeks off the pastels and get back to painting before I literally wear my fingers to the bone.

I do have one more piece which is almost done. I'm pretty sure I can finish it off tomorrow with a combination of elbows and feet.

The March of the Blue Cats - 28" x 20".

2007-03-19T09:56:00.000-04:00

The March of the Blue Cats - 28" x 20" pastel and charcoal on paper. It's interesting, when you squint at this piece it takes on the appearance of a landscape - the rolling hills of kittycats.

I.F. - Total.

2007-03-16T09:19:00.000-04:00

All Mine - 16" x 22" pastel and charcoal on paper.

Clown Cats - 28" x 20".

2007-03-13T17:48:00.000-04:00

I was really enjoying doing all the pure black and white pieces over the last month or so but I always come back to colour. And boy, do these guys ever jump off the background. Clown Cats - 28" x 20" pastel and charcoal on paper.

Huddle Up - 20" x 28".

2007-03-13T17:41:00.000-04:00

Huddle Up - 20" x 28" charcoal and pastel on paper. I found an obscure Korean soft pastel/charcoal stick for the background blacks in this piece. I don't know the brand but they're black like a bottomless pit. In this case it helps to create the right mood for these kitties plotting their strategy.

Lonnie - 17" x 11".

2007-03-06T16:49:00.000-05:00

Lonnie - 17" x 11" charcoal on paper. He just kinda looks like a Lonnie to me.

Midnight Rendezvous - 20" x 28".

2007-03-02T13:15:00.000-05:00

Hiding in the shadows late at night, all kinds of interesting things go on. Midnight Rendezvous - 20" x 28" charcoal on paper.

Illofriday - Hide.

2007-03-02T07:26:00.000-05:00

Domestic Forest Cat - 30" x 40" acrylic on canvas. Cat's are masters at hiding and camoflage. Or at least some are...

Lazy - 26" x 16".

2007-02-27T11:52:00.000-05:00

Lazy - 26" x 16" pastel and charcoal on paper. When cats are really lazy they seem to structurally fall apart. Almost like big blocks tumbling over.

Cozy Corner - 25" x 18".

2007-02-27T09:19:00.000-05:00

Cozy Corner - 25" x 18" pastel and charcoal on paper. I used a new way applying the pastel this time where the colour is smeared loosely all around the paper (eg - push some background colour into the cats and then push the cat colours into the background walls and floor). I hadn't thought the pinks would go well with the browns but with this smear technique, I think you could make anything work together. See detail below.

Does My Bum Look Fat? - 25" x 17".

2007-02-20T18:22:00.000-05:00

Lily was 20 lbs but now she's down to about 16 lbs. A few more to go. Does My Bum Look Fat? - 25" x 17" pastel and charcoal on paper. For Illustration Friday - gravity, nuff said.

It Was a Rainy Day - 18" x 25".

2007-02-20T09:44:00.000-05:00

Today, it feels a bit like spring is right around the corner. It Was a Rainy Day - 18" x 25" pastel and charcoal on paper. This one has a nice soft feel about it and I'm quite pleased with the overall colour. I've included a detail (below) to show that softness.

Switcheroo - 11" x 17".

2007-02-16T10:52:00.000-05:00

The ol' Switcheroo - 11" x 17" pastel and charcoal on paper. Bet he didn't see that coming.

Pastel Infopallooza.

2007-02-13T17:12:00.000-05:00

I've been taking a break from my normal acrylic on canvas routine to concentrate on working in pastels. It's been years since I worked with them and the more paintings I do the more technique possibilities I'm discovering. Always wanting to speed up the learning curve I went to a bookstore today to buy some books on pastel technique. I managed to find one small book which looks ok but seems incomplete. When I got home I did a little googling and found quite a few websites that offer everything you'd ever want to know about pastels and how to use them.

Check these out:
- squidoo.com
- art show
- wet canvas

Art Prolific Interview.

2007-02-13T13:56:00.000-05:00

I was contacted for an interview not long ago by a another painter named Robert Hurd. He's quite a fine artist himself and is just starting up a new website resource for artists called Art Prolific. It seems we have similar styles and not surprisingly similar influences, namely the work of Norval Morrisseau. The site is just getting off the ground and I'm the first interview. Thanks Robert.

Let's Get Along - 17" x 11".

2007-02-09T13:00:00.000-05:00

There's just too much arguing and fighting going on these days. Religious, political, cultural. Everyone needs to just chill out. Let's Get Along - 17" x 11" pastel and charcoal on paper.

Kits with Mitts - 26" x 18" in four steps.

