Cat Art Kitten with Computer Mouse by Della Burgus

The Name of the Game...

 is, of course,  Cat and Mouse.  A cliche, perhaps, but a harmless one.

Wikipedia defines "Cat and Mouse" as

an English-language idiom dating back to 1675 that means "a contrived action involving constant pursuit, near captures, and repeated escapes." The "cat" is unable to secure a definitive victory over the "mouse", who despite not being able to defeat the cat, is able to avoid capture. In extreme cases, the idiom may imply that the contest is never-ending.

In colloquial usage it has often been generalized (or corrupted) to mean simply that the advantage constantly shifts between the contestants, leading to an impasse or de facto stalemate.

I have heard the term applied to various wars (as recently as the current "involvement" in Libya), as well as athletic events, relationships and office politics.  I am a person who prefers my encounters to be straightforward and transparent without the added stress of game playing. 

This little kitten,  however, is just having some innocent  fun with something that looks like a toy to her.  And, for the moment, it is.

This painting is acrylic on stretched, wrapped canvas, standard depth,  All the edges are free of staples or fasteners and they are all painted, so that the canvas may be displayed without a frame.

Cat and Mouse
Acrylic on stretched, wrapped canvas, 8 x 10
$85 plus $8 shipping within the United States
Please email me with any questions or info on International shipping
dellartist@yahoo.com

Please join me in praying for the people of  New Zealand and Japan. I can not even begin to image what they are going through.

Feline Art Cats Cute Calico Kitten by Della Burgus

Cute Calico Kitten

Pastel on Canson Pastel Paper

7 x 9.5

What is a kitten?  A innocently wicked, curiously playful, quietly hyperactive, cuddly little fireball that purrs...  All that and more. I can't imagine a world without kitties, I surely wouldn't want to live in one. 

This pastel is mounted on foam core board, matted to a standard frame size, and ready to frame. The frame is not included. It has been listed on Daily Painters and Art Helping Animals

Chisholm Trail Exhibit in Duncan, Oklahoma Part 2

The above photo and article below by Vernita Bridges Hoyt have been published in the Chisholm Trail Art Blog.  There is a link to this blog on the sidebar or just click here.

Iowa Artist Della Burgus at The Chisholm Trail Heritage Center

Della Burgus' beautiful white stallion painting was selected to be published with the exhibition announcement news story in the local Duncan newspaper.  I will scan the newspaper article and post it here for download. The above image shows Della's four paintings on exhibit at The Chisholm Trail Heritage Center. My camera didn't pick up the painting on the right, but if you click on the above image for greater detail you may be able to see it better.

A big "THANK YOU!"  Vernita !!!

Chisholm Trail Exhibit in Duncan, Oklahoma

I want to invite all of you in the Duncan, Oklahoma area to visit the "Artists on the Chisholm Trail" exhibit, March 7 through April 30,  featuring the work of seven artists living in states along or bordering the Old Chisholm Trail.  As the Trail went through both Kansas and Missouri, Iowa is considered a border state.   If you haven't visited the "Chisholm Trail Art" site, there is a link on the sidebar of this blog, or simply click here:  Chisholm Trail Art

I have four paintings in the exhibit. You may have seen them before, as all were posted previously,  but two have been reworked and all were rephotographed, so I thought I would share them again.

*****

Kicking Up Dust

Acrylic, 14 x 18

This is a painting of a spirited horse kicking up a little dust along the trail. According to the Urban Dictionary, the definition of “kicking up dust,” is  “to be, or to be about to be, causing chaos and/or trouble.”  I have known horses like that and a few people,as well. They tend to be those of an independent spirit, who don’t willingly comply,  and don’t always run with the crowd. They tend to color outside the lines and they are the ones who make life interesting.

*****

Eye of the Beholder

Acrylic, 10 x 8

A close up portrait of a horse. Look into his eyes and you will see the faithfulness of his spirit, his joy, pain, fear, and perhaps a just touch of resignation. This painting is meant as a tribute to horses, in gratitude for all their contributions. Throughout history the human race has depended upon their strength, loyalty, intelligence and spirit. Our country and our world would not be the same without them. This painting was originally named  Into the Light.

 *****

Morning Has Broken

Oil, 11 x 14

Snow is a challenging subject for an artist, but it can also be one of the most rewarding.  Though it is white, it is never really just white, rather it reflects the colors of a changing sky and atmosphere . In this painting, I wanted to capture the stillness, serenity and sanctity of  the gentle dawn.  The painting was inspired by the words of the song.

*****

Who Has Seen the Wind?

Oil, 12 x 16

 Life along the Chisholm Trail was not easy for the horses; days were long, the work hard and the weather could be extreme. Yet, within even the best trained, hardest working horse is a wild, free spirit that can not be tamed by man. This painting is about the spirit and movement that is so typical of horses, and a tribute to their contribution to our lives.

Who Has Seen the Wind?
By Christina Rossetti

Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you:
But when the leaves hang trembling,
The wind is passing through.

Who has seen the wind?
Neither you nor I:
But when the trees bow down their heads,
The wind is passing by.

White Bunnies and Kitties

 This cute little bunny is a snowshoe hare, a wild rabbit that turns white to match the snow in the winter and brown so it can hide in the bushes in the summer.  Isn't that amazing?  A very dear friend told me last week that she was so overwhelmed to discover the number of animal species there are in the world that she went around asking everyone how many animals they could name.  Most of us know only a few hundred, but the actual number is somewhere in the millions, I think.  I can't remember the exact number, but it is mind blowing.  It makes me a little sad to realize that I will never know most of them, will probably see only a few in my lifetime.  God put all these wonders on the earth for us to enjoy and we completely fail to appreciate so much of  His wonderful work.

This painting is in pastel, 6 x 8.5 inches, and may be purchased through Art Helping Animals.

         This acrylic painting of a white Persian Cat has already found a new home.  I love painting cats, and Persians are an especially fascinating and popular breed. I love their soft, silky fur, sweet gentle dispositions and elegant grace.