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.