Friday, March 29, 2024
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Featured Artwork: I Follow My Cats Around With a Sketchpad…

pencil and watercolor sketch of cat
“Peaches’ Nap Spot”, pencil and watercolor, 11″ x 7.5″ © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

I stumbled on this VERY early post from June of 2009 when I’d first done this sketch of Peaches. She was such an inspiration, and I’m also surprised to see this style showing up four years ago.

Peaches does it again.

Peaches entered into several new careers since she came to me in 2005—at about age 15. Mostly, she’s a model for me to sketch, paint and photograph and someday she’ll be the subject of a few cartoons. This is a new piece that’s a combination of pencil and watercolor done en plein air, if you can call it that when you’re in the house. I stood there and sketched her while she peacefully slept, then even got the watercolors and a brush. One great thing about old cats, when they sleep, they sleep.

I’ve framed the original, and also have prints as well as notecards.

About Peaches

This month was designated Senior Pet Month by BlogPaws, and I’ve been featuring the inspirations given to me by the older cats who lived with me. Read more about Peaches, who seemed to find a new youth, and five years into her time with me still looked like a young cat, her 5.5 pound figure unchanged, her clearly patched peach and gray and white fur soft and shiny, green eyes clear and round, and very little unsteadiness to her gait. When people came to visit she was one of the favorites with her petite good looks, quiet friendly face rub and round-eyed welcoming expression, and her curiosity never ceased to surprise me when she went exploring a bag or a box or the newly-renovated bathroom.

Not only did Peaches settle firmly in the household, but she also settled firmly on the internet. She corresponded with others through our blog and on Facebook, and she even applied for a job as an office assistant finding a best friend, Eva, and regularly corresponded with her. In retrospect, it’s hard to believe Peaches was only with me for five years.

And read about one of the paintings I’m most proud of, Peaches and Peonies. Never underestimate the potential for a senior cat to come along and change your life.


If you’d like to read more about artwork as I develop it, about my current portraits and at assignments and even historic portraits and paintings, each week I feature a piece of artwork on Wednesday and a new product on Thursday. Choose the category for featured artwork.



 


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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.


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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.

2 thoughts on “Featured Artwork: I Follow My Cats Around With a Sketchpad…

  • Hi Bernadette,

    I am so happy you posted this picture. It is beautiful. It looks just like Penny the calico cat that came to me when Snoopy died. She had the same beautiful coloring and slept the same way. I have pictures I will have to show you of Penny. An this is the time that Snoopy go sick and passed on two years ago on the day before Labor Day.
    Today, there was an Old English Sheepdog at the Humane Society on the North Side. So I am going to see him tomorrow if I can.
    As you are thinking of Peaches, I am thinking of Snoopy and Penny.

    Thank you

    Reply
    • Sharon, isn’t it funny how memories work? The weather, a color, anything can remind of of those we love and have lost. I’m sure this time of year will always be full of memories of Snoopy’s last few weeks for you. I hope the sheepdog comes home with you!

      Reply

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