Feline Friday: Paper Moon

It's only a paper moon...

Happy Friday!

Feline Friday: Harbinger

Tonight is the opening of Metazoa!  I, along with Zach Kestermann and Ryan Young, will have new works on display at Popp=d ART in Cincinnati. 

In honor of tonight, I'm delighted to share the finished painting, Harbinger, which is one of the pieces I completed for the show.  Happy Friday! 

METAZOA
New works by Geri Shields, Zach Kestermann and Ryan Young.


opening:
Friday, Apri 4, 2014
6-10pm
Popp=d ART
2622 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219

Harbinger, acrylic on canvas, 11"x14"    ©Geri Shields, 2014

Feline Friday: Progress

I'm still hard at work painting the night away in preparation for the upcoming show, Metazoa.  Below is an update of the painting based on the sketch I posted last week.  The background is mostly completed, but the colors on the cat are just blocked in.  I've still got a lot of work to do on this one.  And if you are asking yourself what the heck is going on in this piece, you'll have to wait til the show opening to get an explanation.  Trust me, though, it makes sense. 

And don't forget about Craft Menagerie happening tomorrow! Happy Friday!

©Geri Shields, 2014

Feline Friday: Mask?

What's going on here?  Just a rough sketch of things to come.

Feline Friday: The Saga of Mr. E

It's been quiet on here for a while.  I do apologize, but things have been a little less than crazy around these parts.  For one, I've been under the weather for a few weeks.  But, the thing that really threw a wrench into things was the development of a hematoma on Mr. E's ear.  It developed almost over night.  Thus, he had to surgery to drain the hematoma and to make matters worse, he also had a couple of problem teeth removed at the same time.  On top of everything else, Mr. F didn't recognize Mr. E when he came home from surgery and hissed and attacked him for the first week.  They had to be kept separate.  It hasn't been the best of months for Mr. E, but things are starting to luck up.  His ear is healing nicely and hopefully he gets his stitches out sometime next week and he can finally shed the dreaded cone!  We are trying to make the best of things and enjoy the remainder of the holidays.  I hope you are too.  Happy Holidays and Happy Friday!

Mr. E post surgery, complete with cone and ear cast.

Feline Friday: Mark Your Calendars!

The Crafty Supermarket is tomorrow!  Grab your shopping bags!  It is sure to be fantastic!  My mini calendars are packaged and ready to make the trip to Music Hall.  I gave you a sneak peek last week, but now you can see all 12 months of kitties!  Each one consists of 12, 4"x6" loose calendar pages.  Not only do I have the cat collection, but I also have a monster collection!  Happy Friday!

Crafty Supermarket
Saturday Nov. 23, 2013
11am - 6pm
at the Music Hall Ballroom
1241 Elm St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202.

12 month 2014 Cat Collection mini calendar

12 month 2014 Monster Collection mini calendar

Feline Friday: Calendar & Events!

The Crafty Supermarket is next weekend!  I'm almost ready.  Just finishing up some little details, like the new 2014 - 12 Month Desk Calendars!  They will be making their debut at Crafty Supermarket, so be sure and stop by.  Here's a sneak peek.  Happy Friday!

Feline Friday: Bad Kitty #4

Bad Kitty #4 is completed and will be making it's debut tomorrow at Cincinnati Mini Maker Faire!  If you are able to make it out, stop by my booth and check it out in person and be transformed into a bad kitty yourself!  See you there!  Happy Friday!

Cincinnati Mini Maker Faire
Saturday, October 19
Noon-10pm
Washington Park
1230 Elm St 
Cincinnati, OH 45210

Bad Kitty #4, 8"x10", acrylic on board      ©Geri Shields, 2013

Me as Bad Kitty!

Feline Friday: Photo Op In Progress

Still working on the photo op.  It doesn't look like much now, but I'll be finishing it up this weekend. The final reveal will come next week.  Stay tuned!  Happy Friday!

Feline Friday: Photo Prop

I've been getting ready for the Cincinnati Mini Maker Faire which is in a couple of weeks.  To have something interactive included with my booth, it was suggested that I make a photo op, or photo prop, whatever it's called.  It's one of those boards with characters on them and a hole for you to stick your face through.  I'm still not completely sure what the proper term is for them.  Anyway, that is what I have been working on this week.  I decided to use one of the new sketches for the Bad Kitty series as the image for the photo prop.  Of course, I enlisted the help of the misters and they have been more than happy to lend a paw.  Here's some in progress photos.  Soon, you too can be a Bad Kitty!  Happy Friday!

Mr. F keeping my template in place. 

Checking the placement of the hole in the template.

Mr. E, the original Bad Kitty, glaring at me through the hole.  I take it the placement is spot on.

overhead view of painting in progress.

