An Exciting Birthday Wish

March 4, 2019 Bernadette

“Herbie”, pastel on canson mi-tientes paper, 10″ x 12″, 1995 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

I rarely mention my birthday because, aside from my 50th, it’s just not something I’ve ever really wanted to celebrate. I don’t mention it because if I do, people will wish me a happy birthday and I really try but I’m just not as excited as other are and it seems rude, so I just avoid it altogether.

It always seems I have some cat rescue things to do on my birthday, like all day trapping, or a clinic. Today I took the three fosters to be surrendered. From picking them all up, transporting them and waiting while tests were done it took several hours in the morning and afternoon (more details tomorrow) so the tradition continues.

A few friends who know my birthday called or messaged a greeting but I was ready to get to work when I got home, checking correspondence and planning some studio time on a sunny afternoon. And then I saw a Facebook friend who is also an artist and cat writer wish me a happy birthday, and wondered how she knew. Another cat writer who regularly features a piece of artwork and a quote had shared a post, and I had to read it a few times to understand what it was all about.

Screenshot of the post from Cat Museum of San Francisco

Wow! First, I had no idea they knew my birthday, second that I would be featured as the creative people featured each day for their contribution to or love of cats are far more well-known and accomplished than me. This is like Theophile Steinlen and T.S. Eliot and the like! I had contacted them years ago to ask if they would be interested in any of my art and to possibly do an article about them, but mostly I enjoy reading about the daily artist who loves cats.

If you can’t read it, here is what their introduction says, from my bio on this site:

“I have my cats to thank for being an artist. …while I render many other subjects now it all began with my cats and the hopeless affection I felt for each of them.”

Happy Birthday author and artist Bernadette E Kazmarski.

I commented on the post and added information about this portrait of Herbie, but I just couldn’t let it go at that. So I decided to acknowledge my birthday anyway and shared the post.

I usually ignore my birthday but the Cat Museum of San Francisco shared my art and wished me a happy birthday today and I have to share that! I am honored to be featured among the visual and literary and musical creative people who I have studied!

So that’s an incredible birthday gift!

Copyright

All images and text used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission, although links to your site are more than welcome and are shared. Please ask if you are interested in using and image or story in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of an image or a product including it, check my animal and nature website Portraits of Animals 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.