2007-02-08T13:24:00.000-05:00

Kits with Mitts - 26" x 18" pastel and charcoal on paper. That would be kittens with big mitts (paws). Huge awkward paws on tiny kittens are hilarious especially when they're white. Below you can see how this one came together in four steps.

I make the initial drawing on a piece of 30" x 22" rough-toothed pastel paper. Then I take a medium density charcoal pencil and draw over the pencil lines smudging and working the charcoal line into the paper with my fingers.

This piece has a very simple colour palette of white, gold ochre, yellow ochre and burnt sienna (light). First I put in the spots with gold ochre making sure I smudge the colour right up and into the black charcoal lines. The pastel and charcoal will begin to blend together.

Next I add in the background. Again, making sure to blend the colour into the charcoal. The yellow ochre goes well with the gold ochre spots and is just dark enough to make the white cats really punch off the background.

Lastly, I add my final blacks and clean up the details. The first black charcoal linework by now has faded since the other colours have been worked into it. Going back over will make them crisp and strong again. The new black also gives me an opportunity to create my final shadows and smudges. And this is the time to clean out all the unintentional smudges that may have gone into the white areas. After that I dot the eyes and I'm done (after about five light coats of pastel fixative).

All Mine - 16" x 22".

2007-02-08T10:19:00.000-05:00

Spoiled, greedy, self-absorbed little beggars. All Mine - 16" x 22" pastel and charcoal on paper. I've done this idea a few different ways before but I think this one may be my favourite. It's funny, cause it's true.

The long tails.

2007-02-06T10:42:00.000-05:00

All Excited - 36" x 36" acrylic on canvas. This is the painting I finished on the Daytime TV show last week. It's also the one I mentioned a while back as the acrylic partner to Mr. Frisky Tail (below). Same basic subject idea but the styles are so vastly different. And as I like both styles it's hard for me to pick a favourite. Which do you prefer hmmm?

TV Show.

2007-02-03T11:04:00.000-05:00

I was on Daytime yesterday morning. It's a local live morning show broadcast through Durham region just north of Toronto. They asked me to do a little painting so I brought an almost completed acrylic piece to finish on the show. Several other pieces were used for background as well. Everyone was very nice and accommodating. The shows hosts George and Julia asked questions while I worked which was an interesting experience. I've never painted on camera before, let alone live, all while answering questions that required some thoughtful responses. It's a bit like the ol' rubbing your tummy while patting your head. Everyone seemed pleased so I guess I didn't say or do anything too embarrassing. I've been interviewed on TV many times in the past during my advertising career so I'm pretty comfortable doing them. As long as I can babble on about something I'm passionate about it's usually quite a fun and positive experience. My only regrets are that, as usual, I wasn't thinking as a blogger which explains why I didn't take any pictures at the studio plus the program was repeated twice more yesterday afternoon and evening and this post is too late to alert anyone to watch. Sorry bout that, next time.

Red Flower - 11" x 17".

2007-01-26T08:57:00.001-05:00

This week's Illustration Friday topic is 'Red'. Here's a red flower, on a purple hat, on a orange cat (I'd better stop now before I turn into Dr. Seuss). Red Flower - 11" x 17" pastel and charcoal on paper.

Backstretch Bob - 11" x 17".

2007-01-19T14:59:00.000-05:00

I was just finishing up this piece and was thinking he reminds me of a 'type' -- All the guys I used to see hanging around the racetrack. Backstretch Bob - 11" x 17" pastel and charcoal on paper.

I.F. - Super Hero.

2007-01-19T10:11:00.000-05:00

On guard against all who would raid his food bowl. Superpussy - 17" x 11" pastel and charcoal on paper.

I Got U Babe - 25" x 17".

2007-01-18T20:50:00.000-05:00

I tried to capture two things with this piece. A warm moment between mom and kitten but also the implied threat mothers project while protecting their young. I Got U Babe - 25" x 17" pastel on paper.

Homies - 17" x 24".

2007-01-17T15:29:00.000-05:00

What's the gang up to when you're out at work? Just hangin' out. Homies - 17" x 24" pastel on paper.

Mr. Frisky Tail - 11" x 17".

2007-01-14T22:04:00.000-05:00

What an excitable fellow. Mr. Frisky Tail - 11" x 17" pastel and charcoal on board. I'm also working up a larger painting of this idea which will be posted in a week or so. It's not the same shape or colour palette but I like where it's going too. It'll be interesting to compare the two styles for energy and impact.

New Pastels.

