This is a phenomenal piece. I spent many hours painting it, possibly 40 in total. It is an endeavor I am not likely to repete. And if I do, it won't be any time soon.
The painting on it is done in miniature. Lots of things are going on in the painting. The neck is seemingly on fire. When my son saw this piece finished, he said, and I quote, "We didn't start the fire." Said to the tune and rythme of Billy Joel's hit single.
I spent a lot of time working on clouds in this piece. Both haunches are covered with cartoon clouds, as is most of the back. Hence, Claude, the Cartoon Cat. At the time, I was reading the most wonderful book by Francois Gilot, My LIfe With Picasso. Picasso wasn't happy she wrote that book. She wrote it after she left him. After she wrote the book, their relationship deteriorated completely, and he stopped not only speaking to her, but also to their two children, Claude and Paloma. Even so, when Picasso died, Claude became the main controller of his art fortune. (The book financed the lawsuit allowing him that privilege. Good for Gilot.)
So, I named the Cat after her son, Claude, who died recently, incidently.
Anyone wanting to learn about art, this is were the secrets are told. We owe this to Gilot, a delightful woman who also was a painter all her life. Picasso was furious. As you might suspect, as do I, one thing he did not like was that she told so many secrets about his art process. Once he was asked by an interviewer, Zervos, I think, what was art. To which he replied, "I have no idea. If I knew, I certainly wouldn't tell anyone." I'm paraphrasing. In fact, read Gilot's book and you will find Picasso knew a lot about what art was.
I don't know that I would again spend this kind of time painting a sculpture, as I am now also painting actual paintings. If I don't sell this piece soon, I will probably mark up the price significantly. And I might simply keep it, if I can afford to.
One paw of this Cat sculpture is extended. I think of our Cat, mine and my son's, Ginger. She has this way of extending one paw quickly, to catch or swat something or knock something down. It is an act of power demonstrating her formidableness.
I would not leave this sculpture outside for a long time. Why would you? You would not be able to appreciate the painting that it also is.
Height: 19" Width: 13" Depth: 23"
Oil paint on shaped and brazed copper. Made by hand, by me, Beau Smith. January 2024.
Signed and dated.
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