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Posted on 7/6/2026 1:56:23 PM
By Susan Gainen
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CLOWDER OF CATS: Google says "A clowder is a collective noun for a group of adult cats. The term likely originated in the late 18th century as a dialectal variation of the word "clutter" or "clodder" (referring to a huddled mass or clotted pile) to describe a clustered group of cats."
I think of cats as a group of clever mischief makers. These appeared after I'd acquired a set of three 6x18-inch canvasses. The background ribbons were unalloyed fun to create. There was considerable caterwauling before each one got his fur and fur color.
OLD GREEN EYES: A non-conformist black cat
Not quite a classic black cat, Old Green Eyes relishes his glitter. He takes great advantage of the Welsh folk song that points to black cat's good luck:
A black cat, I've heard it said,
Can also charm,
And keep the family where it lives
From the grip of every kind of sickness.
SILVER CLOUD
With texture from gesso and #goldenglassbeadgel, Silver Cloud keeps his smile while hatching all sorts of mischievous plots. He is usually the one responsible for objects moving in the dead of night, and for forays into the spice rack. He has been known to explore the spaces above, under, and behind stacks of painted and unpainted canvas. He makes no judgement -- he just makes space.
GOLD DUST: Big eyes make the best spies
Gold Dust, proud of his precious-metal coat, stands as a stark reminder of cat's ability to find things. He stalks anything that he defines as "prey," which includes every cat-nip toy, every stray bit of cereal, popcorn-on-the-floor (great for soccer practice), and stray strings or other hanging things. Were he permitted to be an outdoor cat, he would stalk birds and bunnies, bees and butterflies, and (I can't begin to tell him what a terrible idea this would be) -- dogs.
NOTES FOR THE CURIOUS: Each of these cats' images began as a pencil drawing which was then covered with clear gesso. Acrylic ink goes on top of the gesso. Every tiny piece gets an outline from a Micron Pen, then, on goes the glitter, followed by clear acrylic spray.
Posted on 5/11/2026 4:18:32 PM
By Susan Gainen
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As Yet Unnamed Cat
ONE OF THREE: The first of the new Clowder of Three Cats to have a finished background woke me up this morning, demanding color and shine. Lucky for him, I have new #blackgesso and #highglossmedium and may be able to make progress in a day or two.
FINISHED BACKGROUND: One of the great joys of art-making for me is the practice of Painstaking Exuberance. Beginning with a pencil drawing, followed by a layer of clear gesso to set the pencil, then tiny (Number 1 or 0) paintbrushes and brilliant acrylic ink inside each shape, and, finally, an outline for each shape with a fountain pen with Carbon Black ink.
STILL NO NAMES AND NO FUR DECISION: Naming cats is tough. At least if they are real, playful, shy, mischievous, fast, slow, good at hiding, great at batting at strings and balls, and speedy at gobbling food, you have something to go on. These three guys are giving me the stink eye. Demanding fur and names, and giving me no help at all.
