Acrylic on gessoed hardboard, 8 x 10''
#180, 2010
This latest painting was conceived for an upcoming group show entitled ''CATS'', opening at Handworks Gallery on May 7. When the gallery invited me to submit a piece for this exhibition, I came across the book The Cat in the Hat at Costco that same evening. It was one of the first books I ever read when I started to learn English in grade 3. After re-reading it some forty years later, I decided to incorporate the fish in the imagery since he appears as the voice of reason of this fable. Also a great opportunity to add a few Cat's Eye marbles in this whimsical context.
Dr. Suess (Theodor Suess Geisel) remains an iconic American author and illustrator. His most famous book is Green Eggs and Ham. The Cat in the Hat published in 1957 comes in a close second and is ranked at #9 on the best sellers children book list of all-time, selling 10 million copies.
I purchased this fan-tail goldfish especially to do the painting. He seems to be enjoying his new larger fishbowl quite well and is currently residing in our son's Jean-Luc's bedroom. He has received the name of ''Maurice'', named after a goldfish from a Nestlé commerical. The week prior, Jean-Luc had to do a presentation in front of his French class at school and do a critical analysis of a French television advertisement. Check out this very funny ad, where the fish gets the blame for eating 3 chocolate Mousse in one sitting.
-SOLD
