Charlie Blue - Signature Move

Our little Charlie, also known as our Spare Parts Kitty, once a very homely kitten we fostered along with his siblings, and who nobody wanted, has grown into himself over the past several years and is now absolutely adorable and I'm a fool for him.    (His sister Frida Kahlo of the startling monobrow, was adopted by a Frida devotee, and Oliver of the rusty black coat and strange eyebrow & whisker sprouts is still with us and has grown into a silky ebony beauty.)
That said, this is Charlie's signature pose that never fails to grab our attention and additional playtime, treats or smooches, which of course is why he does it.  And yes, much of the time Charlie wears that Worried Man look, though he truly isn't. 

This painting is 6x6, acrylic on canvas. 

Discussing Where to Grab Lunch on the Blue Ridge

Finished.  I had thought there would be additional layer(s) of wildflowers but I soon realized precious little, if anything, would be gained, so I simply added more wild blackberries and suggestion of pastures in the land beyond. 
Acknowledging the nature of crows and their relatives, the title has been modified, grabbing lunch seeming most likely.
The canvas is 12 x 10 inches, the palette Quin. Magenta, Cadmium Red Med,  Azo yellow, Cadmium Orange, Cerulean Blue, Pthalo Blue, Pthalo Green, Unbleached titanium and Titanium Dioxide; Ivory Black.    While some black was worked into the birds' bodies, the "black" is primarily the pthalos and magenta. 

My Blue ( mosaic) Cross

Added to my Etsy shop today  $24 including shipping in USA. 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/patibannister

 

EIGHTEEN PATICAT NOTECARD COLLECTION

As suggested by several people, I will begin to offer selected collections.   This is one that was specifically requested.   Essentially 3 $20 sets for $52.00; postage in the US included.
However, while much of the country is freezing, it is a weird but warm 70-something outside, so that's where I'm off to for now.
Ciao!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/172020091/eighteen-different-cat-notecards-a?ref=shop_home_active

Oh Julius ... You've been a Long Time Coming ...

On Sunday, I completed the first painting I had done in about 3 years, and the first cat painting in perhaps 4.  It's not that I lost my love of or fascination with cats, it's that living with eight has given me a bit of that "Coals to Newcastle " syndrome.

So without further adieu, here is Oh, Julius a composite of six creamsicle-marmalade-gingers I have known over the past 25.  Three lived or are living with our son, two with us and one a darling rescue from New York who it seems, half the social networking country fell in love with.  

The painting is 5 x 7 inches, his eyes follow you, and he is very sweet.  I will keep him for a time as a talisman which I hope will encourage me to get back to painting on a regular basis, but may do a limited number full-sized prints on canvas. 

I've just added a new blank notecard to my Etsy shop (Pati Bannister).  It's titled "Sonny with Flowers" and is pretty charming, if I must say so myself.   

 

I'm also working on a Christmas card.  First painting in a long time.  Rusty, Rusty.  

Ivory Keepsake Box

I am in the process of pulling things together for the "Misadventure" box, so took the opportunity this morning to photograph a box I completed about two weeks ago.  
I am very happy with the flow of the design, which reminds me of the sea .... it is quite elegant and feminine in feel.
This box is cedar, and covered in textured and carved pieces of  white-ecru polymer clay.  Graceful curved areas were left and then filled with handmade circular motifs, also carved.  In some, tiny aquarmine beads were inserted for delicate contrast.
The interior of the box as been antiqued, as has the bottom.  The underside of the lift-off lid has been signed. 

Cedar Faux Ivory Cigar Box

I am so pleased with this box, and as often happens in such cases, I've held onto it for a long time. I made it out of a white-ecru mix which I textured, then cut into I don't know how many narrow strips and covered the entire exterior, including the bottom. Once that was done, and the box cured, I sanded and buffed and then applied a glaze of raw sienna and burnt umber. A striped agate bead I especially liked was then fixed to the top, a narrow black bezel created and the piece was cured again to fuse the glaze and cure the clay bezel. I've left the interior natural to allow it to be used for proper cigar storage, and cut a removable dark brown suede piece for the base. The box is 5 3/4 inches long, 4 1/2 inches wide and 4 3/8 inches tall. The entire exterior of the box is covered, including the bottom. I have signed the underside of the lid.

Hand Carved Artifact Bangle Bracelet

I loved making this bangle as well as a number of others using similar techniques. I built the mosaic on a simple bangle base; tiled inside and out for comfort and strength. The textured tiles are patterned from an original design of my own, and are accented with circular tiles and small individually made balls. The piece has been glazed with a burnt umber-burnt sienna glaze.

The inside is also tiled and signed. The interior diameter is just at 2 3/4 inches, medium to medium-large in size, and the width of the bangle is 1 1/2 inches.

It is currently in my Etsy shop.

Blue Currents Mokume Gane Earrings

Very thin, ultra-lightweight slivers of silver and blue(s). Buffed, polished and glossed on the front, the back is deliberately left somewhat "unfinished" which feels to me like a bit of exotic shell.
Overall length about 2 5/8"; drop 1 3/4"

Stropple Cane Inspired Bangle Bracelet

Two forces inspired this piece...one my desire to use up pretty bits and pieces and two, the wonderful technique of Alice Stroppel, Stroppel cane. I don't work with canes, except once in awhile, in the most basic way, but thought it might be possible to cut tiny pieces of lots of colorful scraps, layer them between thin sheets of black polymer clay, squish them all together and then slice.

By their nature, the slices were less complex in design than they would have been had they been canes, but with some careful running through the pasta machine, interesting blends formed. I then sliced the results into thin strips and affixed them to a previously cured black bangle base.

Thank you Alice!

Marbelized Bangle

I love working with leftover bits and peices and know many of us do. This bangle reminds me as much of marbelized paper as anything.
The piece is made entirely of polymer clay; the scrap mokume gane added to a base bangle.

Faux Jade Pendants New in My Etsy Shop

New Faux Jade Pendants in my Etsy Shop as of this morning.
Both are wonderful colors; the bases have been sanded and buffed to a soft lustrous sheen, and feel as smooth as jade.
Both also have an integrated batik-textured jade and would look great with chain, cord, ribbon or beads.
Left: 3/4 x 2 3/4
Right: 1 x 2

http://www.etsy.com/shop/patibannister