Laidley Street Series No 5 – Black Cat on Pink Street (91.5 x 61 cm)

Black Cat on Pink Street is a ‘favourite’ amongst viewers of the artist’s paintings.

In this painting, the artist used his familiar blue-red (violet) mother-colour, to outline shapes on a Laidley Street.

By not filling in the shapes of the buildings and surrounds with paint, he lessened their importance. The main focus is on the black cat that is about to cross the street where a car is turning. In order to emphasize the smooth bitumen of the very dangerous street, he has also painted the sky with very jagged brushstrokes.

The smooth paint blending used for the pink-blue street, silhouettes the black cat that has its tail up. There is excellent reflection of light from the bitumen and this further highlights the cat.

The artist leaves a question in the viewer’s mind, namely, ‘Does the black cat cross the street safely?’

Compare this painting with No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 in the Laidley Street series.

Acrylic on Masonite, later career. (Cleaned and framed.)