Abstract #7 By C Caton

Abstract #7 By C Caton, Completed September 2012 - SOLD

Another oldie from 2008 - "Faithful Friend" by C Caton

"Faithful Friend" By C Caton, 2008

Here we have the kitty delivering flowers to his dearly departed friends, loving and missing them still.  He's swiped a few from the bush outside of the cemetary wall.   Done with watercolors and the Derwent Watercolor Pencils in 2008, and is in my own collection.

It's a long story, and I don't know if anyone cares, but if you do then read on -

My dad always loved cats, but we'd never had any pets when I was little until I brought home a kitten when I was 10 years old.   That cat lived to be 23 years old, dying when I was 33!  I couldn't possibly take her with me when I moved out in my early 20's,  with dad being as attached to her as he was, and so she had been his faithful friend all of those years. 

When she passed away, he made her a casket and buried her in the backyard with a headstone that read "Little Cat" A Faithful Friend for 23 Years".

Time went on, and they had "Big Kitty" then "White Kitty" and "Gray Kitty".  When Dad became very ill back in 2008, I went by the house on the way to the hospital to take care of the kitty, and I was really struck by how upset he was.  It was obvious that he very much missed my dad, going to his favorite chair and letting out the loudest meow.

That was the inspiration for this painting back in 2008, though Dad did recover that time.

My dad passed away January 2012, and it has been the same with "Gray Kitty" this time.   Mom says that he still seems to be looking for Dad...

**I had originally intended to make this blog something of a timeline of my work - It hasn't quite worked out that way, but I've been trying to add in some of my first work as time allows.

"A Frosty Fall Night" By C Caton

"A Frosty Fall Night" By C Caton

It's a frosty fall night in the country, and everything is glistening under the full moon! 

*There is some glare in the photos due to the metallic paints that were used.

Completed September 2012 - SOLD

"The Trouble with Money" By C Caton

I don't really consider myself a poet, but on occassion I write a poem now and then.  This is one that I just wrote this evening.  I hope that you like it!

"The Trouble with Money"

When mankind's story comes to a close,
Will we all be remembered for our stylish clothes?

Will we be honored far and wide,
For our brand-new, beautiful shiny ride?

Will we get praise and high acclaim,
For what we did or who we blame?

The value of money only exists in our mind,
And if you put it aside, you might just find

That in order for all to have what they need,
All that's required is far less greed.

Just look at the food that we throw away -
And how many people will starve today??

It's the twenty first century, and isn't it time
That we quit killing people for want of a dime?

We can all have enough if we only share.
We can all have enough if we only care.

If you look around, isn't it funny -
That the only real shortage we have
IS MONEY!

Carolyn Caton, September 2012

"Where the Deer and the Antelope Play" By C Caton

"Where the Deer and the Antelope Play" painting by C Caton - SOLD

A tip of the hat to Dr. Brewster Higley, who first penned his now famous poem back in the early 1870's.  I would imagine that he would be beyond surprised to know that we enjoy it still!

I believe that this was his original -

The Western Home

Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam,
  Where the deer and the antelope play;
  Where never is heard a discouraging word
     And the sky is not clouded all day.

Oh, give me the gale of the Solomon vale
  Where life streams with buoyancy flow,
  On the banks of the Beaver, where seldom if ever
     Any poisonous herbage doth grow.

Oh, give me the land where the bright diamond sand
   Throws light from the glittering stream;
   Where glideth along the graceful white swan,
      Like a maid in her heavenly dreams.

I love these wild flowers in this bright land of our;
   I love, too, the curlew's wild scream.
   The bluffs of white rocks and antelope flocks
     That graze on the hillsides so green.

How often at night, when the heavens are bright
   By the light of the glittering stars,
   Have I stood there amazed  and asked as I gazed
      If their beauty exceeds this of ours.   

The air is so pure, the breezes so light,
   The zephyrs so balmy at night,
   I would not exchange my home here to range
      Forever in azure so bright.

The original poem by Brewster Higley

While I like the song, I must confess that I am partial to the original poem, and it was the inspiration for this painting.