Studio Assistant

Finished just in time to be included in my Jacksonville show, here's Studio Assistant. This is a 13.5"x10.5" watercolor that I thought I might finish in just a few days, but it actually took about twice that long. Jeff and I kept getting interrupted with errands, voting, family responsibilities, home improvement projects, etc. Also, there's a lot more to this painting than I had originally thought. Little containers filled with paintbrushes take some time! Bun was in fact the easiest part of this painting--I think this is the sixth time I've painted her. Example:

Bun has always enjoyed watching me paint. Back when she was very young, she liked to bat at the end of my paintbrush or pen...

Sometimes she'd even lounge on in-progress paintings.

Since then she has taken on a more supervisory role...

...and is now my toughest critic and harsh taskmaster.

(Apologies for posting that photo yet again. I'm just crazy about it.)

One day last fall Bun hopped up on my painting table, and she seemed to be posing for me. I took a few photos before she moved on to more pressing matters.

This photo captured Bun's seriousness and illustrated how surprisingly small she is. In certain situations, sometimes her head can appear to be too big for her body, and that is adorable.

The photo was great, but the lamp was in the way. So I edited and moved a few things to create a vertical composition.

Clockwise from the top left corner:

• Some (fake) poppies in a vase made by a grad school acquaintance--he gave it to me in exchange for a ceramic mask I had made.
• Metal sign with a giant letter R (used to advertise a Robert Rauschenberg exhibition). In my Match.com profile, I mentioned that R is the most attractive letter because it has it all: curve, straight line, diagonal. And that's probably the top reason why Jeff decided to contact me.
• Beloved Achewood comic strip discussing the awfulness of the Comic Sans font. Contains bad language.
• Bun
• The panel behind her seems to mimic her tabby pattern.
• My water container. The lid says "Fido" and claims to be made in Italy.
• Plastic ruler I can't seem to find at the moment.
• Raku turquoise dish holding paint tubes. I wish they were arranged more attractively.
• One of the first ceramic containers I've ever made--a blue string of pearls loops around it.
• My graphic design professor made the larger container, and he gave it to my watercolor professor, and he gave it to me. Inside: pencils, an old brush, a couple of screwdrivers, and a Ralph Wiggum thing you can put on your car's antenna.

Prints of this painting are now available here on Imagekind. But before you go, let's enjoy some Ralph quotes.

 

Comments

[Anastasia]

You never cease to completely amaze me! Another gorgeous piece, Kelly!! LOVE it!!

[GinaE]

How in the world do you get Bun to look so real? The kitty eye looks like a photo. You are so talented and I am so glad to hear you are having another show! Many thanks for sharing this painting. It's my favorite so far (and I really love all your work).

[Elizabeth]

I didn't realize how little Bun was! Love the stare down picture the best!!! Fantastic job on the watercolors Kelly!