When A Tub = A Lion

The unofficial studio theme for 2025 may well be "Abandoned Backgrounds Reborn." My first piece for the year, "Found Family," was painted over an abandoned background wash; my second and current piece is being painted on the same; and I've at least one more canvas in background purgatory that I plan on rescuing in the near-ish future.

The current piece is a commissioned trade with a con family member who 1) gifted me with over fifty day lilies from her own garden and 2) will also give me the cast iron tub* that came with her house! Coincidentally, it was also to be found in the garden!

*The tub that came with our house is so short and shallow, my 5'4" self doesn't even fit, let alone my 6'2" bath-loving husband! Three years without baths is apparently our limit; we're going to try our best to make the tub swap happen this fall.

I know it looks rough, but I also know that Bar Keeper's Friend will restore the inside. As for the outside, research says that refinishing a tub is not unlike repainting my car. In short, I'm game, and it's "free"! Cast iron tubs are not cheap; even with supplies (which I mostly have) and my labor, I'll be coming out ahead. Bonus: I'll get to customize it to our bathroom/color choices vs. being stuck with what's for sale.

No good deed goes unrewarded in my world, so I asked my friend what she would like as a "Thank you" painting. She requested a lion with a few of her favorite day lilies that she crossbred, herself. The challenge here will be crafting a lion worthy of her stunning flowers!

I think this abandoned canvas board was going to be a vertical portrait of our cat Azrael, but then I decided the idea wasn't as good as first thought. ("Absinthe Drinkers" is a hard pet portrait to beat!) For a lily-loving lion, though, this color scheme is perfection.

Lions, as you know, are quick creatures. This was 2 1/2 hours in, when I had to quit to let the paint rest.

Another day, more mane work until the paint needs to rest again. FYI, this lion has a lovely lavendar-to-rose gradient which is stunning in person but a bear to photograph! This photo comes the closest.

Now to get the flowers in. I need to finish them before I can 1) work the top layer of mane over them and 2) know how dark to make my shadows for the rest of the painting. I know the flowers look rather "stuck on" at the moment, but that will change as said shadows materialize.

Until the next, friends!