School Murals

I went over to see the two schools yesterday which I had painted the Murals for a couple of months ago to see them installed! I must say they looked great and the teachers say that the kids really enjoy them! Very satisfying! I had painted lots of little bugs, beetles and butterflies in the woodland scene for the Nursery School and apparently the children really enjoy finding them each time the go outside!

I have had a few day off painting but today I am hoping to fit in a 'daily piece'......

I am still here......

I have become caught up in doing some website work and putting my work up on Redbubble!

I have spent many hours re-learning about painting over the last few weeks and so I have decide to put up on my website what I have learnt to help others. Only done oil painting materials so far! I will be back to the painting tomorrow....

'Grapefruits in Glass'

'Grapefruits in Glass' 

Acrylic on Canvas Board (30x30cm) 

For Sale £75 (inc worldwide shipping)

I am a day in hand! I have just finished this painting and it is still light so I can photograph it and put it up now!


People are always frightened of painting glass but it really is very easy! Just paint the reflections 'over' the items in the bowl and add a bit of white paint for sparkle a reflection. Hey presto! I like the sunny, light feel to this painting.


I am going to put the paintings up for auction soon now that I have a good stock.......

'Juicy Bites' SOLD

'Juicy bites' 

Acrylic on Canvas Board (30x30cm) 

SOLD

Again, I have really enjoyed the way the light is catching these Oranges. Where I paint, gets lovely morning sun and it is the perfect place to work. I think it is amazing how a simple subject can be so enjoyable to paint. Really, it is sometimes more difficult to paint a 'simple' composition.

'Come back, Shadow!'

'Come back Shadow!' 

Acrylic on Canvas Board (30x30cm) 

For Sale £75 (inc worldwide shipping)

I really enjoyed painting this little flower yesterday so I thought I would paint it again in another of my little vases! (I do have a lot of them collected from holidays!)


I love the way the flower's shadow looks as though it is trying to get away and the flower seems to be following it! Am I being too fanciful, do you think? Anyway,

'Shadow Dance' SOLD

'Shadow Dance' Acrylic on Canvas Board (30x30cm) SOLD


This is such a sweet little green pot which has sat gathering dust for years on a shelf! It is the perfect vase for this geranium which was still flowering in November in my garden! I am very pleased with the composition of this painting. I love the simplicity of it and the shadow that the flower casts on the wall.


Went back to Acrylics today as I don't have a lot of room to leave the oils to dry! Probably try and do one a week.

'Just one bite!'

'Just one bite' 

Acrylic on Canvas Board (30x30cm) 

For Sale £75 (inc worldwide shipping)

I love painting cakes! Need to find a beautiful cup cake next!

New Canvases and Shop!

30 new canvas boards have just been delivered so I can get going on some more painting today!

While I had nothing to paint on over the weekend, I set up a Zazzle Shop! What a clever idea! So now it is possible to buy the paintings on different products; cards, canvas prints, mugs, mousemats, bags etc!

'Underfoot'

'Underfoot' 

Acrylic on Canvas Board (30x30cm) 

For Sale £75 (inc worldwide shipping)

Have just finished the painting and it is getting dark outside. This is the trouble with painting in the winter!


Loved these leaves when I saw them during a rain storm last weekend in Cambridge. They seem to epitomise this Autumn with lots of rain but beautiful coloured leaves still on the trees. Bit of a challenge trying to make them look wet but, if I tell you it was a wet day, that should help!

'Consider the Lilies of the Field"

'Consider the Lilies of the field' 

Acrylic on Canvas Board (30x30cm) 

For Sale £75 (inc worldwide shipping)

I love lilies! I always have a bunch in the house and these were catching the light so beautifully this morning that I thought they were worthy of a portrait!


I am getting into the swing of a painting a day! You do have to set aside the time and make yourself do it but, it is a lovely way to pass the time! Have booked the domain names www.dailyart.co.uk and www.apaintingaday.co.uk and have pointed them to this blog in the mean time. Now need to build a website for them.

New Website for Artists....

I am developing a website for UK artists to sell their "Daily Paintings" through over the next few weeks.

If you are a UK artist and would like to know more then please get in touch with me at; info@catsalter.co.uk.

Too good to eat - SOLD

'Too good to eat' Acrylic on Canvas Board (30x30cm) SOLD


The title of this painting says it all! Vine Tomatoes always look too good to eat! I hate pulling them off the vine and spoiling the look of it! Bought these this morning for supper tonight and just had to paint there gorgeous shininess!


