Darlene Kulig: Gustav’s Cat 1000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle

Darlene Kulig (Canadian, b. 1961) Gustav’s Cat, 2015 Darlene Kulig’s vibrant, stylized painting reveals her intention is to illuminate the life force of her subjects. She takes hundreds of photographs when she travels and uses them as a basis for authentic details in her work. Gustav’s Cat is from her series of paintings set in Vienna. Klimt’s style is referenced here in the circular patterns and the clothes of the two women. The cat sitting in the tree, however, derives solely from Kulig’s imagination.

Darlene Kulig

Where the rainbow meets the mountains, you’ll find the art of Darlene Kulig (Canadian, b. 1961). Her semi-abstracted spirited landscapes celebrate nature in saturated color. Inspired by the loss of a great friend, oboist Cynthia Steljes, Kulig turned to painting her signature landscapes—joyful, bright, peaceful, and spotted with champagne bubbles that effervesce from the earth. Kulig’s paintings build on decades of experience as a graphic designer. “The designer in me loves simple shape and bold color while the painter in me explores light, rhythm, and personal connection,” she says. She takes numerous photographs when traveling and uses them as a basis for details in her work. Kulig lives in Toronto and is a member of the Etobicoke Art Group and Neilson Park Creative Centre.