Labor Day 2016. Friends, painting is not labor. The fun and enjoyment derived from the hours I have in my studio can’t be measured in time or money. Truly, we all know the phrase ‘starving artist’ – well…yes. But I am full in many other ways – and one of those blessings is being able to share my work with you.
Let me know what you think of this new style I am working on…it is from my Foxy Lady line.
Ranger is in the house.
Some good-byes in life are easier than others are. When my husband threw away his cigarettes twenty plus years ago I did a dance of joy at the farewell party. Other partings are much more difficult. Like saying goodbye to my friend, Jan Plasterer, when for seven months in 1996, we were aware that breast cancer had written her exit scene.
What amazes me the most is that as we hurtle toward fall 2016, we will not just be bidding adieu to another summer but one that was an awesome gift from God. As summer passes most people send it off with a super duper farewell scene called “The Last Rites Of Summer”, which happens over the Labor Day weekend. Whatever you do over 2016 Labor Day, enjoy the weekend and be safe.
Sharing with you some of the doodles I did over the summer. I tend to doodle with brush, paint and pen and ink…enjoy!
Doodles using watercolor brush and ink
This painting is of a wandering cat; originally a barn cat, who has adopted a beautiful family. They named him Yellow Cat. He has been coming and going from their backyard for a long time. He is somewhat tame with the female of the household but still a bit shy and wary towards other people.
When I began painting Yellow Cat I thought about his life and how he has managed to thrive and be loved again.
I hope you enjoy the painting and this story, written for cats, but applicable to all of us.
How to THRIVE – from the Sweeney Cat Handbook
In rapidly changing economic times your family lost their home and moved away leaving you to fend for yourself. World news continues to worsen, you’ve lost your home, your warm bed, and your loved ones.
What can you do?
TH – THINK
Lick your cold paws, put on an air of dignity, and think – do NOT panic.
You live in interesting times. Take Advantage of it! Just think and map out a strategy.
List scary “what if” questions that are your fears.
Are they real? They won’t go away until you face them BUT they don’t need to rule your life
Instead….
R – Regain
Regain control of your mind set. Stop the ‘gee, ain’t it awful thinking’ as you stare at the backdoor that is not opening for you to run through.
Find the positive in your situation and regain control over your fears and frustrations.
Most important:
regain control over your surroundings, your life and how you think about getting fed.
I – Investigate
Check out your neighborhood – what is going on there? Explore each backyard with a positive, investigative mindset.
Think about how each homeowner’s family might affect your future.
You are now THINKING and REGAINING
You are beginning to THRIVE !
V – Victory
Expect Victory. Expect to find a new warm bed. Plan to head-butt a family you love and who will love you back with warm food and loving strokes.
Don’t make it all about food – but keep in mind people love to feed stray cats so take advantage of that even though you are not “stray”, you must admit you are wandering. Victory cannot come without acceptance that things may never be the same again; you will have to make new friends and learn to trust again.
E – ENJOY
Accept that things have changed for you but don’t allow the loss to be overwhelming. Remind yourself that true enjoyment cannot happen in a negative bubble. You are, for the most part, a positive critter finding enjoyment in little things like watching humming birds bathe in the waterfall of a KOI pond. As you sit by that KOI pond you may not realize that your new human love-squeeze is watching from the kitchen window….relax you’ve mastered the lesson:
Thrive……Not just stay alive….Thrive …
Yellow Cat
Thanks so much to a good follower who commissioned me to paint her friend’s two dogs, Daisy and Fenway. I’m sharing that painting with you today as a reminder that your pets on one of my Tote Bags can be a real conversation starter PLUS you can be reminded of your fur babies no matter where you go. Totes come in several sizes….check them out at my on-line store http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-kathy-sweeney
Totes come in many colors and several sizes.
Haven’t posted here for some time….helped my husband run for Congress and rather ignored the rest of my life. Finally relaxed and began painting again. Now many orders are coming in for prints and also for pillows. My paintings make beautiful and fun throw pillow keepsakes. Check out my store at http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-kathy-sweeney
Today’s post is a new style I have been toying with. What do you think?
