Daily Sketch Reprise: A Warm Nap, 2014
Mewsette and Bean were so completely relaxed on my studio floor in front of the lights I had plenty of time to get a few washes down, then seeing the color combination changed my mind about the final finishing which was to add another color or two and a black outline, but I just wanted the warm earth tones to hold, and a simple line in heavier brown watercolor than the washes. It almost makes me think of a cave painting style. Of course there had to be kitties napping near the firelight.
And yes, they are upside down, because that’s the way I was looking at them, but the work just as well right side up.
Or even sideways.
And one other thing I can do in Photoshop—change the colors!
I think I’ll call this one “A Cool Nap”. Now that’s a versatile piece of artwork. I feel more ideas coming on…
. . . . . . .
What else was I sketching on this date?
.
Cup of Coffee, 2014
Mewsette does her best to get to my coffee in the red mug, but all she ever gets is to lick the sides. I think she learned this from Cookie, who really did drink my coffee when I wasn’t paying attention. I don’t see how they could like the taste of coffee, but I’m sure they like the half ‘n half. She is, of course, on the edge of the enamel table.
I’m working on a really cool project with this series of sketches from the kitchen, with black cats and those touches of red!
. . . . . . .
What else was I sketching on this date?
.
Baths, 2013
Mewsette and Mimi enjoy each others’ company for their after-dinner baths, sketched in brown conté crayon. Very fun to try to catch them in one position long enough to sketch a basic outline, then fill in.
I’ve ignored my conté crayons for a while; I’d used them so often over the summer I grew a little tired of them, but I’m enjoying getting back to the earth tones and to the sketchy feel after drawing so frequently in ink.
. . . . . . .
Confusing Cuddle Puddle, 2012
I made the mistake of turning on the little high-intensity work lamps today, and this was the result. See if you can figure out how many cats are here and just how they are positioned.
Seeing them curled up under my work lamps was the second biggest inspiration to do daily sketches, probably because I see them that way every day. Four of them piled up was my second daily sketch entitled Reticulated Kitties. (Sleeping on the bed was the first.)
At least when they’re sleeping they hold still long enough for me to get everything in the right place. Yes, a pile of black cat, and they are so close they might as well all be one.
I will add, a year later in 2013, the frustration of working with vine charcoal is that it tends to flake off this smoother paper, even with a fixative. This original no longer looks like this, and I’ve since begun to use a small pad of paper with more tooth and texture to hold the charcoal.
Charcoal has a similar blending style to yesterday’s conté sketch and it’s often difficult to decide which one I want to use, whether I want the dense black of charcoal, and put up with its ephemeral nature, or the softer strokes of conté, not as dense black, but which stay put!
Click here to see other daily sketches.
For a gallery of the ones available for sale, visit Portraits of Animals in the “Daily Sketches” section.
Read about the reason for the daily sketches in Three Years of Daily Sketches.
Download your free desktop wallpaper calendar for computer or mobile, usually based on a daily sketch.
And don’t forget that each month’s Featured Artwork is also one of the free prints available on Portraits of Animals when you sign up for an account.
A collection of 34 images of feline artwork
Feline Style Sampler
Daily sketches, illustrations, commissioned portraits all in a small coil-bound gift book.
Click here or on the image to read more or find this book on Portraits of Animals.
Browse some rescued cats and kittens!
Subscribe to my e-newsletter
Subscribe to The Creative Cat Preview E-newsletter.
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. Subscribe to The Creative Cat Preview E-newsletter. © 2022 | www.TheCreativeCat.net | Published by Bernadette E. Kazmarski 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!
Copyright
Subscribe to my e-newsletter
PORTRAITS OF ANIMALS WEBSITE
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN | PINTEREST | TUMBLR | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE| EMAIL
| PATREON
Gifts Featuring Cats You Know!
Valentine Cards from Portraits of Animals!
Have we come around to Valentine’s Day already? I have a ready supply of feline Valentine images with all the cuddling that happens around here. In this post I feature all my commercially printed Valentines with photos and illustrations, seven designs in total. Read more and order.
© 2017 | www.TheCreativeCat.net | Published by Bernadette E. Kazmarski
—
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!
—
PORTRAITS OF ANIMALS WEBSITE
FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN | PINTEREST | TUMBLR | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | GOOGLE+ | EMAIL
