new cat series

I've been working on these little guys for my friend.  Having had a special kitty many years ago, I appreciate what he means to her.  She's chosen the first one but the other 2 are for sale and I already sold 2 others before I had a chance to scan them.  I didn't know kitty pictures were so popular!

Visit my website or my facebook page: 

maryquintrall.com

facebook.com/quintrall.art

The other day I hung my work at Harris Ave Cafe (Next door to Tony's Coffee)

I love Fairhaven (Bellingham). I could hang out there every day. It's beautiful and diverse and fun and scenic and they have gelato.

I've had a few cafe shows and the logistics of hanging are always challenging. This is the first time I used monofilament. Some of the screws the work hangs from are facing down. As in from the ceiling-like. This would seem to make gravity a problem but it worked out. The coffee shop was open but the cafe was closed. I prefer closed because I hate asking people to move so I can hang my work when they're just trying to enjoy their coffee or get some work done themselves.

Well, it's up, thanks to my assistant who checked for level while I was on the ladder so I didn't have to climb up and down that many more times. Phew!

So, go get a cup of local joe and check out my show.

http://www.harrisavecafe.com/

http://www.maryquintrall.com/

I hung a cafe show yesterday. It's my second self hung show. The first one was so easy, aside from the nerves of being the first. This one. .Well, let me tell you what I learned.

1. When you scout the space, measure and check the hanging system thouroughly, and count the hangers.

2. Small paintings look miniscule on large walls.

3. Bring more tools and tape, wire, museum putty than you can imagine needing.

I'm so thankful I had help. It was so awkward working around people trying to relax in their favorite spot. I felt like a complete jerk when I asked someone to not sit there as I was just about to get that corner done. It took 2 hours because I didn't know enough about the hanging system and had a whole different arrangement in mind. Well, it's up and it was a learning experience. I also learned that I can take critisism without feeling too badly about it. An old man said to me he found one of my paintings "irritating". I'm not sure what he meant, except that he didn't like it. And I'm okay with that.

Winter has been fun around my house. The birds are so active if you just feed them a little bit. We've been putting out peanuts and mixed seeds and then we sit back and watch the sillyness. I'll be hanging my collection of small bird paintings as well as pieces from other collections at the Mount Vernon (WA) food Co-Op February 1st. Come by for a cup of their yummy soup or a latte. My paintings will be there through the month.

This is me at Holly and Commercial in Bellingham, WA on a cloudy day in August.