New Painting! Van Gogh Cat

This is the first in a series of "Art Cats" that I plan to paint. I love painting folk art based on the old masterpieces. The link to this is at the top of this page!

Kitty Van Gogh and Junco Party are on Ebay now. Yes, Kitty Van Gogh is missing an ear. Find the link to my Ebay at the top of this page~

Van Gogh Cat

I'm pretty sure that if Van Gogh were a cat he would look like this one. This fun, chunky little painting is available on Ebay. Check it out and check back. I will be listing some more silly cat versions of famous paintings!

Van Gogh

I am still obsessing over learning about Vincent Van Gogh. Poor fellow obviously had untreated bi-polar disorder. He tried a lot of remedies and even institutionalized himself a couple of times. He only sold one painting in his lifetime and depended on his brother Theo for support as he gallivanted around Europe trying to fit in somewhere and find happiness. Poor Theo was in such poor health that he died six months after Vincent's suicide, never seeing his brother's fame either! Vincent never had any money for food but somehow he managed to visit many brothels on the premise that he was "studying the people" for his paintings. Hmmm...

This is my rendition of his portrait. It was interesting to paint a face without the use of flesh tone at all. It is all yellows, reds, and greens. His eyes were china blue and he often made them look a bit slanted in his self portraits because he loved Asian art and was greatly influenced by it. I will be listing this portrait tonight on Ebay.

Van Gogh and the Green Fairy

I just finished reading a book about the last couple of months in Vincent Van Gogh's life. Many of the European artists and writers of those days drank or were addicted to absinthe. Absinthe is a spirit made by distilling many different herbs including wormwood. In the 1800's it was very strong and was said to be a psychotropic. Absinthe was also called "The Green Fairy". Hemingway said he was under the influence of absinthe when he wrote "For Who the Bell Tolls".

I think Van Gogh suffered from anxiety and depression and tended to self medicate. The doctor (Dr. Gachet) who was caring for him when he commit suicide was treating Van Gogh with various herbal "tinctures" that he brewed from his gardens. None of these seemed to help and may have actually increased his anxiety!

This painting is my impression of Vincent Van Gogh being seduced by "The Green Fairy". I used very heavy acrylics to give the look of oil paint. There is lots of texture and color on this painting and it looks wonderful in this old frame! I'm not sure if I want to part with it, but I will list it on Ebay tonight.

I am really curious about absinthe now! I know that it was banned in the US for many years, but has recently returned. I'm sure that it can't be as potent as it was years ago. Has anyone out there tried it? I am tempted to find a bottle just so I can taste it!