• I’ve just finished a new piece called “Hemingway,” and it’s a bit of a celebration of a cat’s laid-back charm. This one’s made from thousands of tiny strands of polymer clay layered carefully on Gatorboard to create a texture that practically begs you to reach out and touch it. The cat lounges with an effortless coolness, its fur a mix of white and warm browns, set against a background that plays quietly with color but keeps the focus where it belongs—right on that relaxed, stripey face. It’s a small piece at 12 by 14 inches, but it’s packed with a tactile energy you don’t usually get in a painting. Creating it was like weaving a secret kitty world, one tiny strand at a time.