Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Angel on High

Soft Pastel
22 x 26"
Sold

This is Angel. He was part of a feral litter born to a neighborhood cat that no one could catch.  One day I heard a kitten screaming, searched the yard, checked under the deck, but saw nothing. After an agonizing day searching, I finally crawled under the deck and looked down a slender standing pipe with a flashlight.  A tiny screaming face looked back. A fallen Angel.  He was only a few weeks old, and had wedged himself so he couldn't move his paws. In desperation, I lowered a rope with a rag tied to the end. He grabbed onto the rag with his teeth, and I pulled him out.  He was one wet, stinking, screaming kitten: scared but otherwise unharmed.  From that day on Angel was my constant companion until he passed away at age 14 in 2006.   

44 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh Liz what a wonderful story about a friendship born out of a near tragedy averted only because you had the heart and courage to follow the cries for help under the deck. Your perseverance and ingenuity were rewarded when that little "stinker" (used in the kindest way to refer to his stubbornness and smell) grabbed onto your life line.

He knew you were his earth angel and I'm sure showed his gratitude every day he was with you.

Big hugs to you my dear friend. I love the painting. It is AMAZING. It reminds me of my favorite artist's work-Maxfield Parrish. It is definitely the most unique and beautiful portrait I've seen. I can tell every stroke was placed with love and adoration for Angel.

Michelle said...

Oh Liz this is so beautiful! A lovely story too. He may have had humble beginings but Angel looks like the most elegant cat I've every seen.

Unknown said...

Great story and great painting, and what a fantastic pose to remember him by watching over you

Carol Schiff Daily Painting said...

Liz, That is one story! I am amazed that the little kitten was able to clamp on the your life line and allow you to pull him(her) out! Bravo! And this is an absolutely wonderful tribute that you have created. Lovely in every way.

Camille LaRue Olsen said...

Cool story and really nice painting, Liz. I've been staring at your close-up facial studies -- fantastic!

Unknown said...

Liz, this is beautiful, and I know Angel is still watching over you. I bet it was a comfort to get her onto canvas so you have this reminder of her nearby.
xxxooo

Paintings by Irit Bourla said...

Great story and beautiful painting.

dominique eichi said...

Wow such a beautiful tribute to Angel. He loved you and still is through your painting and your love for him shows through every strokes.
What a perfect piece.

Art with Liz said...

I am so glad you visited me Liz so I could return the compliment and read this wonderful story and admire the amazing painting you did of Angel. You're on my blog list now!

L.Holm said...

Thanks, Sheila! He turned out to be a big stinker, too.. a real prankster, tortured the dogs, and talked nonstop. He was a love! Miss him to this day.

Michelle-thanks..he was beauty.

Sam -well said. I like to think he's a guardian angel now.

Thank you Carol - i'm amazed, too, that he figured out to use his teeth. He was a survivor.

Thanks, Camille, and thanks for visiting!

L.Holm said...

Thanks, Nancy - I was a bit torn when the painting sold. Thank goodness for digital images... : )

Thank you, Irit and Dominique- I appreciate it.

Liz - Thanks for visiting, and adding me to your international blog roll. I'm grateful!

Edward Burton said...

An absolutely BEAUTIFUL painting and a very wonderful story, Liz. He was a very lucky cat, not just because of the rescue, but also for having you in his life.

L.Holm said...

Thanks, Edward--very nice thing to say! He was a grand cat.

Kerri Settle said...

This is a gorgeous painting and I love the story! My childhood cat named Angel recently passed away ; this made me smile in memory.

L.Holm said...

Hi, Kerri - it's hard to lose them, that's for sure. Thanks for your kind comments!

Manon said...

What a magnificent painting of Angel! Your story is so heartwarming! You were both so lucky to have each other!

artbyakiko said...

What a wonderful story! And the painting of Angel is so BEAUTIFUL!

Douglas Hoover said...

Beautiful story.
Beautiful animal.
Beautiful painting.

Very moving.

r garriott said...

Oh, Liz, a wonderful painting and love him up on the pedestal with that dramatic sky!

