In A Split Second

Demelsa Landstra | Oil on Board | Unframed | 9.5 x 7 inches

“I wanted the chaos of the expression to be reflected in the painting itself, so I worked loose and expressive (Alla Prima), with the brushwork following the energy of the subject. There is something beautiful about capturing these expressive moments. Cats show a wide range of emotions and expressions, and I appreciate them all, both the calm and the more intense ones. Cats are also very clear in setting boundaries, which I find interesting to observe.

I made this selection because all of these paintings are made alla prima, each in a single session. What I find interesting is how the biggest and smallest works are very different in scale, but still follow the same way of working, wet-on-wet, in one sitting. I like that this keeps the process loose and direct, which feels similar to how cats behave. Each painting shows a different mood or expression of a cat, from calm to curious, intense or playful. These states can shift very quickly. Even though the paintings look different, they all show the full range of cat behaviour, often in quick, fleeting moments.

I am a painter from the Netherlands. My painting journey started in 2023, after spending time drawing both digitally and traditionally. Since then, it has become a very important part of my life, with my own cat as my muse and inspiration. I focus on creating portraits that feel expressive and full of life.

 I made this selection because all these paintings are made alla prima, each in a single session. What I find interesting is how the biggest and smallest works are very different in scale, but still follow the same way of working, wet-on-wet, in one sitting. Each painting shows a different mood or expression of a cat, from calm to curious, intense or playful. Even though the paintings look different, they all connect through the many sides of cat behaviour.” – Demelsa

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