Took a road trip to the Keys and enjoyed the laid back welcoming atmosphere and the animals! Key deer outside a restaurant, iguanas sunning, extra toed cats ruling the roost at the Hemingway house and roosters strutting along the Beach! So much inspiration!

Missing the Mountains

Missing the mountains-this scarf still isn't finished! Something about knitting in a rocking chair by the river that sets the mood!

Rose Wood

New print just listed - Rose Wood

 

I've been in a woodland mood, sketching many flowers and vines- new animal paintings should ready soon!

Prints available at https://www.etsy.com/listing/224228635/rose-wood-print-of-nature-girl-painting

Heartbreak Hotel

Beautiful Tampa Theater 

Attended the wonderful Heartbreak Hotel presented by Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer on Valentine's Saturday.  Amanda sang! Neil sang! Stories told of heartbreak (and horror) all in all a magical time! A lovely review of the show ishttp://www.tampabay.com/blogs/soundcheck/review-neil-gaiman-amanda-palmer-share-tales-of-love-heartbreak-at-the/2217842  

I have to mention that the Tampa theater was one of the most beautiful buildings I've ever seen. If you are ever in the area be sure to check it out. 

Summer blooms

Found a bush full of these beauties while visiting a friend in Orlando for her birthday. I'm told they are Passion flowers, They are so striking I didn't think they were real at first!

Later we visited Savannah and the Bonaventure Cemetery, they have statues of ethereal beauty and stunning oaks with Spanish moss by the river. 

And these pretties were growing wild by the banks 

Are these wisteria? I'm feeling inspired to paint purple flowers and maybe an angel or two!

“All grown-ups were once children... but only few of them remember it.”
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince 

I can't think of a book that had a greater impact in my childhood than "The Little Prince" This pop up version looks delightful, I can remember wearing my pop outs out as a child I loved them so. I hope they still delight in this digital age. 

Beautiful article at Brian Pickings on the "Little Prince"

I've had several requests for another Poe, so I created this portrait for the first EHAG emporium of 2014. EHAG is a group of professional artists who create one of a kind Halloween inspired art. Once a month new pieces are unveiled on the EHAG blog- this month there are 17 new creations from hand sculpted dolls to paintings and ornaments! If you have Halloween spirit year round be sure and check us out at the blog

Back to the whirlwind of school! I did a get a couple of pieces finished over break, here is "Night Lotus" a  original now available in my shop

New Years Wish

My New Years wish for you,

  An extra slice of your favorite pie. A visit to a place you've been longing to go. Room for mistakes, time for trying new things. Friends who cheer you on (and that you don't listen much to those who don't) That you remember what you do matters, if its for one or a hundred. To treat yourself with a little more care.

                                                          Noel by Cat Mallard

Hope you had a most magical season and brightest blessings in the New Year!
Cat

Happy Halloween!

My newest Bride and i wish you a day filled with magic (and treats!) 

A Little Poe

A friend passed along these wonderful vintage frames that were her mothers, and I thought they called for old fashioned watercolor portraits. Who better than my childhood favorite Poe?

I did plan to put him in my shop but my hubby is crazy over it so I think he gets to hang it up! He also suggested who should be the next portrait but I'll leave that a surprise!

Mad Hatter

Back from holiday! Had a wonderful road trip to Miami with a group of friends and my girls.  First day back was my birthday and I found out my Mad Hatter mixed media painting was featured in the new Somerrset Studio magazine, so that was a nice surprise.  It's a wonderful issue filled with eye candy and heart, I'm thrilled to be included!
So the shop is open again and I'm getting ready for what summer brings next, weddings, the beach and spending as much time with friends and family as I can on these slower days. Well, its supposed to move a little slower but it doesn't always seem that way! I've started a couple of new pieces that I hope to complete before school starts. I'll try and share a peak soon.

Pippi

Schools out, time for some adventures outside the art classroom!  I painted this Pippi Longstocking the last week of school, I think my inner Pippi was tired of scrubbing the deck (ie end of the year cleaning) and ready to set sail! 

