Michi II

I've never said I was a realistic painter, so it's not surprising that two different portraits of the same cat came out so differently. I really wasn't happy with the first portrait, Life too short. Perhaps knowing that there wasn't a happy ending for Michi clouded my inspiration. There's a darkness to it I didn't like.

So I called on my muse again and asked for joy and the serenity that Michi didn't have at this life and this is what happened.

Life too short

Also known as Michi Departed
May, 2008

I don't know how Michi came into King County Animal Control, but I do know her life ended there, despite tries to get her adopted.

She was sent to PetSmart to be shown. She started getting really upset about being in a cage...grumbling, hissing, irritable... so that didn't work out.

So, she went to a private home to be fostered for a bit. She didn't get along with the foster's cats. Then she bit the foster mom. So, she came back to the Kent shelter. She was even more unhappy there, back in a cage.

Last straw came when she bit an officer, so she was put down. Some cats do not do well in shelters.

I've painted two portraits of her. This is a little dark so I did a little lighter one. 100% of the proceeds from this painting will go to the Feral Cat Project if it's sold at the Laura Frost Gallery show.