Thursday, March 28, 2024
animal artworkbloggingcat storiesdaily photodaily sketch

Happy Fifth Anniversary, “The Creative Cat”

oil pastel painting of cat in sun
“Warm Winter Sun”, oil pastel, 8″ x 10″ © B.E. Kazmarski

Hmmm…five years ago I said “good morning” to Peaches and Namir…

dilute tortoiseshell and gray and white cats
A breakfast drama.

…and Cookie and Kelly shared my lap…

two tortoiseshell cats on my lap
Two torties on my lap.

…and Mimi and her Curious Quartet of black kittens had pretty much taken over the new mint green and white bathroom…

five black cats in tub
Everybody in the Pool!
namir's bedroom eyes
Namir

Five years have flown by since I began The Creative Cat on January 28, 2009 as I was learning ever more about Namir’s hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and I realized we didn’t have much time left to share. I wanted to begin sharing him and what I’d learned about his HCM, and to give myself an online portfolio for my writing about cats. As the inspiration for this site, Namir is the kitty in the header and I’ve included the full painting at the top of this article.

I’d been writing about cats in various other places for a while as well as sharing my art and photography, stories and poetry and merchandise on my website and various online profiles for years, but this was my chance to bring it all together in one place.

Pet Loss

Since then I’ve been surprised at what this site has grown into. I lost Namir on July 1 that year and his loss opened up a perspective on critical and palliative care and about sharing the loss of a pet. Along with my experiences of caring for a number of geriatric cats in the previous decade I decided to include essays about pet loss, and my set of Animal Sympathy Cards design in Namir’s memory.

And I’ve also been able to share the passing of my feline inspirations, especially Cookie and Kelly in 2012 and Peaches in 2010, and all the good wishes and thoughts and prayers were very comforting to me at those times, as well as the thought that they will be remembered by many others. I always hope that writing about their condition and their passing as well as my own grief helps to guide and comfort others in their losses.

Backyard Wildlife Habitats, Living Green With Pets

male cardinal in snowy forsythia
Cardinal in Forsythia

Along the line I realized that many people who enjoyed cats were also interested in gardening, wildlife, feeding birds and backyard wildlife habitats, so I added articles I’d written for conservation newsletters and expanded from there. From that idea I also began including occasional articles on living green with pets including information on using using safe and even homemade cleaning products, checking your art and craft materials for toxicity, finding cruelty-free health and beauty products and…using henna on your hair, one of my most popular “living green” articles.

Daily Photos

Believe it or not, I did not begin posting daily photos of my cats until August 2010, in part because I really didn’t have the time to really post something every day until then. But after the response to a few photos decided to go ahead and share a photo each day of something my cats were doing that day or the day before, artsy, cute, innovative if I decide to play around, and sometimes add in a vintage photo or a photo of a cat I’ve seen in my travels. The problem is never in finding one, it’s in finding only one!

The Artist’s Life, Creating With Cats

tortie cat and sculpture
Kelly, acting as studio assistant, cautiously approaches the sculpture.

In 2011 I found people were interested in reading about my process in both creating artwork and in creating products from that artwork. I added articles about my life as an artist and began seeking out other artists who create with cats and other animals and who I think you’d enjoy reading about, and writing about creative efforts from a technical standpoint so that non-artists can have a greater understanding of how we do it, and working or aspiring artists can read about anothers’ technique.

Daily Sketches

pencil sketch of three cats eating
“Dinnertime!”, pencil © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

In December 2011 I began posting daily sketches, well, nearly every day, and in the process reconnected with my own skills and visualization as an artist, and moved beyond what I knew to new media and styles. That’s become one of my most popular daily features, right after my daily photos featuring my feline family today and yesterday, especially my wonderful family of five black cats who everyone likes to see together no matter what they’re doing.

Rescue Stories

calico cat in carrier
Here’s Penny, image provided by WPHS.

Possibly most gratifying of all, I’ve had the opportunity to share my experiences of rescuing cats in the past decades beginning with Cookie telling her own story in May 2010 in celebration of Peaches’ 100th birthday to sharing the stories of others in my feline household present and past, and other rescues for whom I’d found a home. So many of us have rescued cats over the years and telling my stories also tells the stories of many others who’ve quietly taken cats off the streets and into their homes to love and nurture, and also to find the perfect forever home for. This in turn led to producing Great Rescues Calendar and Gift Book and Great Rescues Day Book as I added the stories of cats whose portraits I’ve painted as a monthly feature, and finally in 2012 with “The Housewarming Cat” making these rescue stories a weekly feature.

In 2012 I began with “Dorothy’s Pets” telling the story of a group of special needs cats who needed a home as their caretaker succumbed to a brain tumor, and from that point began a monthly, then weekly, feature of cats in need and cats for adoption, sharing the stories of the rescues that happen every day by caring people.

Through these stories and working with rescue groups I’ve also been happy to offer incentives to donate to their support using my artwork and merchandise, both in direct sales and rewards.

Featured Artwork and Commissioned Portraits

tabby and white kitten
Augie, the August kitten.

Since 2012 it’s also been a joy to feature a portrait or other piece of artwork each week as well, whether a current work under construction or one from the past, including detail images and an explanation of how I created the portrait, and, of course, the subject’s story. So many stories!