Feline Friday: Another Bad Kitty

I'm continuing to come up with ideas to expand the Bad Kitty series.  Here's the latest sketch.  Happy Friday!

Bad Kitty sketch, ©Geri Shields, 2013

Feline Friday: Bad Kitty Returns.

As most of you probably know, years ago I did a short series of "Bad Kitty" paintings.  These depicted an angry gray cat wearing an e-collar (or cone, if you prefer) that was up to no good.  Each piece was inspired by my own cat's trials of dealing with the monstrosity of the e-collar after having surgery on his ear to remove a hematoma.  With the monstrous cone around his neck he had difficulty maneuvering, eating, bathing, getting into the litter box and just basically being a cat.  The weeks that followed the surgery were filled with guilty amusement at his expense.  Poor guy.  He recovered, the collar was removed and things went back to normal. 

I've recently been contemplating adding on to the "Bad Kitty" collection.  This new sketch was inspired by the unsuccessful attempt Mr. E made at eating after bringing him home from surgery.  The collar was so big that it stopped him from being able to reach his head down to his food bowl.  He ended up unintentionally scooting his food bowl around the kitchen floor with the edge of the collar just trying to get a little snack.  I had to rig up a special feeding station that he could get the cone around and that put his food at a height that his face could reach.  It took a lot of trial and error, but we got it figured out.

My style has evolved a bit since the original series of paintings, thus Bad Kitty has gone through a slight evolution in the way it is drawn as well.  Don't worry, though.  He still has the e-collar and the bad attitude.  He wouldn't be Bad Kitty without them!  Happy Friday!

Bad Kitty sketch,  ©Geri Shields, 2013 

Feline Friday: An Ode to the Fallen Cricket

Crickets!  Some way, some how crickets keep getting into the house.  But never fear, Mr. E is near!  I've haven't really experienced the hunting abilities of Mr. E.  Mostly, I think, he's too lazy to care, even if a bug crawls in front of his face or on his paw.  But there is just something about crickets, I guess.  Mr. F plays with them, but Mr. E gobbles them right up.  Just run's across the room and puts them in his mouth.  Sometimes he watches Mr. F playing with the insect, then snatches it up when Mr. F isn't looking.  It's a rarity that he chews his food, but he chomps crickets quite loudly.  CRUNCH, CRUNCH, CRUNCH!  It's quite a spectacle to see him with insect legs sticking out of his mouth.  So far the count is 4, that I'm aware of.  Good kitty.  Poor crickets.  Happy Friday!

©Geri Shields, 2013

Feline Friday: Grapes

A few weeks ago I was having a small get together with family.  There was a bowl of grapes on the kitchen table.  Not thinking anything of it, I ventured out to the porch with the rest of the family, leaving the grapes on the table.  A short time later, someone went back to kitchen for something only to discover Mr. E face first in the bowl of grapes, doing his best to try to eat them.  Apparently nothing is safe in our kitchen when Mr. E is on the prowl.

©Geri Shields, 2013

Feline Friday: Adventure Time?

Just a quick sketch of adventures to come.

©Geri Shields, 2013

Feline Friday: Lily Pads

The studio is still in shambles from the move, but things are starting to get back to normal.  And with that being said, this is the return to Feline Fridays!  I know.  You're excited. 

I'm still working on sketching out the illustrations for my story book.  I had gotten away from that as well as painting during the move.  Now, I'm back at it and here is the latest sketch!  At least the latest sketch involving a cat.  There have been other doodlings going on that I will share at a later date.  Just hang in there.  Anyway, here is rough sketch of yet another misadventure of the main character of my story. 

©Geri Shields, 2013

Feline Friday: Bath Time

I can't decide which one to go with for my story book. 

copyright Geri Shields, 2013

 

Feline Friday: Sticky Situation

This is another sketch from the personal project I've been working on.  I still have a long way to go, but things are starting to become more clear.  It may be a little hard to tell, but the cat is stuck in a web.  Oh, the things he gets into.  Happy Friday!

copyright Geri Shields, 2013

Feline Friday: Valentine, once more

Here's the cutie I came up with for the card I will be sending to my niece this year.  Slightly similar to the cat Valentine I already came up with, but a little more appropriate.  This time I made the kitty look like my niece's cat.  I think she'll like it.  Happy Friday!

copyright Geri Shields, 2013

Feline Friday: a studio companion

I spent the majority of the day yesterday working on some mini paintings.  The desk in the studio is strategically placed next to the heating vent so I can stay cozy while working on projects.  Mr. F decided to be my studio companion yesterday and took up residence on the vent, defeating the purpose of my desk placement.  Happy Friday!