CATLADYPAINTS BY KATZY AND A GIVEAWAY

Cat Eyes

Cat Eyes

It is with delight that I introduce you to a San Francisco artist, Maria (Katzy) Strom. She is a painter who is currently working on a series of paintings featuring cats.

Maria says, “I love, love, love cats!” She gives this as her reason for creating The Cat Series. Unfortunately, due to an allergic husband and a pet-opposed landlord, she currently is sans a living, breathing cat. But she has surrounded herself with her imaginative and whimsical cat art.

Maria began painting in college at Portland State in Oregon. After school, she was an artist living in an attic. Her art supplies were purchased with money left over from her waitressing job.

Cat Dreams

Cat Dreams

A children’s book agent steered her into illustration. She says, “It was a perfect fit because I love to tell stories through my art.” Maria wrote and illustrated the children’s book Rainbow Joe and Me She was inspired to write it while she was teaching an after-school, art program at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. It is available from Lee and Low Books and Amazon.

When Maria moved to San Francisco she became a children’s book reviewer for a website.

Maria began painting full time again a few years ago. This is what she says on Etsy about her paintings: “Something catches my eye or someone says something and an idea pops up and I start painting. I tend to see things in a simple, maybe childlike way. I hope to get to the essence of the thing. And I hope to bring this excitement and surge of imagination to the viewers of my work.”

Maria with Mimi, a shop kitty in San Francisco's Chinatown.

Maria with Mimi, a shop kitty in San Francisco’s Chinatown.

Though Maria does not have a kitty of her own, it doesn’t stop her from seeking out furry friends. She’s been a feral cat feeder in San Francisco and a cat sitter whenever she has the opportunity. She regularly visits shop cats. There is one in a kite shop in Chinatown (You can see her in the photo at the right.) and another in a local convenience store.

Maria’s cat art is available on Etsy https://www.etsy.com/shop/CatLadyPaints

and Fine Art America http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/1-maria-strom.html

Saint Cat

Saint Cat

In conjuction with this post, Maria has generously agreed to give one of her Katzy signed prints to a The Cat on My Head reader. To be entered in the giveaway, leave a comment letting me know which of the three featured prints you would be interested in receiving. The winner will be selected using Random.org. Those leaving a comment between now and September 1 at 8 p.m. EDT will be included in the drawing. The winner will be announced the following day.