Work in progress - "Dark Cloud over Paradise Valley" C Caton

I don't normally post pictures before they are completed - mainly because I really hate cameras - But I have been working on this larger painting for a while now, and thought I'd share it's progress.

"Dark Cloud Over Paradise Valley" by C Caton - work in progress August 2014  One persons paradise is another's hell....

It's 24"x 36" and I'm not yet sure if it will be for sale anytime soon - may hang on to it for awhile.  I will post it again when it's finished!

"Ozark Cabin" By C Caton

"Ozark Cabin" By C Caton  Completed August 2014

"Teddy Bear Lake" By C Caton

Lately I have been going through some of my unfinished pieces, to either finish them or paint over them.  I ran across this piece, and just finished it up.  I had abandoned it at the time I first started it, because it seemed that my lake looked like a bear!  It wasn't at all what I had wanted at that time, but on second glance, I decided that it was kinda cool to have a bear shaped lake - even if by accident.  So here it is at long last - "Teddy Bear Lake" 

Moonglow By C Caton

"Moonglow" By C Caton - Completed June 2014

A barren landscape with under the erie glow of an unseen moon - This is my latest painting, "Moonglow" - just finished.  The colors don't really come across properly in the photo, though I did my best - it has a lot of metallic paint in it and those are always difficult for me to photograph.  

A bit of a rant - taking pictures of pictures isn't much fun at least to me.  If you have wondered why I don't post as many these days, well that is why.  I hate it.  Really, really hate it.  I'd rather be painting - or even watching the paint dry for that matter.  After nearly standing on my head to obtain this one semi-accurate photo of this painting, I gave up for now.  Will try again latter when I'm in a better mood for such.  :)  

Clyde, my trusty sidekick

I have now, 19 adult guinea fowl, 1 dog, 3 cats, and who knows how many fish in the pond(I started with 10, but they had babies this summer).   All but the fish follow me everywhere outdoors.  Everywhere I go, I feel as though I'm leading a parade!   And then there is Clyde.

I do not normally let "my girls" sit on their eggs, unless I know someone who wants some guinea keets in advance of them hatching, but this year I made an exception due to the aging of my little flock (they are 6 years old this year).

I do not know what was going on down there, but it seemed that I kept finding only dead or nearly dead keets this time around.  I rescued Clyde and one other baby, but the other one seemed to have some sort of neurological damage from the start, as his little legs would barely hold him upright. 

Keet #2 soon died, and that left only Clyde, who was thriving.  

Feeling rather sorry for the little fellow, being left all alone in the world, I promptly took on the task of surrogate guinea mom.

Which leads me to where we are today.  I now have a spoiled rotten little adolescent guinea keet who loves classical music, has his very own bedroom, and who loves above all else, to perch upon said mother's head.  

 Going out for a walk

Clyde is a special little bird, that's for sure and for certain.  He does not make the loud noises that most guineas his age and older are famous for.  Only a songbird-like peeping, which I like to believe indicates his contentment.

I can't possibly send him down to live with the "general population" down at the coop, given the fact that he is a male guinea, and, well - they are a little bit scrappy to put it mildly.  He being the smallest at this point, would make a most excellent target for their aggressions I'm afraid.

If he were a female, it probably wouldn't be an issue at all - but he is not, and so at least for the time being, he is here in the house. 

I can't really complain too much.  He has been a perfect house guest actually.  He's quiet, not too messy and has been quite entertaining as he learns about his surroundings. 

Both of my daughters boyfriends think that he is the coolest thing ever, and so I am hopeful that I may be able to find him a permanent home as a house guinea.

Back in jail...

Heavy on my heart and mind....

All of these women and girls who have met with a horrible end lately....From Malala in Pakistan to Whitney in the USA and all of the countless others.  My heart breaks for each and every one of them...

"If I Could Paint A Perfect World"  By C Caton

To find such a perfect place as this
That exists only in my mind, in my thoughts...

A place to escape this sad human race -
Is there such peace?  Is there such a place?

No "leaders", no "followers", no politics, no religion
To argue and fuss and fight over and over again,
the same old fights since time began.

No kidnappers, no murderers, no thiefs,
No liars, no cheats...

No taxes, no charges, no bills and no fees.

A place to be happy, be kind and to dream -
To watch the squirrels play and hear the birds sing

To watch little children laugh and play

Without the worry, fear and dread
That some lurking stranger wants them dead.

This world that exists only in my head,
Has none of these headlines I've grown to dread...

That someone's dear sister, daughter, friend or wife
Started out their day, just to loose their life.

I don't understand it -
No I don't think I can
This great growing evil
That lurks inside man.

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

"Bright Spots"

"Bright Spots" By C Caton

Random brightly colored spots on a black background, big and small.   Life can sometimes seem to be full of darkness - believe me, I do know - but always there are the bright spots, small ones and large.  My bright spots are the people who like my artwork, and in some small fashion, perhaps I am a small bright spot to some of them as well!

So for all of those who are somebody's "bright spot" or for those who are having a hard time finding any - here you go!

Completed August 2012, signed on the back so that it can be hung in any direction.

"A Calm, Clear, Beautiful Night" By C Caton

"A Calm, Clear, Beautiful Night"  By C Caton

I always have been something of a night owl, and prefer to do most of my painting in the overnight hours since there are few distractions during that time -

Except of course when the night itself beacons!  What could be better than a stroll down a country lane on just such a night? 

This one is a small painting - only 10"x8" - and has metallic paints mixed into it, giving it a nice warm glow.

That "nice warm glow" also makes it difficult to photograph, and so I have scanned this one given its small size - works well for the most part, though it does sometimes bring up flaws that are not seen with the naked eye.