Ms. Ladybug wakes the sleeping Princess Pookie
We are avenues of love to others who come and go in our direction. And like a country lane, over time we change. For example in the springtime of youth, when we are colorfully fresh with bright rosy cheeks, we are teeming with new growth. As we mature our outward physical growth appears to stop as we, like the lane, bask in the splendor of abundance. In the summer of life, we give back to others like the trees of the lane give a home to birds and wildlife.
Soon there is a chilling wind that changes the leaves from green to glorious colors and they begin to drop away in a transformation that only God can do. At the end of our life-cycle summer we begin to transform and to realize the importance of life as we cling to our “leaves” of hair, teeth, bones, friends, money…..
And when winter hits the country lane is white with snow while the trees stand quietly waiting. When our winter comes, we too turn white of hair and quietly wait for our final transformation.
Remembering The Dogs of 2015 contest….and our winner is……
MAC — the “streak” who went home to be with the Lord on August 13, 2015 at the ripe old age of 15. While here he lived with Jim and Suzy West who loved to run with him every day. Mac, a Sheltie, was so loving that he even loved the cat (she loved him too). He gently carried her around the house in his mouth!
Besides winning the Sweeney Art Center contest, Mac’s other accomplishments include being featured on the cover of the Gospels of John, one of his papa’s ministries. As our winner, Mac will be featured on a greeting card which will serve to raise funds for animal shelters in three states; Texas, Montana and Florida.
Congratulations to Mac’s family and friends. Thanks to all who voted.
Mac
Some memories are happy; some memories are sad. Some are good and some are bad. When it comes to memories of our canine friends all of these remembrances are tossed into one wonderful bundle of fur. Memories are why I love to paint my friends dogs; especially the happy memory it creates for me, knowing the person smiled when they viewed my “interpretation” of their furry friend.
Over the last few months I have painted 12 pooch portraits which I am sharing with you today. Please take a moment and VOTE for your favorite. Scroll down to see all 12.
How to choose? Maybe one makes you smile, perhaps you like the colors I used or maybe there is a resemblance to a doggie friend …….just make a choice.
The winner will be featured on a greeting card which will raise funds for animal shelters in three states. Texas, Montana and Florida.
How to vote? Two ways: Leave a comment here on the blog site or email sweeneyartcenter2@yahoo.com and type in the name printed below the painting.
CLICK PICTURE TO ENLARGE – USE BACK BUTTON ON BROWSER TO STAY ON PAGE
Winner will be announced on October 21st so please vote now, vote early and vote often !!
Shelter Friends
Chloe
Buster
Georgia
Ms New York
Frenchie
Mac
Sequel
Sophie
Rover
Dusty-The Babysitter
Puppies
Today I offer you a painting that was inspired by a memory that my husband shared with me about his family dog. Dusty was a golden retriever with a very big heart that reached out to not only the family but beyond.
When the neighbor’s cat had kittens she would always leave them unattended and crying. One day Dusty went over to the neighbor’s back yard and cuddled the kittens. They clung to him and he nuzzled and licked them like they were his own. When the roaming mother cat came back and saw this she hired Dusty right on the spot. Every litter there after she would run over and meow at Dusty who would dutifully babysit her brood .
You can see why I call this painting “The Baby Sitter”.
The Babysitter
My mother passed away when I was eleven leaving her grieving family to raise a 5 year old boy. It was a collective effort but when I remember back it seems I was the “motherly” one. However, not sure about that, because knowing that Dad would never, ever go to a Cub Scout meeting; I too, wouldn’t consider interrupting my girlie life for such a thing.
But I do remember one very touching day when my brother, then 10 years old, was walking home from school and spotted a cat sitting in the middle of Hiway 72, which ran through our little Montana town. He brought the kitten into our house and excitedly said “She was asleep on the Hiway. I could barely see her – she looks just like the pavement! Can we keep her? She could have been hit by a car.”
It was my assignment to talk to Dad for permission and winning that battle made me somewhat of a hero in my brother’s eyes. We named her Amy. She was a cute little thing, all grey and furry.
I don’t remember what happened to Amy but I will always remember the look on my little brother’s face when he sweetly hugged a little ball of furriness that look ever so much like a furry piece of tarmac.
We all have our special memories and on this day of remembering, September 11th, I give you one that is not as gut wrenching as the one our country witnessed fourteen years ago. The memory of Amy The Cat.
September 11 WE WILL NEVER FORGET
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Sweeney Art Center 