Painted cat ornaments (recycled)

I've got a little bit further with my experiment - gave them a couple of coats of acrylic paint (process magenta and deep violet) but then decided the colours were a little dark so I've given them another coat of the same colours lightened with titanium white. Once this has dried properly I'll get on with decorating them.

Still taking to time to play with my new camera when I get the chance. It was raining early this morning but had stopped by the time I got outside. Took a few shots, raindrops on the Acer, cropped a photo to give an abstract light effect, a burst of raindrops on a little flower.

This is a little experiment – I’ve decided to recycle two cat ornaments that I’ve had for quite a few years. I got them at a car boot sale because they were bright and quirky but I never really liked the colours or their faces. They’re made of some sort of lightweight wood type material, I forgot to take a ‘before’ picture but I’m sure you’ll get the idea.

I painted a quick layer of acrylic gesso over them then smoothed Golden light molding paste over their faces and over the chest of the larger cat (he was wearing a tie and I didn’t like it!). When this is dry I’ll apply another layer of gesso before I start any painting.

Laurel Burch 31st December 1945 - 13 September 2007

Laurel Burch was a self taught painter who filled her world with fabulously colourful paintings and designs - wildlife, flowers, people - they all became part of a delicious rainbow. Starting with very little and with a rare bone disease she made jewellery and painted.

I first became aware of her many years ago when I spotted her cat designs - they caught my eye - here was a woman painting with all the colours I loved and not afraid to use them - it was as if she had glimpsed my daydreams and translated them with paint.

She sadly died three years ago today but her legacy lives on - I only have to look at her paintings to be transported to a magical world.

Laurel Burch

Daler Rowney have relaunched their System 3 range of acrylics and had a competition on their website. Paint a picture in acrylic using only yellow and blue - I emailed them to check that you could use white to mix. I painted 'The Golden Boy' - he looks a bit orange but it's actually Cad Yellow Deep. He's an amalgamation of a few of my cats.