I had an amazing year working with High Schoolers and the adventure that is AP art. I'm already planning for next year and we've been out 2 days! I have a few new projects of my own to tackle this summer, and plan to spend as much time enjoying family and friends as I can (road trip!)  I will be putting my shop on vacation for a couple of weeks, but will reopen soon! 

Happy Summer! 

Cat

Return to Middle Earth...

"Luthien" 

““The leaves were long, the grass was green,
The hemlock-umbels tall and fair,
And in the glade a light was seen
Of stars in shadow shimmering.
Tinuviel was dancing there
To music of a pipe unseen,
And light of stars was in her hair,
And in her raiment glimmering.

From "The Simarillion" JRR Tolkien
New watercolor I just sent off to California "The Unexpected Art Show" Hosted by TheOneRing.net 

as part of the  2013 Oscar Party weekend. It was wonderful going back to Tolkien's world for inspiration, the hardest part was deciding on what to choose! "The Lay of Luthien and Beren" won out, although I'd like to do another piece with Luthien and Huan! 

Olafur Arnalds and Nils Frahm Improvisation in Berlin



I've gone back to this clip numerous times, the creative process is so immediate and inspiring. Since I don't play there is always an added element of mystery when watching musical performances, especially improvisations. I hope you enjoy!

Fall news!

Fall is in the air! Even here in sunny (humid!) Florida things are a bit cooler and crisp. We've lit a few fires in the fireplace this week though I'll admit we might of jumped the gun there. It's just so cozy to have a fire going!

For the holiday weekend I've reduced prices on originals in my shop and will be listing this new print inspired by Delirium of the Endless, "Feeding on Stars"  I'm also posting updates on my facebook page for new originals!

I hope you are having a pie filled, stress free start to your holiday season!

Moon Bunnies

 Time seems be getting away from me, so many ideas so little time! I was happy to find time to complete this piece. I've been wanting to revisit the stories of rabbit in the moon for sometime and I don't think its quite through with me yet.




 In other things celestial, have you seen the new Pixar short "La Luna"? (it screened with Disney's Brave) I was absolutely spellbound watching it. Writer/Director Enrico Casarosa weaves a magical tale that while fresh and new feels timeless and seeped in tradition.   Clip from "La Luna" Enrico's delightful blog is here 
wonderful behind the scenes peeks and sketches!

Happy star gazing!  

Summer Sale!

Happy Summer! Some people do spring cleaning, I'm afraid I do summertime cleaning! It's just too easy to wait for vacation (but do the days ever fill quickly!) As I straighten the studio I'll be listing originals on my facebook page and twitter If you are interested in a piece just leave a message in either place, This is my first time offering on facebook/twitter before Etsy but I thought it would be a nice way let followers have first choice. So here goes! The original of Frida pictured here is offered for the first time and I will keep adding more through the week! (each painting will come with a gift as well!) Thank you for looking!

My Mom recently passed along my Dad's portfolio of drawings he created in the late 40's early 50's. I thought they were too delightful not to share with the world. My Dad was an eclectic sort and had moved on to piano by the time I was acquired much later. I do wish I'd been able to talk to him about art, these were done at an art school and many look commercial. I wonder if he had thoughts and dreams of a career in the arts. A stint at a art school wouldn't of been easy and it still surprises me that he was able to go. Of course he started piano lessons at 25 and by the time I was around he played the piano with great gusto. I remember him enthusiastically playing ragtime jazz when I struggling to wake up for school. Funny what drives you mad at one time you long for in others. (he played beautifully, I was just an ingrate sleepy teenager)

I hope you enjoy! I don't think many have seen his drawings so this is a bit exciting as well. I think my Dad would of loved the internet!

