I took an online class in abstract painting during November/December 2020. For more info, see the introduction in this post featuring the first painting I did in the class.
The class was structured with a short lecture at the beginning of class covering an abstract painter’s work and using it as a springboard to discuss abstract art principles. Then we students painted at our individual studios.
Thank you to my fellow students and my teacher, Kassem Amoudi.
Here is the last painting I did as part of my work in my online painting class. Twelve of them done in 6 weeks! I am really happy with the images I did and I especially enjoyed the feeling of being back at work with brush in hand, painting. It was also good to interact with other artists and to have the feedback of the instructor.
All right, here is the painting. It is called “Oh What a Glorious Creature You Are”, and it is 20″ x 16″, done in acrylics on canvas.
And here are some stages of the work as it was in progress. As you can see, it started off with a bird at center stage. As I studied the painting, though, I kept seeing a large fat cat rather than a bird. Well, I made the reality match my vision. I think there was always a cat in the picture trying to get out into view – all I did was free it. Right?!
Claudia McGill and Her Art World 
Class work – you are always so very classy, Claudia!…
Thank you. As is my cat, if you knew him!
A beautiful painting and you were quite right to free the cat!
Thank you, I love birds but I will always pick the cat first! It was fun to do this picture, because we are a cat family here and I never get tired of portraying them.
I think this is the piece where the process shots are the most fascinating – and not just because the bird became a cat. I love that the human figure looks excited to greet the cat whereas the cat looks supercilious and disdainful. That is just the perfect depiction of a cat-human relationship.
Yes. Cats always have the upper hand, don’t they? I look at these interim versions and I enjoy seeing how somehow the picture did emerge, in pretty good shape.
I really love this and love seeing your process. Birds into cats, yellow into green, lots of fun. N.
Thank you. I sort of start out with no plan and somehow ideas rise from my mind. I don’t know how this happens butI like the feelings.
❤