Completed July 2012 - SOLD

"The Happiest Time of Day" By C Caton

"The Happiest Time of Day" By C Caton

It's just after school, and Mom has the milk and cookies at the ready as she watches for the kids at the door! 

As the little people scurry home, she waves her first greeting to them as they hurry on to tell her all about their day.

July 2012

"A Bad Year For Corn" By C Caton

"A Bad Year For Corn"  -  Corn country has been having a bad time of it this year - with the drought about all that's thriving are the weeds.  Sadly, hard work isn't always all it takes - sometimes you need a fair amount of luck as well.   SOLD

Completed July 2012 

"Foothills" - This was one of my earliest acrylic paintings, done in the first part of 2011.  I believe that it was one of the first five that I did in acrylic. 

"Sanctuary" - Where does your mind go when it wanders...or where does it go to escape?  Mine I guess goes off to the flowered rolling hills, to chase the cloud shadows or find an unspoiled pool of water on such a beautiful day!  Completed February 2012

That's the official description, and here is the "behind the scenes" one, just for you who take the time.  This one was painted at a rather sad time of my life, and in fits and starts- literally 15 minutes at a time - instead of my usual marathon sessions.  I do not like painting this way at all, but this painting is one that I am unlikely to forget in any way.   My father passed away on January 31st, and he and my mother had been married for 57 years - together for 65.   She's no spring chicken either, and I suspect, in the beginning stages of dementia of one sort or another.   Let's just shorten this story up by saying these last few weeks have been "something".    I don't know how I "escaped" before I started painting, I really don't.  But I am oh-so-thankful that I had this escape - truly my "Sanctuary".  

*I feel that possibly a quick note regarding my photography skills - or lack thereof - is in order here.  Those bright blue splotches in the sky and by the pond are not actually in the picture (no, sorry, not aliens landing), but are actually shadows produced by a bush outside of the window.   And here I was, feeling all proud of myself that the random white spots produced by the flash seemed to have been kept to a minimum...Ah well.  All I can say is apologies - hopefully I'll hone my photography skills doing this someday.  I'll keep after it!

 "Bring the Fishing Poles" - The work's all done - everythings been mowed, the flower beds are in good shape, the fence row's looking good, the vegetable garden (side of barn) is thriving, and the chairs are out there ready and waiting! SOLD 2011  16"x20"

(Click on picture for larger view)

A Long, Long Time Ago

"A Long, Long Time Ago"

When I was little, I had a giant book about dinosaurs that I must have read a hundred times.  I always have had a facination with ancient Earth. Now and then, I paint up one of these rough, raw types of landscapes - resisting the urge to paint in some dinosaur footprints or caveman encampments, preferring instead to leave it to your imagination and mine on a daily basis, as to who may call it home today. Completed 2011 SOLD 2011

(To get a closer view of any of my paintings, just click on the photo)

Come into the Garden

"Come into the Garden" - Pretty and peaceful garden scene - full of two of my most favorite things in this world - flowers and trees! There's even a comfortable chair tucked into the back corner just waiting for you. Completed and sold, 2011

Many of the flowers in this one were painted with toothpicks, as at the time I had very few smaller brushes, and couldn't seem to find one that suited me. I do have more brushes now, but I still keep a box of toothpicks nearby (new, unused ones, of course) just in case the need arises.


(For a closer look, just click on the picture) 

At the Edge of the Wheatfield

"At the Edge of the Wheatfield"


Lives an abundance of wildflowers - Queen Anne's Lace, bachelor buttons, black-eyed susans - they all call it home, as well as "Scarecrow Joe" looking on from atop his perch, a grain bin standing by dutifully waiting, and a lone tree in the back reigning over it all! Completed in February 2012.  SOLD

When I was growing up, my dad got six weeks of vacation every year (they were slightly older than most people's parents) since he'd been at his job for so long. They'd take the back seat out of the car, and load it up will all of the camping gear then deposit my sister and me on top of it all - this was in the 1970's, and nobody cared though I'm sure you'd be in big trouble for child endangerment or something nowadays, so please don't try this!


Then we'd go everywhere - mainly all over the western states, as that was their favorite. It seemed as though we made countless trips through both Kansas and Nebraska en route to the favored scenery of my parents in the mountains of the West.


It was while perched atop my precision packed tent-sleeping bag-cookstove seating that I marveled at both the acres and miles of wheat, and the beauty that I often found right along side it in the form of the wildflowers growing splendidly on the outskirts.


We did finally graduate to a motor home when I was about 10, but I still always enjoyed seeing all of the beautiful farms that we passed, and always vowed to one day live out in the country - which I now do!


(To view any of my paintings in a larger format, simply click on the picture)

"At the End of the Day"

"At the End of the Day"



How great would it be to walk the flower-lined path home, towards the sunset, at the end of the day! A nice, peaceful country place where all is well at the day's end. Not a real place, so far as I know - just one I dreamed up.

It was completed in November of 2011. SOLD

Pot O' Flowers

"Pot O' Flowers"

I don't very often paint these - usually I'm painting a landscape of one sort or another - but I have to admit that they are alot of fun to do. I really do love flowers, and the problem is stopping, once you get going with them. There always seems to be room for one more. They are intended to be light, bright and cheery - to brighten up that dark corner of your room or life.

I've now done a total of three of them, with the first one being long gone and the only images that I had of it are lost due to a computer crash. The other two, Pot O' Flowers and 'Nother Pot O' Flowers, were both done in 2011 and both have been sold.


(For a close-up view, just click on the pictures)

" 'Nother Pot O' Flowers"