Thanks for the positive feedback on my work. That means a lot coming from an artist I admire! Most of my pieces are oil bar or oil pastel paintings. I layer colors one on top of the other right on the canvas, then wrap a small piece of muslin cloth around my finger and blend. That’s how I get the smooth look… sometimes I use brushes for fine detail work, though.

Yes, Patch is the dog I was telling you about! Thanks, he’s cute and he has a wonderful personality. Very social and gentle. Too bad his breed has such a bad reputation.

I must say I like your way of thinking. Between all of us we could put together one seriously awesome cat cuddler/ canine cuddler. Maybe I’ll have to make up a new blueprint.

Well things have been so crazy I haven’t touched the giraffe so I bought a frame and emailed my number one giraffe patron which she then bought. I will be posting a framed photo soon as well as the start to finish photos.

EDITED TO SAY: I just popped into your website. Nice work! I like the smoothness you achieve. SO is Patch the aforementioned dog? He very handsome. I have a thing for bully types.

BTW, I’ve been watching the progress of your giraffe painting and I love the last picture you posted. The green isn’t overpowering and I like how the background gradates to the soft tan at the top. Are you still working on it?

As to the tummy fur Robert, I am always blowing on or burying my face in his belly fur. The first time my friend (same one as in the post) did it, she looked at me like she was wondering if I thought her bizarre. I told her I did it all the time and so now she’s a bit of an addict. She has cats and they too won’t allow such a thing.

One of our barn kitties (Buffy the Bunny Slayer - or Buffy for short) used let me pet her tummy. But now that she’s all grown up she too grabs my hand. She usually licks it but I know if I’d continue she eventually use some teeth.

I absolutely think Kitten should make you a sweater from Ari fur. (if she actually does that sort of thing.) What fun . . . though I bet would be itchy.

I wouldn’t be able to resist Budda’s fuzzy tummy either. Unfortunately, Ari takes that as a signal to Play Rough, with claws and grabbing and kicking. He’s tummy ticklish, so Budda enjoying it would be a rare treat for me. Some cats like it, others don’t, but the Irresistible Fuzzy Tummy is a trap with many sharp pointy bits when it comes to Ari.

I’ve given up on containing it. I sweep up enough leftover Ari hair to clothe an entire spare litter of Sphinx kittens. I keep hoping my daughter will bag it, card it, spin it and make a sweater for me, the one that his shed hairs won’t show on. lol

our kitty loves his belly snuggled too! I have never had a cat that liked it until now. So tempting, but soooo furry!