Clouded Leopard, Tarak, Houston Zoo, original oil painting by Sandra Cutrer

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This is a close up and very detailed portrait of a Clouded Leopard, who resides in The Houston Zoo, Houston, Texas. He and his female pal, Suksn, are about 15 months old, and enjoy the workers at the zoo that are still able to enter their enclosure, holding, petting, and giving them hugs! They are beautiful animals, once found throughout Texas, but are sadly, rarely seen these days except in the continent of Southeast Asia.

It is always such a pleasure to visit The Houston Zoo, and many of the other fine zoos in this wonderful country. My husband and I enjoy traveling, and visiting the zoos,capturing so many of them on camera. Each zoo, and every animal, is unique, which makes each visit such fun! The Houston Zoo has made so many improvements in the last few years, making sure each animal lives as close as possible to their natural environment, and diet. I enjoyed watching the Clouded Leopards in their enclosure,enjoying the staff who make daily visits so that these cats will feel comfortable in their new home,and easily mate when they are old enough, hopefully producing more of these beautiful and endangered cats to be enjoyed by future generations.
I can hardly wait to return and see how much Tarak and Suksn have grown! Please scroll down to see all of my posted work. I hope you've enjoyed seeing my work in stages, and the final piece. I love taking commissions.Please feel free to contact me about your custom piece, or any of my listed pieces for sell.





Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep [forth].Psalms 104:20

Blessings,
Sandra Cutrer,Fine Art
sandracutrer.com
sandrasart777@aol.com

Creating Art Might Lead You to Getting Your Feet Sniffed by Sandra Cutrer

A couple of weekends ago I was invited to meet the very elephants I had been photographing and painting in oils over the last several years. Someone had found my FASO web site, saw my elephant paintings, and forwarded my web address to Daryl Hoffman, the large mammal curator at The Houston Zoo, located in Houston, Texas. To say that I was excited would be a total understatement. This was my "African Safari" chance, only better I was thinking. Who can go up and pet the elephants on a safari? Who on a safari can look at an elephant eye to eye, or watch him patiently waiting for his share of peanuts, or his daily bath? I can not express how wonderful that day was for me, (and my husband who was busy taking photos with another new camera I might add) getting to meet Methai, Taylor, Baylor, Tess, Shanti, Tucker, Thai, and Tupelo. Baylor and Tupelo are the youngest, while Methai is the oldest of the "herd" (I am not sure I should call it a herd, since they aren't running wild), and fondly titled "Grandmother". Daryl seemed to be rather proud of her while he explained, "She is past her birthing years, but immediately gets involved with the new babies born here at the zoo. She is so sweet, patient, and very caring." Indeed she was, and very smart, too, might I add. The trainers all had their small whistles in hand, and bucket of peanuts. They could do more with those one and two-ton creatures than I can do with a 7 pound half-grown kitten that we have at home. They all know their names, spoken in soft voices by all the keepers, and they seemed to get a kick out of showing off for us. Baylor and Tupelo especially loved sniffing my feet with the wet tips of their long and muscular trunks. It did tickle quite a bit. Those little 'darlings" had no idea that I have super-sensitive feet, and even my husband gets "the eye" if he even thinks about touching them. But, who was I to try and tell a 1200 pound baby, “No, don't touch my feet, please"! Daryl was quick to inform me that they were picking up the scents from all of the places I had been. You could not have traded me a winning lottery ticket for that amazing experience. I am so thankful for Daryl’s kind invitation. I may never win a blue ribbon for my art work, never receive any high recognition from an art show, or be invited to join some wonderful fine art gallery, but none of those things could compare to meeting Methai, and seeing her love for the little ones, or Tess and Shanti with their cute antics, or Taylor, the only one whose face has been in television commercials, and loves showing off before his bath, or the honor of Baylor and Tupelo sniffing my feet. I mean, really, what more could any artist want?
If that didn't motivate me to paint more, try harder, work longer hours at it, and never give up, I don't think nothing else will.

Remembering and praying for those who lost their lives,and the lives of family members and friends in the horrible tornado in Oklahoma this last weekend. God strengthen them, bless them, and help our government to move quickly in aiding these people to rebuild their lives. God bless and help those who lost their babies.May you comfort them in the power of your spirit, the only true comforter in a situation like this.

Blessings,
Sandra Cutrer,Fine Art
sandracutrer.com

Solace and Solitude, tiger, bamboo,Asian,original, oil, painting

"Solace and Solitude" is an original oil painting of an Asian tiger near a stream and much needed peaceful resting place, with beautiful mountains in the back ground. What better place to find solace and solitude for such an endangered, and much-hunted magnificent cat. Although this cat really sits well protected and cared for in The Houston Zoo, Houston, Texas, I have taken my artist license to paint him in his natural environment. He is painted in quality oils on a  16" x 20" stretched canvas.

We are responsible to GOD for how we treat all of His creation.

Deuteronomy 22:6-7, “If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whether they be young ones, or eggs, and the dam [mother] sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam [mother] with the young. But thou shalt in any wise let the dam [mother] go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days.”

I hope you enjoy reading my blog and looking at my latest work. Please scroll down and view all of my work and prices. I love taking commissions, and have a layaway plan for every budget.

