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!
Nietzsche Cats: Beyond Good and Evil
I may have started this painting in Detroit and finished it in San Francisco, but I am not certain. At any rate, the panel is subdivided into four equal parts, each containing a lone cat. Moving from the lower left we have a red devil cat holding a pitchfork. The backdrop is engulfed in flames. Moving to the right, we have a Kiss Cat with a long serpentine tongue. This frame’s flames give way to an evening sky. Writing about it now, I should have included a distant moon in the sky—too late. Above is a gray Byzantium Teaching/Blessing Cat against a gold ground background. To the left is an enlightened Glow Cat that holds a martini.
I used a pour on resin varnish for this painting. Artist friend, James Gregg helped me with the varnish.
Upon my return to Detroit, I reestablished myself in Studio #5 at the Scarab Club. Nietzsche Cats: Beyond Good and Evil being one of my favorite paintings, I naturally hung the painting in the space. When my studio mate moved to Nashville, he took the painting with him.
Lunch Break: Giraffe Ride
I painted two bookend paintings in 2014 that I titled, Lunch Break: Giraffe Ride (both 18 x 36”). They obviously are shown facing opposite directions and really exhibit well together—I nicknamed them, Left and Right. One of the paintings appears in the book, Cats Rule: The Art of Michael Crane.
It was interesting formulating the painting in my head. Because of the color of the giraffe, I decided to paint the waving cat gray. The tree branch with its delectable leaves (at least for a giraffe) was painted in the top corner. I decided against outlining the branch and leaves in this case and looked to the simple designs of Grete Prytz Kittelson (Norwegian, 1917-2010). I own a couple of enameled metal bowls with her famous leaf pattern. I bought these bowls through eBay well over twenty years ago, prior to this type of material exploding in popularity and price.
Clarinet Cat Study
Clarinet Cat Study, 2015, was painted on a free canvas (18 x 24”) that I received while living in San Francisco.
I really like how the clarinet tuned out. I made several sketches of clarinets until I was happy with how I planned on depicting the instrument. Additionally, I once had ambitions to paint more cats playing an assortment of instruments. You never know if this theme will resurface.
Space Cat (2014)
Space Cat, 2014, was painted when I was living in San Francisco. I used a canvas from one of the two value packs (18 x 24”) I inherited because the factory gesso was too thinly sprayed on. Essentially, all I needed to do was apply a good layer of gesso on myself—no issues on my end. Because the canvases were free, I was a little looser with them and more experimental than typical. These four free canvases eventually became, Underwater Cat, Parachute Cat (study), Clarinet Cat, and Space Cat.
Space Cat features an elated astronaut cat waving to its viewers on the moon. Flying overhead is a space shuttle that I believe turned out really well. Space Cat is included in the catalogue, “The Art of Michael Crane: Cats Rule.” The painting is currently unframed, so I will likely remedy that situation soon.
Noir Medusa Cat with Red Flower, 2020
Noir Medusa Cat with Red Flower was completed in late 2020 (November-ish I believe). I had wanted to paint a medusa cat hold a flower for a while, so I am glad I got around to it. The canvas is a play on my Otto Dix Cat motif, which has been a mainstay in my work. The trident tail amuses me to no end and I am laughing as I am typing. When I get a chance, I am thinking about making this painting into a sticker to hand out the next time I exhibit my work.
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.
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!
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.
