In This Issue

Meet Charlotte
Angel of Frogs and Toads
Featured Article
Doggy Quiz
April Merchandise
April Triple Feature

Welcome to my newsletter!

I just love making people smile. My hope is that my art catches people off guard, and makes them laugh in unexpected, silly ways. Much of my art includes animals, and I think by portraying their beauty and devotion in playful ways, it will bring awareness to the need for all of us to take loving care of all the animals in our beautiful world.

Each month, I will answer a question in the hope that it will encourage you, the reader, to expand your awareness of your own artistic nature. Just play and have fun, like you did when you were a child! I will also reveal the story behind my art. For each featured piece, you will learn how the idea came to me, and see the fun I had creating each piece. And I will offer my suggestions for the perfect place in your home or workplace for that piece of art.

I want to encourage you to have fun, and feel free to be playful in life. I truly believe, when we feel happy, we can reach out and share that happiness with each other and with animals. Good things will naturally happen when happy people open their hearts.

One morning, I woke up with Angels on my mind. Not the angels you typically see depicted in flowing white gowns, surrounded by misty light. These were angels of every nationality, dressed in everyday clothes. I began to call them everyday angels.

I immediately ran down to my studio and sketched them out. I called my first painting Earth Angels, and from that a whole series began to develop. I began to imagine angels everywhere, watching over and protecting everything in the universe.

I am a consummate animal lover, which explains why animals find their way into all of my angel paintings. One day my grandson, Stuart, who is also an animal lover, called me up and asked me to come admire a frog he had rescued from their family dog. After enjoying Stuart’s delightful rescue episode, the newest in my everyday angel series, Angel of Frogs and Toads, just naturally flowed from my brush.

This reminds me of a funny thing that happened when I was a kid. My brother came home from a Boy Scout camping trip, and Mom told him to empty his duffle bag in the bathroom so she could gather up the dirty clothes. When he opened it, out hopped dozens of tiny frogs -- no bigger than a dime. The bathroom was alive with all the tiny frogs that he had caught! There must have been fifty of them bouncing in every direction. I remember how crazy we must have looked chasing frogs all over the house. I think we finally caught them all and got them outside. How they survived being stuffed in a duffle bag, I don't know. Angels of Frogs, I guess. Boys and frogs, now there’s a match made in Heaven.

This print would be fun in a bathroom and would be especially great in a boy's room. As balmy days begin to wake the earth from its winter nap, listen to the happy-to-be-alive songs of the frogs, particularly after a spring shower. Did you know that April is National Frog Month?

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This month’s question for Charlotte: When did you become serious about being an artist?

After the successes I enjoyed with my art during High School, I began to seriously look at becoming an art major in college. Daddy would have preferred that I pursue something more practical, but he always encouraged me to follow my heart. So, he soon gave in and said go for it!

In college, I found whole new worlds opening up in art. I had never really studied form, shape, and perspective. It fascinated and enthralled me that there was so much beyond just putting images down on canvas. One day, our class went to the zoo to sketch the animals. I sat close to one of the primate cages and drew a picture of one of the monkeys. When I was done, I held it up in front of him and he made some screechy noises and threw a small piece of fruit out of the cage. I'm not sure if he knew that was a portrait. Nor do I know if he was expressing delight or disgust at my effort! We had a good laugh over it.

After two years in college, I had my BFA and switched to the Memphis Academy of Art for more intense art study. Sculpture, pottery, batik and metal work were all new to me. I lapped up jewelry making and stained glass classes. I loved everything they threw at us. (Well, maybe not what the monkey threw).

I spent six years in college learning everything I possibly could from some fantastic art teachers. But with all of the wonderful disciplines we learned, when it came down to it, painting was my true passion and still is. With paint brush in hand, I am in my happy place.

For all the dog lovers, here are some fun facts about your beloved furry friends. Test YOUR knowledge by answering these trivia questions. Answers are at the bottom of the page.

Let me know how many you got right – there’s a special prize next month if you knew all 10 answers. Email your answers to charlotte@catharticdesigns.com

How do dogs sweat?
What dog breed gets its name because it strikes out with its front paws when fighting?
Every known dog breed has a pink tongue except this one. What is this breed?
What is the only breed of dog that blushes?
What is the smallest dog breed recognized by the American Kennel Club?
What is the largest dog breed recognized by the American Kennel Club?
What dog breed does not bark but makes yodeling noises?
What is the only dog breed specifically mentioned in the Bible?
Do dogs favor one paw (right or left) over the other?
What breed of dog was the first to be trained as a seeing-eye dog?

Answers (no cheating)

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Answers To Quiz

Answers: 1. Contrary to popular belief, dogs do not sweat by salivating. They sweat through the pads of their feet. 2. The Boxer. 3. The Chow. Its tongue is jet black. 4. Pharaoh Hounds. When they are excited or happy, their nose, ears and eyes turn pink. 5. The Chihuahua. 6. The Irish Wolf Hound. 7. The Basenji. 8. The Greyhound. King James Version, Proverbs 30:31. 9. Yes. According to the Institute for the Study of Animals in Washington, D.C., dogs and cats favor either their right or left paw. 10. The German Shepherd. In 1928 a German Shepherd named Buddy became the first Seeing Eye Dog.