Daily Photo: A Day (Mostly) Outside
I practiced a little on Instagram on Tuesday, plus I was able to work on artwork out on my deck for most of the day, so I didn’t want to come back into the (boring) computer, and neither did Mimi.
Good morning from the backyard. Mimi is on her improvised throne, two old chairs that someday I may do something with but for now are a trellis for vines, and an observation post for Mimi.
This photo gave me a few ideas for paintings too, once I get caught up!
Later Mimi supervised my work and napped on the deck, and Mewsette joined us too. While it took her a while to stop rolling around to rub the harness off her back she eventually forgot about it, especially once she found the basil.
It even happens when you’re working outside. I stood up from my worktable and Mimi stepped on my chair and settled down as if she’d been there all day.
I made her move to the rocker, and you can see what she thinks of that.
Mewsette has joined us this afternoon and of all things has found the parsley and basil–she already ate all the plants I used to have in the house.
What else did we enjoy on a day outside?
This is why I love to work out on my deck!
Storms have been moving through and then the sun comes out, over and over. I saw so many rainbows!
My phlox are blooming finally, and I could get a good closeup of drops on the petals. My smartphone doesn’t take the most balanced or accurate photos, but they are what they are.
Orange on green! Who could miss that! And the bright sunlight cast such a clear shadow of the deeply serrated edge of a strawberry leaf, and all the ribs and details. For all the details here, it’s really a very simple composition, and I really like it.
 You can see more of my “other” photos on my photo blog, “Today”.
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What other photos have I posted on or around this date?
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Color Consultant, 2014
“You’re using way too much green,” says Mimi as she watches me on my latest painting. “Look, you’ve got it all over your hands, and now it’s on your face, and you’re not even trying to lick it off. Humans are so messy, I don’t know how they can live with themselves. Cats would never put up with that sort of thing coating our fur like that.” I can be quite a mess after I’ve been painting for a while, I admit. With all the dark greens in this landscape painting I look rather bruised when I’m done with a painting session. I guess I don’t realize how often I touch my face, push up my glasses, push hair out of my eyes, scratch my cheek, but Mimi will let me know.
Mimi has an especially withering quality to her feline disdain, far more than Cookie or Namir or Peaches ever did, possibly because she was a mom and often treats me like an errant kitten. Aside from that she adores being in my studio. We missed the two weeks when I had no computer in there and had to work downstairs aside from the times I was specifically painting or creating something, which was coincidentally rare. Now she is waiting for me before I even lay out all the boxes of pastels.
Below, my studio supervisors from this date in 2013. They are unbearably cute, and no doubt I spent more time photographing them than I did actually getting any work done.
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My Working Conditions, 2013
Such are my working conditions.
This is a gallery of what my cats did to me yesterday when I was trying to get work done. They invaded my studio, beginning with Mr. Sunshine who went belly up on my work table, and then they proceeded to pour on the cuteness, just looking all fluffy and happy and cuddling so sweetly with each other, I could hardly stand it.
They did this all afternoon. All afternoon I was tortured with this cruel and unfair method. My only recourse was photography. Here is a slideshow of the entire incident.
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To Sleep, Perchance to Dream, 2011
Just because it’s one of my all-time favorite photos of Sunshine having a summer nap on his back…
No living creature sleeps better than a cat. Out of my cats, Mr. Sunshine seems to sink deepest into dreamland, rolling on his back and simply collapsing into whatever heap of plushy black fur his limbs go to, toes curled, mouth open, all afternoon. I often wonder what sweet dreams his feline imagination composes for his unconscious enjoyment; he is motionless, not running or nursing or doing anything in his sleep, just slowly breathing. I imagine him imagining himself sleeping in some quiet field in the sunshine with a light breeze and birds singing.
He usually does this on top of the file cabinets in front of the window where I can turn to watch him in repose, a little tingle of jealousy in my belly; but I like what I do, I enjoy spending my days in pursuit of truth and beauty and, I’ll admit, enough almighty dollars to pay the bills, I really wouldn’t want to sleep my life away. No, I wouldn’t, and I’m happy Mr. Sunshine is here, sleeping his life away on my filing cabinets instead of some less desirable alternative.
When I first took this photo I was so angry with myself for framing it badly, not capturing the lower part of Sunshine’s head and body, and while I liked the focus on his nose and the softened focus on all else, I thought it would have been a better photo with all the rest of him in there; in fact, it might just be confusing cropped the way it was. But the photo stayed with me for days and I realized it was absolutely perfect the way I’d shot it, the nose, the curled paw, the relaxed hind paws, the tail stopped in mid swash when he fell asleep. I cropped the excess from the top—a tall, narrow image was what I’d been angling for—and left him in a heap at the bottom. As I said above, it’s one of my all-time favorites.
Browse some rescued cats and kittens!
All images used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in using one in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of this image or a product including this image, check my Etsy shop or Fine Art America profile to see if I have it available already. If you don’t find it there, visit Ordering Custom Artwork for more information on a custom greeting card, print or other item.
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Weekly schedule of features:
Sunday: Essays, Pet Loss, Poetry, The Artist’s Life
Monday: Adoptable Cats, TNR & Shelters
Tuesday: Rescue Stories
Wednesday: Commissioned Portrait or Featured Artwork
Thursday: New Merchandise
Friday: Book Review, Health and Welfare, Advocacy
Saturday: Your Backyard Wildlife Habitat, Living Green With Pets, Creating With Cats
And sometimes, I just throw my hands in the air and have fun!
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mimi…my stars girl, your throne is divine !!!! FABulous….as are the photos from today ~~ ♥♥♥ hugs from dai$y =^..*=
Tabbies, it is really cool isn’t it? She finds all the best spots.
Looking good, Mimi!
Always!