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Sunday, 28 April 2013

Le Chat Noir ( The black cat)

This is a little study of one of my dear cats Matilda. She was named after the character in the Roald Dahl story, in other words she is a smart cookie of a cat, and if only I spoke her language I'm sure she would have many words of wisdom to share with me. She is a sun worshipper and moves around the house from chair to chair catching what sun she can find if it breaks through the clouds and through the windows. On this particular day she had found a patch of sunlight on a little bentwood chair I have in my bathroom. The whole image of the bentwood chair and her slender black form reminds me of the French posters advertising the Le Chat Noir. It was thought to be the first modern cabaret: a nightclub where the patrons sat at tables and drank alcoholic beverages while being entertained by a variety show on stage, introduced by a master of ceremonies who interacted with people he knew at the tables. I am sure its just the sort of place she would like to hang out!

File:Théophile Alexandre Steinlen - Tournée du Chat Noir - Google Art Project.jpg
Le Chat Noir


Posing for the camera

I used citrosolv paper as a background to the painting. I found a piece that looked a little like a window looking out onto a parisienne street!
Then I used gesso to draw the cat outline.
Linking this post to Inspiration avenue. Click Here to see what great animal other artists have come up with.
Also linked to A cat like curiosity ( Lots of feline fun )
also Linked to Artists in Blogland
And for the first time Paper Saturdays
at

27 comments:

  1. Jez28 April 2013 at 16:25

    Matilda looks like a cat who doesn't stand for any nonsense - she definitely has a powerful stare. A beautifully painted image, and I like the composition and balance with the chair and cat to one side. The Citrasolve background is marvellous, it is so complex - it really does look to be a useful technique for backgrounds, as well as collages.

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    1. Paper rainbow28 April 2013 at 16:54

      Thanks Jez, citrasolv papers are so beautiful it seems a shame to tear them up,thats why I thought I would try and use them as a background, I am pleased it worked so well !

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  2. SwirlyGirl28 April 2013 at 16:30

    Matilda is one of your many muses! - what a great little pose she put on and very creative of you to link it to Le Chat Noir - great use of your citrosolv paper as the background, works perfectly x

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    1. Paper rainbow28 April 2013 at 16:56

      Thanks Swirly! Matilda is no shrinking violet when it comes to posing for the camera. :)

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  3. Monique28 April 2013 at 17:15

    Thank you for your kind comment on my post.
    Your chat noir is amazing, gorgeous. So good of Matilda to pose for your camera =)

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  4. Sarah Leonard28 April 2013 at 17:19

    My cats chase the sun too - I love your painting. It's really beautiful. That chat noir print is one of my faves too :)

    Thanks for linking up!

    Sarah @ A Cat-Like Curiosity

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  5. Lou Anne Hazel28 April 2013 at 19:52

    Your image of Matilda does look like Le Chat Noir. It's really a gorgeous painting. I really love the background with its many components too. Thank you for joining us at IA this week! I love to see your work.

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    1. Paper rainbow29 April 2013 at 08:01

      Thank you Lou Anne, great to participate this week, great theme!

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  6. Rhonda Halushka28 April 2013 at 20:15

    Love your Chat Noir! The background for it is wonderful! Nice to find your blog!

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    1. Paper rainbow29 April 2013 at 08:00

      Thank you Rhonda! from your photo it looks like you have your own little Chat Noir! :)

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  7. Unknown28 April 2013 at 22:04

    Amazing how that citrasolv paper looks like a street scene, Matilda should be thrilled with her portrait. I am also in love the reference photo.

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    1. Paper rainbow29 April 2013 at 08:02

      Thank you Cat, yes citrosolve is an amazing background! Matilda says I didn't paint her best side, such a prima donna! :)

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  8. poppylocke29 April 2013 at 10:37

    Gorgeous work! It's so great to see your techniques and process!

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  9. manomij29 April 2013 at 13:07

    Happy paper Saturdays! I am glad you have joined us. Your art is wonderful and I would love to try the Citrosolve in this way!
    ManonX

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  10. Kimberly S29 April 2013 at 16:51

    What a beautiful cat, and a lovely job capturing her and putting her in a scene. :)

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  11. Maria Medeiros29 April 2013 at 20:07

    oh gosh I LOVE IT! :D lovely work!!! :D Have a lovely week!

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  12. Unknown29 April 2013 at 21:19

    I love cats at that classic French poster. It used to hang in my room. I love your update of it with your smart cookie cat, Matilda! How wonderful! I found you on Manon's Paper Saturdays!

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    1. Paper rainbow29 April 2013 at 21:39

      Thank you Melissa, the original poster is so beautiful is'nt it, so happy you like my little cat tribute to it. thanks for visiting :)

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  13. Terri Corona30 April 2013 at 00:42

    This turned out really beautifully - the background worked out perfectly.

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  14. Unknown30 April 2013 at 16:02

    Beautiful work! You inspire me to try using mixed-media! Thank you for your lovely comments on my blog :)

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  15. Lisabella Russo1 May 2013 at 04:49

    What an adorable painting. I love how the cat is looking towards you and the chair has beautiful lines. The background is wonderful too!

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  16. Darla2 May 2013 at 15:01

    Your piece is beautiful. I like the poster that inspired you as well. I'm interested in how you created your background paper. I'll have to investigate that online.

    Darla

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  17. kat3 May 2013 at 10:22

    This is such a great piece, I love this black cat of yours! The background is so great, I can see that window looking out on to the street, fantastic !

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  18. Unknown5 May 2013 at 14:30

    Matilda is lovely! Your blog and art works are so inspiring and full of beauty, colours and heart. I absolutely love them. Thank you for sharing with us.

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  19. Salla7 May 2013 at 10:18

    This painting of your cat Matilda is truly great! I'm also really excited about your creative ways of decorating your own paper, would love to try both the Citrasolv and Gelliprint techniques one day. I have quite a stash of hand decorated papers, though not Citrasolv or Gelliprint. Anyways I really appreciate seeing your gorgeous ideas on how to use them, too!

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    1. Paper rainbow8 May 2013 at 23:36

      Thank you Salla, Lovely to share some of my paper experiments with you. :)

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