Orange kitty pet rock portrait

Orange kitty pet rock portrait
Originally uploaded by tagscats

Available now in my Etsy shop!

Orange cat rock portrait listing HERE

Susu heats up!

Susu heats up!
Originally uploaded by tagscats

Bought a new space heater for my studio yesterday as my old one had crapped out. Hadn't needed it of late as it's been warm and spring-like here, however, yesterday all the stormy weather brought some cool temps back to North Alabama. So, I brought out the new heater and turned it on to see how well it would work.

I no sooner turned back around and there was Susu, my little oriental shorthair girl, right up against it. I mean, if I had started to smell burnt cat hair I wouldn't have been surprised!!

Global warming?? My cats say bring it on!

sleeping cat ink painting, on Ebay now!

sleeping cat ink painting
Originally uploaded by tagscats

One of my entries in the Ebay Nibblefest art contest. This is a themed contest that runs each month starting on the 20th and ending on the 27th, each piece of art starting at a no reserve price of $.99! Now how great is that?? This month's theme is Asian Inspired.

I have 2 pieces running right now, may have a third to list later tonight...

This piece is a chinese brushwork painting of a favorite subject of mine, a sleeping cat. This one based on my cat Alice. This is hand-ground chinese ink 9x12 Arches 300# watercolor paper.

Sleeping Cat Ebay Auction

Dashiel under cover

Dashiel under cover
Originally uploaded by tagscats

My rescue siamese Dashiel likes to burrow under the covers and sleep, I caught this shot of just his paw sticking out last night, lol.

Silly head.

Frida wins EBSQ Simon Sez challenge!

Frida
Originally uploaded by tagscats

There is a weekly challenge on EBSQ called Simon Sez. The winner of the challenge each week picks the theme. Now how could I resist the "fur" theme?? lol! This photograph I took of my rescue cat Frida won last week, woo hoo!

See the EBSQ Blog for details...

On Ebay right now!

Dashiel Sleeps with the Beanies
Originally uploaded by tagscats

This is my entry for the Ebay Nibblefest art contest this month, theme Vintage Cats. My cat Dashiel loves to sleep on top of my Beanie Babies, and I have painted him as such. This is an original 16x20 oil painting with a no reserve starting price of $.99, so, don't miss out on this auction! Search NFAC on Ebay this week from Feb. 20-27 for all the great Nibblefest entries!

Click HERE to see the auction!

Cat Charity Winner Announcement!

Just announced the winner of my cat charity raffle, details in my LiveJournal blog...

Cats Decide the Winner!

This was so much fun to do, I think it will be an annual event. Thanks so much to all those who participated in the 2009 inaugural Tag's Cats Valentine's Day Raffle!

Charity raffle - win a custom pet portrait!

So, it's no secret it's been a pretty crappy few months around here in the house of many furries. I have lost 3 cats and a dog since just before Christmas. The latest, and really no surprise, was my sweet Bronte just this past Thursday. It was time, though no less heart-breaking, Bronte had been with me for nearly 17 years. She came to me a skinny flea-ridden kitten from the local humane society, and grew into a beautiful long-haired tortoiseshell cat, and kept her loving disposition throughout her life. She loved to be carried around and would rest her paws on my shoulder and purr into my ear.

I decided to honor her memory by helping other cats in need. I am running a raffle, the winner of which will receive a custom 16x20 pet portrait oil painting. The drawing will be held on Valentine's Day. All the proceeds will benefit a local feline rescue from whom I have adopted several cats, Forgotten Felines. Full details regarding the raffle can be found HERE

I'm happy to say since posting about it for the first time yesterday, I have some entrants already. Hoping for lots more!

Gentle journey, Bronte, my baby girl. I will always hear you purring in my ear.

Cat Pillow

Cat Pillow
Originally uploaded by tagscats

Who says greyhounds and cats don't get along? That's Stella my greyhound using Dickens as a pillow....Dickens doesn't seem to mind too much.

5x7 sleeping ink cat

5x7 sleeping ink cat
Originally uploaded by tagscats

A new ink cat painting just listed on Etsy! This one based on my sweet Alma cat.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17365571

Black Cats Etsy treasury!

I managed to nab an Etsy treasury, and featured several fellow artists from EBSQ, Interior Design Team, Vast Team, and WWAO. Be sure to click on each piece of work and take a good look, you won't be disappointed! This one runs through Wednesday evening, so hurry up and check it out!

