Featured Artwork: Klepto Cat Book 74, “Rags Goes to the Circus”

February 26, 2026 Bernadette

When Patricia sent the title and description I knew this one was going to be fun and I knew exactly the circus cats I’d use—the ones I’d photographed when The Amazing Acrocats were here in 2013 and used them on another cover, Cats and Caboodle. Samantha Marin had given me permission to use her cats in the photos I’d taken for that cover and on future books if necessary, so I had the makings for the cats and the setting already.

Patricia described the story and her idea:

The title isn’t solid yet–but I think you’ll have fun with this cover as the theme is circus cats. I’m leaning toward, “Rags Goes to the Circus” as a title. I envision him watching or mingling with maybe four or five cats of varying color and styles–dressed up in nylon net neck ruffs or skirts, jewelry, one could be wearing a hat…The theme has to do with missing money, so a few bills of any denomination on the floor would give a nice clue to the storyline. The cats travel in the back of a box truck–which is where the money is being lost (and found). So we can show them in a small space with maybe some scuff marks or missing/peeling paint on the floor. Maybe have some cat beds around. Or we could actually have the cats performing and Rags watching. That might be a bit more complicated. You can let me know.

I already had a clear idea, and one other element—the flying money. Money has been a critical part of the plot in several books but money itself is not very big in an illustration. In my old old stock and and photo collections I had both black and white clip art and color photos of money in various forms, but my favorite was always the money up in the air which I always called “flying money.” We’d used it on Cats Don’t Squeal and Rags Gets the Upper Paw (scroll down to see the gallery of covers) and it just added the purrfect touch of things-aren’t-what-they-seem to a book cover.

I also had Rags in a hat and bowtie on other covers, Merriment, Mayhem and Meows, Something to Meow About, and Rags Shutters a Crime.

With so much of the reference material already pretty much prepared putting together the draft was quick—and fun—and so was painting it. Lots of magenta pastel all over my hands and face and painting apron.

Here’s the synopsis:

It’s cats galore in this exciting story.

Rags wakes up one morning to find his yard swarming with cats. He leads the charge to find out where they came from and why they’ve taken up residence in his territory. It didn’t take Rags long to locate the troubled ringmaster and to learn that these are not ordinary cats, but beloved circus cats. This fact does not impress Rags, however. He just wants his space back and he takes many avenues toward making that happen. In this story Rags becomes a search cat, a money-sniffing cat, a car mechanic, an investigator, and a therapy cat for those cats that need extra support. So what’s the bottom line to the circus master’s problems? You might want to ask his cats.

You can find this book on Patricia’s website and on Amazon.com.

About the materials I use for the illustrations

I use a self-prepared two-ply illustration board with a very fine surface texture to hold the pastel, and also be able to use other media. It’s not entirely opaque so I can put it on my light table and trace the details in place. I initially started out with a sketch in watercolor but I’ve been using my brush markers more often to block in the colors and especially the dark areas; the markers don’t cause as much ripple in the paper and have cleaner edges than watercolors. Then I put it on my easel and finish it with my pastels, a mix soft pastels and pastel pencils especially for details. Depending on textures I need in the art I sometimes similar weight drawing papers with different textures too.

Getting all the details just right on an illustration like these book covers can be tricky when they are small. Depending on the detail in the illustration, I work them almost twice the final size of the cover—the cover is 5″ x 8″ and I work at 9″ x 12″ or larger.

Other illustration materials I’ve used

I don’t use paper for most of these illustrations but chose Ampersand brand Pastelbord, which is a piece of Masonite with a very fine clay and marble-dust coating that has very little texture but holds layers of pastel so I can both do my finger-painting thing with blending softer pastels and sketch with harder pastels and pastel pencils, and it stands up well to multiple changes. I began the painting with soft pastels to cover the major areas with layers of color. I finished up the details and edges with pastel pencils.