Am getting into my stride now with these small paintings. I normally paint large canvases and it has taken me a few days to learn to work small again. I think I need to go out and buy some new brushes. My small ones are rather misshaped and have suffered from a bit of neglect! Never neglect your brushes; always clean them out properly!

Geranium Pot SOLD

I love this old terracotta pot with this little geranium in it. It has valiantly flowered all summer with gorgeous deep plum flowers and has now come indoors for a well earned rest!

Not too happy with how this one has photographed. It is more subtle in reality and has come a bit harsh in the photo. I really enjoyed painting this and did it in a much looser style.

SOLD

Day off painting....

Spent the day in Cambridge today but didn't slack! Sat in the Fitzwilliam Museum and did a pencil sketch of a wonderfully lit marble bust. Might do a painting of him tomorrow if I have time! I have to paint some scenery for a ballet show in the afternoon.....

'Balancing Act' SOLD

'Balancing Act' Acrylic on Canvas Board (30x30cm) SOLD


Well that was a hard one! How come something so simple can be so difficult!

Still I am happy with the outcome! Lovely and shiny and balancing on a point. It has been a vile day of solid rain here so it has been great to shut myself in the studio and paint the day away!

The paintings I am doing are on quality canvas boards, unframed. They look great propped up on mantlepieces or shelves. Alternatively, you can get them framed to hang on the wall.

"Sticky Treat!"

No shoes spoke to me today, so I turned to the cake box for inspiration and the children's afternoon 'treat', when they get back from school, looked tempting! So instead of eating it I have painted it.

This was very difficult to sit in front of without taking a bite form it! There is something so tempting about the shiny cherry sitting on the top! It is amazing how much detail you see in a simple bun when you really start looking at it in detail.

FOR SALE £75 (shipped anywhere in the world)

'Converse with me' SOLD

Well, here is painting no 1!

I love Converses and wear them all the time. Converses get better with age and I really liked the way this one is starting to fray at the back and taking on it's own character.

Might have a look through my cupboard and see what other shoes are worthy of a portrait!

SOLD

Paints arrive.............

Well, the paints turned up yesterday! There is something lovely about new tubes of paint, so pristine and full! It almost seems a shame to open them! Hopefully, the canvases will arrive on Monday and I can get started. I am going around the house and looking at items as potential 'subjects'!

The murals arrived at the schools on Thursday and everyone seems happy with them! Looking forward to seeing them installed.

New website names booked

I have spent the day waiting for my canvases to turn up (a postal strike doesn't help) and done some research on how other artists are getting on with doing a painting a day. It seems to be most popular in America.

Have booked up some domain names and will start building some new websites.... (while waiting for the post!)

Let's get painting........

I have decided that 'a painting a day' is a great idea! Have ordered canvases and paints today, ...oh, and a table top easel! It has to be easy to get out and do a panting otherwise it will become a chore. Have decided to paint in oils as I haven't done any for so long.

I am really excited about the idea and will post my results on here, hopefully, when I have my first painting.......

Musk Ox - FOR SALE £250 Acrylic on canvas

Who is Cat Salter?

I feel I have jumped in at the deep end and not really explained about me and my work....

I did an Art Foundation Year at Bournemouth Art College in the early 80's and then studied Fine Art at Wits University In Jo'burg, South Africa! I haven't done much with my art since I left University as I married, had two beautiful girls and ran other businesses. Now that I have time, I am turning back to my art and really enjoying it!

I love still life work in Acrylics and Oils. I am starting to look at doing 'a painting a day'! It is a tall order with everything else that we have to fit into a day, but, it would be a good discipline. I think I will start on small canvases! I will let you know if I manage it and I will post the pictures on the blog!

Mackerel -

FOR SALE £300 Acrylic on Canvas with silver leaf (122x60 cm)

Three Pears -

SOLD

Mural Paintings for Schools

I have been closeted in the garage for two weeks painting huge pieces of ply board for 3 murals! Thank goodness for patio heaters and Spotify on the laptop!

Have learnt a lot doing these commission! You suddenly realise how much paint it takes to cover 4.8 m of ply and how long it takes! Have found a fantastic company who can lacquer the finished panels which makes them glossy and waterproof.

One of the Murals is a long Woodland scene stuffed with animals, birds and insects. The other two are an underwater scene and a little girl playing on a beach. They are being installed at a local school and nursery.