Happy Holidays 2022

Dear Friends, I hope your holidays are jolly and filled with friends and family. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa! A whole year went by without a blog. I am very grateful that I got to travel to Europe and California to visit friends and family. At home, I worked on the family book as well as on improving my health and learning about how to best feed our cats and dog. I did find some time to do commissions and paint a little for myself. I was asked for a holiday card and I enjoyed creating one. The Dream is Peace, 6x8", watercolor

Here are a two of my commissions: Sugar, 5x7", watercolor

Zima, 8x10", watercolor

Laura Lopez, Linda Simone (@teabagartsa) and I have an exhibit at Kapej coffeeshop (@kapej.satx) again this year. The art will be up from December 1st till the end of January 2023. Kapej is located at 415, Camden Street in San Antonio, TX. The reception is Saturday December 17th from 2-4pm. The art featured in this blog (without the commissioned pieces) will be for sale exclusively at Kapej during the show. Stop by if you feel like it! We will be glad to see you! During my two weeks in San Francisco, I painted these pieces. Carmel Mission Basilica, 9x12", watercolor

Mission San Francisco de Assis (also known as Mission Dolores), 6x8", watercolor

Montezuma, 6x8", watercolor

Thank you for your interest in my art adventures.

February 2020

On a cold, rainy, winter day in Texas, I am writing to wish you a Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Cats, 22 x 28", watercolor

River Friends, 11 x 14", watercolor

Rosa and Pedro of the Rose Window at Mission San Jose, 9 x 12", watercolor

Starting on a Magical Journey Together, 11 x 14", watercolor

Starting on a Magical Journey is my newest whimsical cat creation. Both cats are in front of one of my favorite doors in San Antonio, the door of Mission Espada. Now the door is really gray and brown, which gives me such a good excuse to play with colors!

River Friends was inspired by a friendly neighborhood cat and a dog wearing a blue fleece coat at the Society for Animal Rescue and Adoption or SARA Sanctuary. Since the cat has such beautiful markings already, I chose the dog's plain jacket to decorate. Both are on a virtual visit to the Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX.

Happy Cats are in Hemisphere park, where the once flourishing Schulze's House (in the painting like it looked eight years ago) is in bad need of repair these days, while Rosa and Pedro are of course at Mission San Jose, where their story is told daily to tourists from all over the world.

Have an amazing Valentine's Day!


For those of you in San Antonio, TX and surrounding area, Kapej Gallery invites you to the reception of artist, Tamara Slavinska, on Friday February 21st from 6 till 9 pm. 
Parking is free at the meters at that time. Tamara's art will be on display from Feb 18th till March 6th.
Join us if you can!

Tamara with Daily Grind

Kapej Gallery and Cafe is located at:
415, Camden Street
San Antonio, TX 78215
210-838-8681
regular hours are Mon-Thu 8am -6pm
(Friday 11-5 Monterrey style tacos by Mexico Magico pop-up 210-214-4636)

December 2019

Dear friends, so much has happened and it has been a long time since my last blog.

First of all Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year to all of you!

2019 has been a year of growth and reconnecting. It has been a good experience to see how people I used to be close to years ago have been brought back into my life.

These past 3 months, I have been helping a new, small gallery and cafe in San Antonio,TX called Kapej at 415 Camden Street. It was born from the dreams of its owners. Artist, Laura Lopez, always wanted a gallery and Rudy Lopez a cafe - something like the one at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. Since its opening, Kapej has had several successful art shows and more and more people are returning for its great food. It has been an exciting adventure changing the art, working with the beautiful but small space. If you haven't yet had Rudy's delicious food, come try some. Monday-Thursday from 8am -6pm. You can park in the back if there is space. If you want to know about our art events check out Kapej on Facebook. @coffegalleryatcamden

Superheroes, my watercolor commission, has been framed and delivered. It was a challenge I am grateful for.

Superheroes, watercolor on Arches 22 x 30" 

I always enjoy my inner child's adventures in the world of whimsical cats.

Mirror Cats and Alamos, watercolor 5 x 5"

Misty-kin, watercolor 2 x 3"

One Cold Morning in San Antonio, TX, watercolor 2 x 3"

River Twins, watercolor 2 x 3"

Remembering a Cat at Mission Espada, watercolor 5 x 7"

It is with gratitude I remember all the customers I met this year buying cat and other cards, mini originals, prints, mugs, bags and larger originals. Thank you!

 One of them is Kristin who loved my piece at Say Si. Say Si is an organization in San Antonio, TX which in their own words "ignites the creative power of young people as forces of positive change". They do a wonderful job of supporting and teaching high school students. www.saysi.org
Kristin, dressed like in the 1920s, bought my ALAMOndriaan Cat in the Small Works, Big Change fundraiser this December!

ALAMOndriaan Cat, watercolor 5 x 7"

Feb/March 2017

The exhibit at Viva Vegeria closed at the end of February. It went very well: 12 originals were sold! The documentary at the art opening was fascinating, introducing us to women many of whom we had never heard about. Thank you to my family and friends who came despite the weather! Thank you, Fred for your support of artists!

In March, my art is at Twin Sisters Bakery and Café in Alamo Heights and Four Kings in Universal City. Whimsical cats are on display in Twin Sisters and landscapes in oil and watercolor in Four Kings.

Mission Conception Cat, watercolor, 11x18"

Orange Eyes or Connections, watercolor, 9x12"

Mission Espada Cat, watercolor, 11x15"

West Elm in the Quarry gives me space for a pop-up table on weekends. Due to the high volume of commissions, I will be there only one day every other weekend; the next one will probably be Saturday, March 18th from 11 till 3.
 The Say Sí exhibit is going on till the 24th. I have the pencil portrait of Belle in it. It is just great to see so many small scale works together.

Belle, graphite, 7.5x10"

Proust's À la Recherche du Temps Perdu is what I am listening to right now, and it got me motivated to look through my old work. Yesterday, I was asked how I got started with my whimsical cats.

When I was a teenager, I told all my secrets to my kitty Murik (Moerik), and I did a drawing of her.

Murik, First Whimsical Cat

In 2006,  I pulled out the old drawing for inspiration,  added color, and a landscape to the new version. I have been experimenting with the old model ever since, giving the little kid in me all the freedom it wants.

Sold at Twin Sisters so far:

the Orange Alamo Cat, watercolor, 8x9"

Blossoms Tortoise Cat, Thistle Alamo Cat and Siamese Cherry Blossoms, watercolor, 2x3"
Of the three, Blossoms Tortoise and Thistle Alamo sold.

Andy, the Warhol Cat, watercolor, 3x5"
the warhol cats are inspired by Andy Warhol's cats drawings