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.

A Tribute to The World's Greatest Cat

“Tigger Earned His Wings,” 2019, was painted shortly after our beloved orange tabby crossed over the rainbow bridge.  Like the title suggests, Tigger really did earn his wings with Michelle and me.  He was both rambunctious and loving.  And, strangely enjoyed eating corn on the cob—I had never witnessed at cat literally doing this until Tigger entered our lives.  He was also known to have ferreted corn on the cob out of the trash so he could glean what remained.  We adopted him from the Detroit Humane Society many moons ago.  If he would have lived just a little longer (January 2020), he would have been in our lives for fifteen years.  This painting will live with Michelle and me for as long as we live as a reminder of how special Tigger really was to us.

Waving Snuggie Cat

I have been remiss in not discussing, “Waving Snuggie Cat,” 2018.  This idea morphed from an earlier painting entitled, “Happy Assassin,” which showed in the Scarab Club’s Gold Medal Exhibition a few years ago. “Happy Assassin” (a cat wearing a smiley-faced snuggie) was based off a sketch I made about twelve years ago shortly after I purchased a smiley-faced cookie jar at a rummage sale.  That said, I thought the idea of a standing full-length black cat, wearing a snuggie, was pretty darn sardonic.  After all, you have a brightly colored snuggie which lends itself to early childhood and innocence, and then you have a black menacing cat inside waving at its audience. 

Mid-Century Modern Cat Series

I painted Mid-Century Modern Cat (Blue) back in 2018.  This example goes back to some of my first cat paintings in 2008 that featured a series of startled cats leaping in the air with open mouths and exposed claws. I’ve resurfaced some of these characteristics as of late.

The inspiration behind this mid-century series is the simplified and streamlined approach that was popular during that period. My mid-century series features cats with triangular eyes and ears resembling horns. Many of which are painted black which adds to their mysterious nature.

An Artist To Watch

I am attracted to subjects like rocketships and space travel.  That subject is popular with outsider artists and it has crept into my work also.  At any rate, San Francisco artist Johnnie Botts really does an amazing job with rocketships and robots.  About seven or eight years ago, I bought one of his small paintings and Michelle and I have enjoyed it ever since.  Johnnie is also a really nice guy and Michelle and I have met him several times during gallery crawls.  At some point when we have more normality in our lives, we might buy another work by his hand.

2019 CATS RULE Exhibition in Detroit, MI

I am thrilled to announce my upcoming exhibition titled, “Cats Rule” at the Scarab Club in Detroit, Michigan. The opening is October 18 from 5-8pm and the exhibition runs through November 16. I’m honored that John Douglas Peters deemed my work worthy enough for a catalog which features 80 plus pages of my mischievous, playful CraneArt cats over the years along with whimsical quotes describing why cats really do rule. If you are in the area, please come to the opening (217 Farnsworth St.) Would love to see you.