Bean washes his face while Giuseppe surveys the room, sitting in the cat book library.
In my office downstairs I have the triple dresser I’d mentioned in our last family portrait that holds my collection of cat books. It’s a favorite place to hang out, good view, and a cat can even see out the windows from there. It may be a little confusing in the background, but there is a mirror behind the books.
I enjoyed watching the boys pass the time in feline ways, looking at each other, looking around the room, and having little baths, since it was after dinner. As usual, when they are active, I sketched Bean first on the left as he washed his face, then Giuseppe as he looked out into the room. they were actually mirroring each other for much of this activity but that looks funnier in the photos which I’ll share one day soon—synchronized feline relaxation techniques.
It surprised me how many of the books had yellow spines, more than are here. I had forgotten with these pens that the ink is only water proof only after I let the sketch dry completely, at least 20 minutes. I started painting purple into the boys then actually blotted it off, but was even a little too soon with some of the other colors. It turned out okay though. Mostly because I was very carefully supervised.
Sunshine and Jelly Bean watch me to ensure I don’t screw up the painting.
This is pretty much what I saw of Mimi as I went up and down the stairs today, from studio to office. She never tired of racing me up the steps, and by the time I was part of the way up and looked up, she was at the top and coolly turning the corner. When she does this I call her “Flash”. She seems to like it.
I noted the details of her posture each time, as I have before. One of the times we were headed up I grabbed my sketchbook and charcoal pencil and was at the ready as she ran up, and did a quick outline before the details faded from my memory, making corrections another time, then finishing.
Mimi and I were having an adult day, letting the kids sleep in a pile while we shared time together, though the lure of a nap on her children eventually won her favor.
Jelly Bean, Mewsette and Mr. Sunshine stare at me, waiting for me to do something, while I stare at them waiting for them to do something until I was sure they’d sit still for at least 30 seconds so I could draw my one long line, and they did, and here they are.
They were waiting to supervise today’s shift in the studio. This is a very important part of their day.
So here is the sketch version of the massive cuddle puddle that blocked my computer red and brown conté and vine and pencil charcoal. Giuseppe underneath acting as a pillow for Bean and Mewsette cuddling in, they thought they’d get dinner that much earlier if they blocked my view but I made them work for their dinner as artist models in both sketch and photograph. Mr. Sunshine does not complete the foursome because I peeled a layer of paper from my charcoal pencil and he got to play with it.
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3 thoughts on “Daily Sketch: Evening in the Cat Book Library”
This is stunning – love it! Of course, I’m sure you already knew that this is one of my favourites of the different styles you use. This needs to be hanging in my home!
This is stunning – love it! Of course, I’m sure you already knew that this is one of my favourites of the different styles you use. This needs to be hanging in my home!
And so it is, Denise! Let me frame it up!
That would be awesome! No rush though, whenever you get around to it will be fine.
Hugs & kisses to your furry family from mine <3