The story reminds me of how I came to be owned by my two cats, born in a greenhouse.

Phil Holt said...

Liz, this is a terrific painting. I also love the feature studies you did.

L.Holm said...

Hi, Manon. Thanks. I felt lucky for sure!

Thank you Akiko - I appreciate your kindness. You are the cat painter without compare. : )

Douglas, you are kind kind kind !

R- thanks! he was always perched on something surveying his kingdom. Cats do come to own us don't they!

L.Holm said...

Phil - thank you so much, and thanks for looking at my work. Appreciate it!

Angela Elledge said...

Liz - I popped in this morning, but didn't have time to comment and now I'm finally back. Everything about Angel is lovely, in addition to all that has been said, I get a kick from that firm grip he has on his perch, it screams, Survivor! Incredible eye flow -- it appears his gaze and that bushy tail keep your eye rotating round and round. I would have loved to have seen this in person, the large format plus the perspective commands your attention. Thanks for sharing!

Kayleen Ylitalo-Horsma said...

Liz- your paintings are very impressive! So fun!

Jala Pfaff said...

Ohhhhhhhhh...heartbreaking fantastic story! AND painting.

Deirdre said...

Hi Liz. Thanks for visiting my blog. I am equally happy to have found your blog. You are a magnificent artist! I love your animal paintings.

Vern Schwarz said...

Hi Liz, you are an angel, and what a great, heart warming story. Sounds like you both made out good in the end, and Angel lived a long, happy life. The painting is gorgeous.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for following my blog. I have a cat, aged 19 now and he is quite a character. I love your painting and your blog is very interesting and varied. Will visit again soon.

L.Holm said...

Thanks so much Angela- I always enjoy reading your comments!

Kayleen - thanks for stopping in. I appreciate it!

Jala, thanks! I know you're a fellow cat lover.

thank you , Deirdre! I appreciate it.

L.Holm said...

Vern - Thanks so much! I'm afraid most days I feel less than angelic, but it's kind of you to say so! Angel was a great cat, and we got each other through some rough patches. :-)

Carolann, thanks so much for stopping in!

Rhonda Hartis Smith said...

Liz,

Thanks so much for stopping by and your kind comments about my sketches of my Father. Of course I wanted to thank you and see your art and I was amazed at the first painting I saw, your beautiful cat. What a gorgeous tribute to Angel. All of your work is wonderful and inspiring, I'll be back!

L.Holm said...

Thanks so much, Rhonda! Look forward to seeing more of your work, too.

TSL said...

So soft and lovely. Sweet.

Mary Sheehan Winn said...

the LOVE in this took my breath away and being owned by a succession of cats, the story is the crowning touch. WOW!
Thanks for dropping by my blog so I could get to see your beautiful work.
Cat Lovers!! ALWAYS!

Gary Keimig said...

Good story and good painting. You did a marvelous job.

L.Holm said...

Tina, Mary and Gary - thank you so much, and thank you for looking at my work.

Galya said...

Very moving story and fine picture. I also have a friend cat, the old wise Liza. I think that it`s impossible to be a good painter if you don`t try to be a good person every day. You are both:)

Best regards
Galina

L.Holm said...

Galina - what a very kind thing to say. Thank you. Hugs.

Sandra Galda said...

wow love the amazing cat painting and story. It is the sort of story that stays with you. What a beautiful painting. Love your art!

L.Holm said...

Thanks Sandra and thanks for visiting.

Gwen Bell said...

What a beautiful painting of your beautiful Angel. The composition is so lovely. There is an ethereal tranquility to it, as if she's thanking you for the wonderful life she had.

L.Holm said...

Thank you, Gwen. That's a lovely thought!

Dean Grey said...

Oh my goodness!

What an amazing piece of art, Liz.

I love everything about it. The composition. The cat high up off the ground looking down. The beautiful sky in the background.

Very soft and romantic in feeling.

Just beautiful!

-Dean

Dean Grey said...

Sorry for the extra post but I forgot to mention that I think Angel is looking down on this portrait.

-Dean