But once I began working out the covers with all this Victorian detail like PAWSitively Sinister, I needed a little assistance in keeping the details in order so it didn’t take me until next year to do the painting. Especially when working with patterns it’s important nothing is out of place or it’s immediately noticeable. I start with a complete composite that I’ve built in Photoshop using all the photos and images and art so that Patricia can see just what it will look like, and I have all the details in place. It’s far more difficult to correct an illustration than a Photoshop composite, which I can adjust infinitely. That way, when I get to my actual painting, all the decisions have been made and I just need to paint.

I use a self-prepared two-ply illustration board with a very fine surface texture to hold the pastel, and also be able to use other media. It’s not entirely opaque so I can put it on my light table and trace the details in place. I start out with a sketch in watercolor and even marker to block in the colors and especially the dark areas. Then I put it on my table and finish it with my pastels, first the soft pastels for coverage, then pastel pencils for details.

Depending on the detail in the illustration, I work them sometimes twice the final size of the cover. Getting all the details just right on an illustration like these book covers can be tricky when they are small.

About these book covers

I’ve illustrated over 100 covers for Patricia over two series of cat mysteries. You can see the Klepto Cat covers below and search “Klepto Cat” to find all the posts.

book cover design with cats and quilt undercover cat patricia fry

The final cover for "PAWtners in Crime" by Patricia Fry.

The final cover for "The Purrfect Lie" by Patricia Fry.

"A Picture Purrfect Christmas" klepto cat mystery by patricia fry

The finished cover for "Meow for the Money".

"Claws for a Cause" by Patricia Fry, cover illustration and design.

Cover illustration and design for "Cabin FURvor"

"The Amazing CATventure" cover, finished.

The finished cover for "Merriment, Mayhem and Meows".

"A Christmas to Purr About" Klepto Cat Mysteries No. 22"A Christmas to Purr About" Klepto Cat Mysteries No. 22

FURever Bound cover illustration and design.

Cats Don't Squeal cover illustration and design

illustrated book cover for cozy cat mystery

cover illustration for klepto cat book cats of a feather

book cover illustration and design klepto cat mystery

Klepto Cat Mystery Book Cover illustration and design

Klepto Cat Book 66, "Rags Claws for Clues"

Rags Digs Up the Past book cover illustration and design.

cozy cat mystery book cover patricia fry

Klepto Cat Book Covers

CWA 2018 and 2022 Muse Medallion AND Certificate of Excellence for “Illustration: Series”

Patricia publishes nearly a dozen books each year and I’ve entered the covers since 2015. I’ve won a Certificate of Excellence each year for either or both the Klepto Cat Mysteries and the Calico Cat Mysteries, and often won a MUSE™ Medallion too.

2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022

Click the links above to see the other awards.

Bookmarks for Patricia L. Fry's books. — Bookmarks for Patricia L. Fry’s books.

All books are available in electronic format and most for print on Amazon.com as well as find the print versions on Patricia’s website. Reviews have been good, and a few reviewers have even mentioned the covers! I hope you enjoy these books, and Patricia and I are currently working on the next cover. That woman can write!

When we finished book 12 we also updated the two-sided bookmark that includes all twelve books so far which Patricia can hand out at book signings and book shows.

We’ve also printed several runs of note cards from multiple covers, including a Christmas series.

. . . . . . .

Read more about book covers I’ve designed. Also, click here to read more about the Purrs of Wisdom cover and bookmarks, and also about books I’ve designed on my blog, What’s New?

Are you interested in illustrations or a book cover, or book design? Please contact me, I’ll be happy to discuss your project.

Featured Artwork

Each week on Wednesday I feature a piece of artwork, sometimes a current or historic portrait, sometimes an illustration or an art project from years ago, usually cat-themed, but sometimes wildlife or even non-animal subjects, and even projects from my commercial art life. Read other Featured Artwork posts.

Custom Commissioned Artwork and Illustrations from Portraits of Animals

From Animal Portraits to Book Covers to Advertisements

In addition to creating commissioned portraits beloved animal companions for the past 25 years, I’ve also been a commercial artist since the 1980s both full-time and freelance and created many illustrations, book covers, advertisements, display signs and more. Visit my Commissioned Artwork pages to read more. They are not quite complete at the moment but there is still quite a bit to look at.

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.