2007-01-14T11:08:00.000-05:00

As promised, here are some new pastel pieces I've recently finished. After being so precise, so controlled with my painting, I just love the roughness of these. The Four Lads - 17" x 11" pastel and charcoal on board (above) and I've Got Your Back - 22" x 14" pastel and charcoal on board (below) and Bug Eyed - 17" x 11" pastel and charcoal on board (bottom).

Rebel Without His Claws - 24" x 20".

2007-01-09T14:38:00.000-05:00

Here's a tough little kitty about to take on someone obviously much bigger than he is. Too bad he's been 'disarmed'. Rebel Without His Claws - 24" x 20" arcylic on canvas. As much as I'd like to take credit for the name, I can't. An old writer buddy of mine named Joe Hash came up with that gem.

I.F. - Buzz(ed).

2007-01-05T08:32:00.000-05:00

Catnip Effect #1 - 48" x 36" acrylic on canvas. This of course, is the real reason they sleep all the time. They're all buzzed on catnip.

Kitten Caboodle - 40" x 30".

2006-12-24T12:21:00.000-05:00

Kitten Caboodle - 40" x 30" acrylic on canvas. Caboodle is one of those wonderful words which seems nonsensical but it actually means 'the whole collection' as in 'kit and caboodle'. I know this because I just looked it up. Till then I actually thought the expression was 'kitten caboodle'. Heh!

Study for Bill & Ted.

2006-12-22T15:57:00.000-05:00

The above is a quick study I did while working up the painting Bill & Ted. I'm really happy with the final piece but I'm also quite pleased with this study. It's been years since I've worked in pastels but it sure was fun. My acrylic painting work is always so precise, so planned out that there is little surprise or spontaneity but working in soft pastels reminded me why I liked them so much years ago. If fact, in the new year, I'm going to start producing some new pieces created specifically for pastels where I can really get in there and muck around.

I.F. - Peace.

2006-12-22T09:00:00.000-05:00

For this weeks I.F. topic - 'peace' I had to go back about a year for this one. The Passenger - 36" x 24" acrylic on canvas.

I.F. - Help.

2006-12-15T09:02:00.000-05:00

Walkies - 36" x 24" acrylic on canvas. Have you walked your cat today? Need Help?

Bill & Ted - 24" x 36".

2006-12-13T11:02:00.000-05:00

I'm quite happy with the simplicity of this piece. I love how the linework flows around the dogs ears and up to seamlessly form the outline of the cat. Then the tan tones brings the cat and dog together into a single unit. Bill & Ted - 24" x 36" acrylic on canvas.

More of the same, only different.

2006-12-08T10:21:00.001-05:00

Mr. Red - 36" x 20" acrylic on canvas.

Mr. Brown - 24" x 20" acrylic on canvas.

Mr. Blue - 20" x 16" acrylic on canvas.

Mr. Purple - 24" x 18" acrylic on canvas.

Mr. Grey - 24" x 20" acrylic on canvas

The Blues Brothers - 12" x 24" acrylic on canvas.

Yes, more cats, big surprise eh. However these cats are different. More square, smaller eyes, which allow me to create more of a range of expressions and unexpected fun. I'm also doing these paintings smaller than my usual. Most of my originals are sold throughout the U.K. and many of the homes there are small cottages with limited wall space. Hanging a huge painting can be a challenge if not outright impossible so these are in a range of sizes that should be able to go just about anywhere.

These new cats are also a start point for a new flavour of work. Many of my past works had been growing more and more cartoon-y which was a natural result of trying to be funny. I like funny the way I like a good steak, I just don't want it all the time and this style of painting has more potential to be serious too (as serious as big headed cats can be). I will go into more specific backgrounds and scenes over time. The hatched backgrounds on the works above seemed like a cool way to introduce the new look.

I.F. - Mask.

2006-12-08T09:14:00.000-05:00

The Mask - 36" x 36" acrylic on canvas. Hey, where did the cat go?

Living Dangerously - 28" x 22".

2006-11-27T07:41:00.000-05:00

Let's hope the giant monster dog isn't hungry. Living Dangerously - 28" x 22" acrylic on canvas.

Cat Sounds - 30" x 12".

2006-11-26T11:14:00.000-05:00

I'm always amazed at the range of little sounds that cats make. Some almost seem musical. Cat Sounds - 30" x 12" acrylic on canvas.

Topsy Turvy - 24" x 24".

2006-11-22T19:07:00.000-05:00

If I hadn't signed it in the bottom right corner you could hang this painting four different ways and it would still work. Topsy Turvy - 24" x 24" acrylic on canvas.