Inspiration:
This drawing began as a reaction to Picasso’s Cat Catching a Bird — 1939.
Picasso, Cat Catching Bird - 1939
I like this painting for its idea and composition, more than its execution.
I wanted to see what would happen if I responded to it through my own way of working.
From 2015
Where it was left in 2015
I kind of liked this at the time. I still do.
But looking at it now, I feel like it needs something more saturation of color.
I wanted to see what would happen if I went back into it with the way I work now.
Process:
After Session #1
The first session was primarily about introducing tonal color.
After Session #2
I was trying to pull back some of the contrast in the values while deepening the subtle textures already present in the drawing.
I think it was working really well at this point. I’m kicking myself for not calling it done here.
After Session #5
I was trying to change the cat too much.
I had no source material and I don’t have a clear picture in my head on what a cat actually looks like… I don’t know cats well enough to make them up.
The changes I was making were pushing the cat toward something more human.
It became disturbing. I wiped it out.
I could probably bring it back towards the original cartoon, or I could leave it here.
I’m not sure which is more interesting.
Abercrombie, Black Cat on Pink - 1952
I’ve been looking at Abercrombie’s cat paintings for a while.
Maybe there is something to learn from the cat master.
End of Session Six
The piece is too far along to make large changes.
I’m going to try to throw the towel in on this one.
Judgement:
I think I’m going to need some time to figure this one out. I think it’s done, there are ideas here I want to explore more.
The original cat was illustrated one way, and I was trying to approach it through my new way of working. The medium wouldn’t allow the degree of change I wanted, and eventually the piece arrived at a frustrated kind of blah.
The work reached a point where I felt like I was entering new psychological territory. I started to see a person in the cat, and it became disturbing to me. I may want to explore that again, but with different materials that will allow me to push the idea further.
In the end, I feel like I caved a little and took the easy way out just to bring the piece to a conclusion. At the same time, I still like the original drawing, and I wanted to pay homage to where my mind was a decade ago. There is something about it that I’m drawn to because it feels like an unresolved abnormality.
I’d be interested to hear what others have to say about it.
Direction: Click on an image. Use the </> buttons to view the development process.
Other:
Great music if you are searching for an ambient mood.