In honor of Halloween and my 5 black cats...

"Black Cats"

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=17621

I'm in this Etsy treasury, woo hoo!

Well, I'm not in the treasury, but, my cat butt tile is! Check out all the fabulous EBSQ artists in this one!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=17030

they like me, they really like me!

I'm excited to share that I received a Member's Mention award in the Bi-annual Spam and Trout show on EBSQ! http://www.ebsqart.com/ArtShows/sh_182.htm The prospectus? Anything goes, as long as both Spam and trout are represented!

It's my first time entering this quirky show, and I'm so glad I did! Check out all the great artists and entries...my friend Vicky Knowles won Member's Choice! Her entry is fabulous, congrats Vicky!!

Here is mine, a digital photograph.....I originally wanted to photograph a still life of spam and trout, with an old master's feel to it. The raw fish, sliced lemons, knife, as if someone is having a glass of wine at the end of the day and getting ready to prepare dinner. And just in case it doesn't turn out, one can always pop open a can of Spam, right? However, what often happens in my household, a cat has to get involved, and in this case, that cat is Nikki. Spam or trout for dinner? Well, I think it's quite clear what Nikki's choice is... Guess I'm having Spam tonight...

new nibblefest piece on Ebay!

For the September Ebay nibblefest art contest, theme smiling black cats, here is my piece, a river rock portrait....it's based on my rescued cat Charles, who has a lot to smile about these days. After all, not all black cats are as lucky. He spent a year in foster care, mostly because lots of people don't give black cats a second look. I'm so glad I heard about this beautiful sweet boy.

Here's the auction link...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=270279327691

It's only a 5 day auction, so, don't miss it! And be sure to do a search on Ebay using "NFAC" to see lots of other great pieces for this theme!

fun Etsy treasury I'm in!

An ACEO print from my Etsy store is featured in this fun Etsy treasury! Be sure to check out all the other great items in this one as well! This treasury is a great concept and took some coordination on the parts of those involved, I'm so flattered to be included!

"The Cats of Etsy"

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=26513&show_panel=true

my entries in the EBSQ Pet Portrait show...

I had 5 (yes 5!) partners for the 2008 EBSQ Pet Portrait Show. I did manage to finish up 3 of those entries in time to make the deadline, 2 of those entries I have yet to finish will be entered in the EBSQ Better Late Than Never show in December (thank goodness for that one!)The Pet Portrait show is a swap show, we partner up and exchange photos of our pets and when the portraits of our pets are complete, and the pieces entered into the show, we send our portraits to each other. It is, of course, one of my favorite shows for obvious reasons.My first portrait was for my partner Heather Mathieson, and here is her lovely EBSQ portfolio link www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_15928_profile.htm. We exchanged pictures of ragdoll cats, and she did a fabulous pastel of my dearly departed Elizabeth. I had the privilege of painting her beautiful blue-eyed Isis and decided to do a rock portrait.





Next, I did a portrait of Deb Sprague's lovely new rescued kitty, Ruby. Deb is a wonderful animal artist as well, and does so much for animal rescue groups....www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_3414_profile.htm I enjoyed painting this beauty, in oils on 5x7 canvas...



Then, it was on to Vicky Knowles' Boston Terrier Mr. Wiggles, who is featured in many of Vicky's own amazing paintings, www.ebsqart.com/Artists/cmd_7_profile.htm. He was a true joy to paint, I loved the reference she sent me of him holding a favorite toy, as if to say "yeah, I know you want it, but, you can't have it, ha!" This is oils on canvas as well, 5x7.







Be sure to check out the show, http://www.ebsqart.com/ArtShows/sh_179.htm, and, vote for your favorite piece of art! It's easy to do! If you aren't a patron of EBSQ, become one, it's free! www.ebsqart.com/info/fp_Become%20an%20EBSQ%20Patron_initRegister_Become%20an%20EBSQ%20Patron.htmIf you are already a member, then what are you waiting for?? Vote! All the art in this show is great!!

we're here to help....

I had taken some paintings to some shows recently, and was hanging them back up in my living room today. We have a high ceiling in there, and it takes our 9 foot ladder to hang those paintings above the mantel. Cassady apparently thought I needed some help. I think he really enjoyed the view from up there, the little poop.