Featured Artwork: Sophie Gets a Look at Herself

I have one holiday cat painting, and this is it!

Sophie was a little goofy, and spent a good bit of time in obvious contemplation of an object that might be in front of her, or of nothing at all, that I could see, at least. She did at one time look at herself in a glass ornament on the tree…waaaayyy back when I had a tree, once, in this house.

Before I began selling my cards on a regular basis I designed my cards using my own artwork, whether a photo or illustration or block print or paper collage, whatever idea came to mind I was happy to pursue it. But the ideas came to me whenever they felt like it, and I remember several years casting about for ideas. In 1999 I saw a photo of a cat looking into an ornament, and it reminded me of Sophie. I decided to illustrate that memory in a quick little sketch. I still worked a day job and often waited for the weekend for little projects like this, but I remember the idea was strong so as soon as the cats and I were fed, out came the pastels and a little piece of drawing paper, and off I went, right from memory, no prior sketch or anything. Sophie was right there. It came together in just a few minutes.

Whether or not Sophie thinks she is all nose with tiny eyes and ears or that every ornament has her image on it, I don’t know, but she certainly looked a little disconcerted at encountering her reflection in this way. In any case, she provided the inspiration for a bright, cheerful piece of holiday artwork!

The original piece of artwork is only 6″ x 8″, and I originally had just the sketch on paper, but I decided I’d add a little decoration to it and put the red border on it. I had liked the look of rough irregular borders, especially since the sketch is intentionally a little rough and less detailed. Above I have it with the border cropped into a rectangle, but here is what it looks like with the border left rough.

Where to find this artwork

I’ve used it for a few things, notably a holiday card and in a few other holiday designs as well as my annual “Holiday Cheer” campaign. I have this card available in my Etsy shop individually or by the dozen.

Click here to see other daily sketches.

For a gallery of the ones available for sale, visit my Etsy shop in the “Cat Art and Prints” section.

Read about the reason for the daily sketches in Two Years of Daily Sketches.

And download your free desktop wallpaper calendar for computer or mobile, usually based on a daily sketch.

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 in my Etsy shop.

Browse some rescued cats and kittens!

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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.

© 2015 | www.TheCreativeCat.net | Published by Bernadette E. Kazmarski

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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!

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