It’s all a work in progress, not only to build what I offer, but also to build myself as a creative person.

Lakota and Emeraude, rescue, loss and palliative care

sympathy card with siamese cat Never enough time but time enough to love.
A new sympathy card, dedicated to Lakota.

Though I’ve been determined not to take in rescues or fosters for a while, to take a little break from the emotional pull of it, the expense and time, and instead support others as much as possible, these two at 19 and 20 years old pulled at my heartstrings, having cared for and loved nearly a dozen cats at that age. They joined our household in June, and though we lost Lakota in August he sent his message of living in the moment to our readers and inspired a new sympathy card dedicated to the brief time he spent with us. Emeraude, originally Jojo but she needed a princess name, has had her own journey of joining a new household at age 19, and also struggling with a chronic condition as she is now as well as inspiring new art.

What it’s all come to, and thank you

oil pastel sketch of two cats
Two Cats After van Gogh, oil pastel © B.E. Kazmarski

All of my new pursuits, including merchandise I’ve designed and sell, are guided by your readership, comments and suggestions. From my calendars to my garden flags, in 2012 I turned a good bit of my daily efforts to creating that merchandise, also turning my daily sketches and photos into greeting cards, wall art of various types, keepsakes and more. I have ideas every moment of every day and  as I work my way through my daily experiments with my camera and art materials and writing, your feedback is always important to me as I choose which to pursue. For that reason the honor of my CWA President’s Award for this artwork is also your award because, without your feedback, I may never have even created this sketch, or known it was popular enough to create something people would buy and enjoy.

On Thursday I’ll be hosting a very special giveaway for all my readers. Until then, thank you for being there when I needed you, and I’m glad I could be there for you as well. Now, on to another year with my Creative Cats!


Browse some rescued cats and kittens!

FinnBaxter-ad


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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Bernadette

From health and welfare to rescue and adoption stories, advocacy and art, factual articles and fictional stories, "The Creative Cat" offers both visual and verbal education and entertainment about cats for people who love cats, pets and animals of all species.

22 thoughts on “Happy Fifth Anniversary, “The Creative Cat”

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  • Happy blogoversary, Bernadette! I truly am amazed at all you do and how hard you work to produce such beautiful art! How do you fit it all into the day? You have to be the all-round most creative person I “know”. Here’s to many more wonderful years! x

    Reply
  • maru clavier

    Infinite purrsssss… for you, all of you human and felines, that collaborate in this creative playground.
    May you keep on growing, keep on enjoying the path many more years.

    Reply
  • Maureen Chatwin

    What was Peaches’ 100th Birthday all about?

    Reply
  • Happy 5th Anniversary !!!
    We don’t remember when we found you,
    but we’re glad we did 🙂
    We love art,photography and cats.
    Purrs Georgia and Julie,
    Treasure and JJ,
    and Angels Tiger and Tillie
    \and the mom, Nancy

    Reply
    • Thanks to all the kitties and the humans, Nancy! I think I met and fell in love with Tillie on Housepanthers and started commenting, then you came to visit us. We love your gang too, and all those wonderful colors on your porch.

      Reply
  • bluemoonalone

    Concats Bernadette..Thank you for all the beauty that you bring into this sometimes cold and cruel world..and thanks for everything you share with us..and most of all..thank you for the love and hope and happiness that you give to the cats that you meet on your path in life..I haven’t been visiting here long..but I know a good place when I see one..Hugs

    Reply
    • Thank you, Bluemoonalone, I really appreciate it. I try to share the love and beauty I feel with everyone and everything I touch–it’s the best way to have it yourself. Oddly, blogging is a really effective way to do that, and it’s one reason I truly enjoy sharing here.

      Reply
  • Concatulations on your fifth blogaversary! Yours is one of the blogs we don’t comment on often but are sure to never, ever miss reading. Thanks for all you share here!

    Reply
    • Gang, that’s great to know–and I read you too! Which just reminded me to sign up on your new site–I’ve been clicking over, duh. Love the cat conversations! Thanks so much!

      Reply
  • da tabbies o trout towne

    happy 5th…ore in this weather, drink a fifth, to you Bernadette; here’s to another 50 🙂 we haven’t followed you for long but
    truly enjoy the stories, the art work and the photo’s…..oh….and the etsy shop !!!

    Reply
    • Thanks for reading and for all your comments, Tabbies–we love to see your name come up! We’ll have to have a big fish fry someday!

      Reply
  • Sharon

    Congratulations Bernadette!!

    You have the most informative animal and nature website I have ever come across! I tell everyone I know about your website who is an animal lover! I would have never know had Penny the resued cat come into my life. We still talk about her to this day. You deserve an award just for being such a caring person advocating pets and the environment! The stories about your Fantastic Five and your past pets are always so heartwarming to read. Your poems are beautiful and your artwork is amazing!

    Thank you for all that you do!

    Sharon

    Reply
    • Sharon, thanks so much–it was my pleasure to help you and Penny, and I don’t know that I would have met you otherwise, even though we went to high school together and live about a mile apart! Small world with animal lovers.

      Reply
    • Thanks, Caren and Cody, two of my longtime blogging friends!

      Reply

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