Kitties I have known - 2, Charlotte

24 x 24 Acrylic on stretched canvas Charlotte was a Cornish Rex, tiny (5 pounds) long, lean and all angles and elbows. The first day I met her, at the home of the person who bred her. She was 3 days old. The woman picked her out of the pile with her mother and put her on my hand. She opened those beautiful, icy blue eyes and hissed at me. I loved her immediately. All her life, she was the crabbiest, grumpiest, most angry cat I've ever met. I don't know why. The woman who bred her was gentle and kind and treated her cats with great affection and care. From the moment she came to live in our house, she was pampered and loved (maybe just a bit too spoiled?) And at 5 pounds against the other cats we had who were 25 pounds, it was amazing how she ruled, terrorized and dominated them. Charlotte was a force, a powerful personality and I loved her dearly, even though she treated me with the same contempt she showed the other cats. Oh, well. She was something!

Kitties I have known - 1, Chee

16 x 20 Acrylic on stretched canvas

Chee was born a dumpster diver, a homeless kitten in what must have been a very bad place. He still wears some of the scars. A golden tabby, probably one of the most common types of cats in the world, he has developed his own special identity. He's a true teddy bear. There must have been one person who was kind to him, he is afraid but still likes to be with people. Obviously raised by dogs, he even follows me around like a puppy, comes when I call him and begs for attention. He's 25 pounds, all squishy and fat, not at all athletic like his brother. He's nothing like the lean, mean, Siamese cats I've always loved, but he's my favorite of them all. He's soft and lumpy and ill-defined and ordinary but sweet and gentle and loving.

Acceptance of old age

Suffering of middle age

Hope of youth