Blessings,
Sandra Cutrer Fine Art
979-236-2907

sandracutrer.com (website)

On the easel, Asian Tiger among Bamboo and grasses

 I am really liking this painting- off to a good start, I think. I am using reference photos from one of my many trips to The Houston Zoo, in Houston, TX.My husband and I love visiting this wonderful zoo, always returning home with many great photographs.
If you are a follower of my blog, then you have probably already guessed that I love the big cats! My heart goes out to them for so many reasons, especially the sad fact they there are few in number left in the wild.

Although this one was in a zoo, since I haven't been blessed (yet???) to be able to go to Asia, or any place else to see them roaming wild and free, I have taken my artist license to paint this one in his native setting.

I have already made some changes to this unfinished painting, so please continue to follow me through this process.
 I hope you'll enjoy my tiger painting stages in oils. Please feel free to send me a message if you are following. I love name suggestions for my paintings!

  Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, [and] look well to thy herds. Proverbs 27:23.

 Blessings,
Sandra Cutrer
Sandra Cutrer Fine Art
sandracutrer.com

"Supper Time", three Texas Longhorns,original oil painting by Sandra Cutrer

What a fantastic time I seem to always have photographing and/ or painting such beautiful, and powerful, animals as these magnificent Texas Longhorns truly are! They all have their own personalities, varying from the super shy, to the bold, up-close and personal kind!

I've been warned not to get too close, but there are times when these guys seem to be so interested in me, or maybe it could be my camera? Thankfully, there always seems to be a nice barbed wire or two between us, or a nice strong fence, which gives us the "safe" space we all seem to want, while checking one another out.

This one is painted on a 16" x 20" stretched canvas. OOPS- this one is now SOLD! Sorry you missed out on this one, but I'd love to paint one similar for you! Please contact me at: sandrasart777@ aol.com.

I love painting commissions, and I also offer a layaway plan for most any budget! If you can't find what you are looking for on my blog, or web site @ : sandracutrer.com or Fine Art by Sandra Cutrer, please contact me with your own ideas of what you'd love to add to your collection of original paintings.

He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate-- bringing forth food from the earth. Psalm 104: 14

Blessings,
Sandra Cutrer
sandracutrer.com
Fine Art by Sandra Cutrer
979-236-2907

A Walk in the Clouds, a palette painting of four angels by Sandra Cutrer

"A Walk in the Clouds". This is an original painting in thick oils with palette knives and loaded brushes on a 16" x 20" stretched canvas. It is ready for your favorite frame in your favorite spot! The background is smoother than the subjects, giving it more interest and depth. There are four angels, with the smallest one holding a stuffed bear.They appear to be walking on clouds, while a beautiful white dove hovers over them.This painting was created totally from my heart. No references were used. It just came to me as I painted,although it was started months ago,and recently finished (the paint is still very wet).

There have been so many tragedies happening around me lately. Sadly, we lost a neighbor child, and then one of her parents was diagnosed with a terminal brain disease. During all of his, I have concentrated on becoming a hospice volunteer.Since I have lost family and close friends to several types of diseases, including various cancers, I thought I could be of some help to patients and family members who are going through this tragic time in their own lives.

While I was working on this piece, I think my heart was  reminding my brain that there is more to life than the few years we are blessed with on this planet. Our real lives start with the one we will receive when we leave these fleshly bodies. A place where there will be no more death, tears, or sorrows pf any kind. We shall be transformed to be like HIM- our Saviour and GOD. What an awesome promise we have! To be able to lay down our burdens forever, and live in peace, total beauty, and a place where we will never grow old, weak, or feeble. How wonderful is that!


***This piece was donated to Hospice of Texas City, Texas. I would love to paint one similar especially for you. Please contact me for details.

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:2

Blessings, 
Sandra Cutrer,Fine Art  
sandracutrer.com 

"Clowning Around", a child clown portrait by Sandra Cutrer

"Clowning Around", a child clown portrait painted in oils on a small, 6" x 6" x 1.5" wrapped stretched canvas. $69.00 plus $12.00 shipping, insurance, and signature confirmation. This is #4 of my clown series and offer a discount if you purchase a pair, or the set of four.
 I had such a great time coming up with these clown portraits from brain-storming ideas, and references used, to paint these fun characters. I adore clowns of all sizes, colors, shapes, and talents! I deeply appreciate their antics and various styles, as they seize to amaze me with their patience. I have encountered many clowns, over the years, who are great with children, especially showing extra kind gestures toward those who seem to be a little too timid, or afraid, to approach them.

Our lives these days seem to be sort of  like clowns, putting on our "happy faces" for the world to see, while we carry such a heavy burden of troubles and fears in this hurry and scurry world we have created for ourselves. So many folks these days have no time for others, wrapping themselves up in their careers, grasping for moments of self-seeking pleasures. All too soon, our lives will have passed before us, and we will find we have lost touch with old friends, extended family members, and even our own spouses/partners and children, if we are blessed enough to have them. Take time today, or at this very moment, to stop and reflect on what matters most. All too quickly it shall pass, and only those things that we have shared with others, done for others, and our days lived for God will matter.

Blessings,
Sandra Cutrer
Sandra Cutrer Fine Art
sandracutrer.com