O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend The brightest heaven of invention,

"Everyone should have a muse. But nobody should have to be one." From "The Lily Maid" by Kris Waldherr

( I was painting this tribute to Lizzie Siddal (Pre-Raphaelite model and artist) when I came across this quote of Kris's. It weighed heavily on my mind, how in becoming "Venus" she was also self destructing. It seems to of been an impossible thing to be the vision and herself. A dear friend saw this on the easel and refers to her as the warrior girl. She sees the paint brush as a spear or arrow which I love. One of the things that draws me to Lizzie's story is her own art and poetry in a time when women were not accepted as artists. Despite her tragic end she remains an inspiration, and muse. I wonder what Lizzie would think of the continued admiration she inspires?

"The Holy Grail" Lizzie Siddal (image lizziesiddal.com)

Countess Cynthia Von Buhler

Illustration from "Who Will Bell the Cats?"and "The Magician" by Cynthia Von Buhler

Often dark and always insightful the creations of Cynthia Von Buhler are filled with creativity and intrigue. Cynthia amazes me with her theatrical, multi media works. She creates everything from books, paintings, sculptures, to currently an interactive stage show "Speakeasy Dollhouse" check out more of her work here

Becoming Ophelia

(Work in progress, Becoming Ophelia on wood cradle) I've been quite in love with Ophelia by John Millais since I first saw her in an art history textbook at 19. The term love shouldn't be tossed about carelessly but since I still feel the same way more than 25 year later, I think it’s an apt description. I dutifully studied all the paintings in the text book, memorizing dates and movements, filling countless index cards with notes. Yet I can still remember opening the page to Ophelia for the first time. I don't think I've ever had a such a visceral reaction to a painting in print before or since. (I will admit Goya's "Saturn's Devouring his Children" also struck a chord but of a different note, I was afraid to look at that image for very long) It was a deep and baffling connection. It was not an image I would of consciously choose as my favorite. For one, I got the impression that it wasn't considered important by the way my professor who completely skipped over the section. Secondly, the heroes I valued were strong and clever, not floating in weeds. As a little girl Greek Goddesses were my passion, the Women I adored first names were Wonder and Cat. The characters in Wuthering Heights? I just wanted to slap sense into them. (reading Wuthering Heights for fun in Junior High, you would think I'd of had some grasp of tragic, but alas it was wasted on me)

(Ophelia, The Tate) However there was no denying the draw of this Ophelia, and model Lizzie Siddal. She was my first heroine who’s strength lay in conviction, who’s individuality marked her as other. An acceptance that heroes don’t always survive, much less win. Who cannot help but fall in love with Lizzie who was doomed to become the character who she so famously modeled? The vision of Lizzie floating in a bathtub heated only by candles in the English winter seems as vivid an image as the painting itself.

(study of Lizzie by Rossetti) I’m drawing Lizzie wielding her paintbrush as it gives me some solace to think she had some brilliantly happy times along with the darkness. In a time when that was pretty much unheard of for women, Lizzie took risks in wielding both her beauty and paints.

Better Homes feature

Exciting news! "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" is featured in the fall/winter Better Homes and Gardens storage magazine! Maybe I'll be inspired enough to clean my closet now!

I know its been quiet over here lately. Day job has is great but really eating me for lunch at the same time! My students are so perceptive and motivated, I love working with teens! Only problem is some of my classes are so large I sometimes feel like I'm on a treadmill trying to keep up! *whew* There is a light at the end of the tunnel (and its not a train) next week is fall break and waiting in my studio is a brand new easel! Shhhhh don't tell my Mom I'm assembling it early, its my Holiday present!

Warrior Girl - a call to arms

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." — Ralph Waldo Emerson "Warrior Girl" my new ink drawing of Athena, we all have our battles but this one we all face.

The fight demands persistence, This wonderful letter by Pixar artist Austin Madison was written to inspire artists through the rough times of creative drought and doubt. (courtesy of The Animators Letter Project ) If you have trouble reading this format afull transcript can be found at "Letters of Note"

So hold your shields (or palettes) high my friends!

Escape of Hollow Girl

"Escape of Hollow Girl" Dress form girl come to life, her scissors cutting the strings.
prints available here

acrylics and gouache on wood