Sentry Duty

This is my favorite of all the 100 Cheetah paintings, it's #86 or so, oil on a panel done with Alchemist mediums, which have revolutionized my oil painting techniques See www.ambervarnish.com Don Fels has created them after many years of study, by translating texts from the 1600's on how the Flemish masters painted. The pose is inspired by a photo by Michael Moss, see his cheetah of Pinda here http://www.pbase.com/mytmoss/phinda_south_africa_2004_ the photo is used by permission. When ever possible I use my own photo references, but there are no cheetah cubs at Safari West, only adults. I'll also be using some of his family photos for my next project of a mother and 2 cubs. Can you tell I LOVE cheetah? Shaka's Tree (a few posts ago) is now at DeWildt Cheetah and Wildlife Sanctuary donated to auction for the December Gala. http://www.dewildtcheetah.co.za/

I love this small piece (8"x10") because I managed some freedom and a painterly quality without sacrficing the realism...some how its more real and lifelike than when I tighten up with a lot of detail.

Breakfast at Brighthaven

I volunteer at Brighthaven, a sanctuary for senior and disabled animals, for a few weeks all the orange cats lined up for meals, tho there are 30 cats living there, these are all the orange ones. I've tried to give each one their purrsonality. This was a new level for me, never did 7 cats...I added the Siamese Oliver, on the far left, for the contrast. Most people don't notice he's only got one front leg, but it's true, but he gets around just fine thank you, even jumps up on the counter. This is 12x36 oil on canvas and it's sold to a very well known agility dog trainer, who also loves cats.

Best in Show

Suprise, surprise, entering my first show I won Best Media, Best in Show, Sonoma County Fair.
I did a larger oil based on Come Closer. It gave me a chance to do more with the eye as it is larger, in it you can see reflected me, 2 kids, the fence, sky and field. We fed this gentle giant cottenwood leaves to tempt him this close. Including a detail of the eye so you can see. This original painting is available and giclee prints hand embelished, a limited edition as well. You can email me for details.