Octotabby, 2021

I have been playing around sketching an octopus cat for years. I think I first came up with the idea while I was painting Underwater Cat back in 2013. In Underwater Cat, I painted an octopus and a puffer type looking fish along with a snorkeling orange cat who wears flippers.

At any rate, I painted Octotabby with nine legs opposed to eight, because cats are synonymous with nine lives. Additionally, I had an exhibition at the Scarab Club entitled, Nine Lives: The Art of Michael Crane in 2016.   

The painting measures 11 x 14” and it is on panel. I have been wanting to frame for some time but have not yet. The creature’s eyes (crescent shaped) and sharp teeth make it appear menacing, which adds another dynamic to the painting, unlike my early sketches. When the opportunity presents itself, I would like to exhibition this painting.

An orange pop art graphic cat face, with green eyes and pink inside its ears with nine legs resembling an octopus.

Tiger Barb, 2016

Tiger Barb, 2016 was painted at the Scarab Club.  The idea was minted shortly after I started painting kuhli loaches.  If memory serves me correctly, the primary sketch came to me quickly and there was no need to tinker with the composition. My wife and I currently have five green tiger barbs that buzz around our 30-gallon tank in our basement. They are essentially schooling fish, so it probably would have made more sense to have painted multiple tiger barbs on a single canvas. Maybe next time!

Death on a Pale Rat, 2020

Death on a Pale Rat, 2020 is a play on the DIA’s great painting, “Death on the Pale Horse” by Benjamin West (1738—1820).  I believe my mentor at the DIA, Nancy Rivard Shaw was very involved in the painting being purchased by the museum.  At any rate, this West painting has always had a special place in my heart.

I painted an earlier version (8 x 10” on panel) that appeared in my Scarab Club exhibition, “Cats Rule: The Art of Michael Crane in 2019.” 

I have been toying with the idea of painting a large canvas with artist friend Mike McMath where we have a full-on battle with sword wielding Snuggie Cats, some of which are mounted on rats…could be epic!

Red Snake, 2019

Red Snake is a Venetian Plaster.  The technique was taught to me by artist friend, Mike McMath.  I should probably say, my good friend Mike McMath who also happens to be a very talented artist. 

The painting appeared in an exhibition at the Saginaw Art Museum called, “Plaster and Wax: Michigan Artists Painting Beyond the Canvas (Featuring Mike McMath), June 14, 2019 – September 14, 2019.  I showed three additional paintings in the exhibition that also including “Rhino Ride” and another version of “Rhino Ride” done in Venetian Plaster.

Parachute Ride

This version of Parachute Ride (18 x 24”) served as a study for a larger painting that was included in the 2019 exhibition titled, Cats Rule: The Art of Michael Crane, at the Scarab Club in Detroit, Michigan.  The inspiration for the painting was from a James Bond film, Moonracker, 1979.  Luckily for our parachuting feline friend, Jaws is nowhere to be seen.  This is one of my favorite paintings along with Rhino Ride.

Dancing Kuhli Loaches

Dancing Kuhli Loaches was painted in 2016 during a period when I was revisiting tropical fish as a subject.  Michelle and I had several Dojo Loaches when we lived in San Francisco.  The Dojos are essentially the larger pink version to their striped cousins.  I had Kuhli Loaches as a kid as did my childhood friend John Whall.  Loaches are very active, so capturing them in such a balanced composition in nature would be highly unlikely, but that is the magic of art. 

This painting is currently hanging in our A-frame cottage in Michigan.

Riga Mortis Cat

I painted Riga Mortis Cat during the Pandemic.  The concept for the painting predates the Pandemic.  It is based off an earlier sketch that I did while watching movies in the A-frame (our cottage in Michigan).  The painting is meant to be funny—in the Kurt Vonnegut manner. 

I plan on showing the painting at some point in 2021—possibly at the Pontiac Creative Arts Center in the Spring.  Riga Mortis Cat would pair nicely with one of my other paintings called, Dead Cat…. the possibilities are endless!

Medusa Cat

Medusa Cat simply makes me laugh.  I believe I have painted three version of Medusa Cat, each with a different background color (red, green, and the above).  The snake heads remind me of the Pacman videogame character and the Medusa Cat’s green tongue really works well against the background/field color.  

Balloon Ride

Balloon Ride is one of my favorite paintings that I have created in some time. The concept for the painting came about while I was working on a giant wooden “P” (8 x 4’) planned for the “POP! P’s of Pontiac” upcoming exhibition sponsored by the Pontiac Creative Arts Center. The show has been delayed due to the coronavirus however, Balloon Ride originally appeared on my giant “P.” I enjoyed it so much, I painted a second version (24” x 36”) which serves as a wonderful companion painting to Parachute Ride.  

Muskox and Sleeping Cat

Muskox and Sleeping Cat was painted for a young friend (Rocco) who is an expert in all things animals and his favorite animal just happened to be the Muskox.  Rocco and his parents (Tony and Laura) have hosted Michelle and myself at their family cottage in East Tawas (MI) many fun-filled weekends.  We have taken to calling this friends circle our “Cottage Adventure Friends.” 

Because of the obvious size difference between a cat and a Muskox, I chose to paint the orange cat sleeping on the back on the large animal.  The sleeping cat is a departure from my typical equestrian cat sitting on top of various animal friends while waving.