Out Smarting the Kitties

All of you "Cat People" can probably relate to my story.  I have 2 cats..LeeLu and Lily. I spend more money at the pet store buying things I just KNOW the girls will like.  My husband  says, "You waste your money. They won't like that."  I always want to prove him wrong.

My problem is I watch all those infomercials that make it look like your cat will love whatever the item is.This time I was sure that it would be different. So I go to the pet store and buy a self grooming cat brush (you know the one in an arch) and an emery scratching board (the one where the TV cat stretches and scratches and looks so happy).

I buy them, set them up-- No Interest.  I soak them in catnip--No interest.  OH, I thought I can outsmart those girls.  I pull out the laser pointer. They love to chase it around. I point it under the arch of the self grooming brush thinking they'd go under it brush themselves and see how good it feels..nope. They just ran around it.  I gave up.  Then I decide well maybe they need a demonstration of how to use the scratching board so I kneel down and demonstrate scratching the board.  They watched and looked very interested. Then Lily decided it was more fun to put her paw under the board, playing with a toy she swatted under there.

I give up...instead of outsmarting the kitties I think they have outsmarted me.

~~~The above ACEO Original Watercolor is available in my Etsy shop-Painted Panache by Joann Y Wheeler. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40817607

Fabric painting

Fabric painting instructions

When I start any fabric painting I usually sketch out my outline on paper with a transfer pencil
that way I can erase if I need to without ruining the fabric.

Next step is to transfer this outline onto the fabric using an iron. With this image I chose to use a light colored fabric so that you can see what is being done easier. When using a darker fabric it is a good idea to just start your painting right out on the fabric, Because the transfer pencil does not show up very dark, I was going to show you a picture of the outline transfered onto the fabric but it is so light I cant get a good picture so I will just show you the start of the painting.

When painting on fabric I use Cameo fabric paint it is a great fabric paint it becomes part of the fabric it will not chip crack or peel off the fabric you can wash as you would normally wash the fabric.
Ok Next step is to place a board or something hard between the fabric so that I am only painting on the front of the shirt. If you do not put something between the paint will go all the way through and you will have an interesting design on the back of the shirt as well as the front. My board has a fine sand paper attached to it so that the fabric doesnt move while I am painting.

Ok now for the fun part the painting. I always start on the left side of the painting so that I dont rest my hand on my artwork and mess it up. I started painting the back of this cat with a dark color and then went back and blended in the white to show the parts in the hair.

Now I start with the white on the bottom of the cat the legs and this is where I use the blending tool blending with fabric paint is much like blending with acrylic as the paint drys very fast so you have to work quick and in small sections. I start with the dark color in small sections and then put in the wite and blend and keep going until I get the whole section blended and then if you need to go back later to make adjustments you can just add more wet paint. Then I continue to the right side and end with the head. The face is the most important part of this painting because as with painting any portrait if the face isnt right then you might as well pack it up.
I started with the ears again blending the dark color with the light in small sections always blending in the direction of the growth of hair.
Then I work on the eyes blending again the color in the eye and I do not put the highlight in the eye until after I paint the rest of the face as I want the eye to be completely dry before putting it in so it doesnt blend in with the rest of the eye. Then I paint the nose I always start with the shadow first and blend the medium and the highlight always last. then I put the highlight in the eye.
Now I just do some final touches adding highlights and shadows here and there and its done. And this painting will stay on this shirt for as long as the shirt lasts. The shirt you see here was given as a gift to a friend.
You can see more of my fabric paintings in my Etsy shop here http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5639032

~Happy Birthday Dawg Blog~

Happy hello to you all! Seeing how I am still in the beginning post I thought I would post a Happy Birthday to all our Dawg Bloggers! I am so happy we have our own blog I sure hope more will join in! Having a shared blog is less upkeep than having one on your own.
So here is my post today!
"Keep it simple"
Is what my Husband tells me constantly!
I worked so hard on this design. Starting with the digitally painted legs,hand and neck. That alone took me three days to complete. Redefining her dress and all it's little creases took even more time..Not to mention the socks and little black patent leather shoes. Then there was all the embellishments that I added. The little diamonds placed on her shoes,brooch,necklace and sweet delicate bracelet were all custom to fit her sweet little body! lol Hard work "YES" it was but I always learn a little more each time. Patience it truly a virtue with this form of art. Then hubby steps in and says .....
"Why do you add all that clutter, I like it when it was just her and the Kitty!"

You Can find her
On

Click Below

MY Ebay

She is also in

Click Below

My Etsy Shop

You will always catch me scurrying around here on the Fifth of every month!
Beware!
I am a colorful person so keep you blinders on.haha