Daily Sketch Reprise: Winter Afternoon, 2015
Look closely and you’ll see four cats in this sketch. Smokie, Bella, Bean and Mewsette spent the entire long, quiet winter afternoon on the wool afghan. The light caught each of their coats in different tones and textures: Smokie at the top left is very mocha, and in the top right Bella is only shades of blue, while Bean and Mewsette, tucked up against each other and facing opposite directions, are combinations of both colors.
I walked past several times and looked in on them, photographed them, and decided to finally sketch what I visualized. I did have to finish some of the placement of the afghan square colors from a photo because I only had so many fingers to hold pastel pencils. But I’m so happy to catch a scene I see every day. I’ve never left the afghan on the bed all day, but this winter, this family of cats collects there nearly every afternoon, and I will always remember that.
Hint: to find the cats, look for curved lines and ears.
Where to find this artwork
UPDATE: By request I’ve added this original sketch and prints to my Etsy shop!
You can find this artwork printed on paper and canvas in various sizes, giclee as well as digital prints, in my Etsy shop. To find other products and handmade goods bearing this art, search my Etsy shop for the title.
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What else was I sketching on this day?
Emeraude From Above, 2013
Emeraude was just quietly sitting in the middle of the bathroom floor when I went in to visit, even with those pesky boys shuffling all around her looking for food and treats in vain. I admired her quiet peacefulness.
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Heart to Heart, 2013
Jelly Bean and Mewsette were apparently trading secrets on my work table as I was hard at work. I doubt they noticed I stopped folding greeting cards and started sketching them.
Just wish I had picked up something better than the purple gel pen to sketch with. Each line has a blob of ink at its beginning and end, and then skips in the middle, tight areas like their noses are a little disappointing. I love the purple, though.
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There’s just something I love about the way Bean eats. The way he holds his ears, the straight tail that’s just a little bent on the end, just the shape of him is so endearing. He’s the one who claims he’s going to die if he doesn’t eat right now, especially at breakfast, and he purrs loudly into his bowl all the while.
I sketched this first thing, before I even had my coffee and my hands were warmed up, but my eyes were fresh enough that I didn’t have to wear glasses just yet. I don’t keep drawing materials in the kitchen right now because it’s just too chancy with food and art supplies. I’ve been looking at him in the morning and thinking that by the time I ran to get a sketchpad and something to draw with he’d be done, or nearly done. Today I didn’t debate, just ran to get the stuff. He takes his time about eating!
Sometimes it’s a simple one, like this, that I like best.
Click here to see other daily sketches.
For a gallery of the ones available for sale, visit my Etsy shop in the “Cat Art and Prints” section.
Read about the reason for the daily sketches in Two Years of Daily Sketches.
And download your free desktop wallpaper calendar for computer or mobile, usually based on a daily sketch.
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Feline Style Sampler
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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.
© 2016 | www.TheCreativeCat.net | Published by Bernadette E. Kazmarski
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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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I am partial to Emeraude’s cactus-like compactness.
Ha ha! I call that her “scruffy elderly elegance”. I never got her furs in order, but she really wasn’t concerned.