Featured Daily Sketch: A Good Scratch on the Deck Rail, 2013

May 7, 2026 Bernadette

charcoal sketch of cat — “A Good Scratch on the Deck Rail”, charcoal pencil, 9″ x 6″ © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

From 2013: Mimi exercises just about every muscle in her body having a really good scratch on the deck rail this afternoon.

My cats have always loved to scratch wood, especially dry, old unfinished wood. They can really get their claws down into the grain of an old pine board and it must feel pretty satisfying.

Generations of kitties who visited the outdoors with me have loved my deck steps and railing. The entire deck is made of untreated lumber, and I’ve been careful to keep the wood clean and treated with a water-based environmentally-safe waterproofing treatment. It’s lasted me over 20 years, not counting the time before I moved in when the deck had no finish on it whatsoever, and in time the top surface of the deck rail, which sees the most weather, has begun to split between the grain.

Mimi stops to scratch at several places along the railing, but this is her favorite, possibly because it’s always been the most weathered—the cut end of the top board. She can really dig in and wrap her paws around that one!

Of course, she was very busy and moving around quite a bit so I had to fill in some of the details later, but a quick charcoal sketch captured just some of her energy. Though I sketch my cats indoors all the time, I actually associate sketching and painting outdoors with landscapes and felt myself move into that mode while working, drawing a larger image on the paper, looking at the larger picture, literally, and just feeling more free with my lines, interesting, perhaps I just felt like I had more room to move. Perhaps one of these days I’ll sketch Mimi outdoors.

From 2026: Well, what do you know, I guess I did sketch Mimi outdoors! These four in addition to today’s featured sketch. Actually only three were sketched outdoors, the two on the right plus today’s sketch, but I always loved to watch her out there and that inspired the two watercolors. We may see more.

Mimi in the Laundry Shade, watercolor, 6 x 6 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

charcoal sketch of black cat on step — “Mimi on the Top Step”, charcoal pencil, 6″ x 8″ (C) B.E. Kazmarski

"Garden Sketch With Mimi", watercolor, 5" x 7" © Bernadette E. Kazmarski — “Garden Sketch With Mimi”, watercolor, 5″ x 7″ © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

"The Woodland Garden", pastel, 7" x 10" © Bernadette E. Kazmarski — “The Woodland Garden”, pastel, 7″ x 10″ © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

Daily Sketches 2011 to 2015

I think I accomplished what I'd set out to do three years ago today, a challenge to me and entertainment and enjoyment for you: to create a quick sketch of my cats each day as a way to practice and experiment, and present the sketch on that day with no editing, no waiting, no excuses, just to do the sketch and share it.

Read more about the reason for the daily sketches in Daily Sketches: the Idea, Most Popular, Awards.

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.

"Feline Style Sampler" book of sketches and portraits.

A collection of 34 images of feline artwork

**The award-winning* Feline Style Sampler**

Now in its third printing since 2013! 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.

~~~

*Certificate of Excellence, Cat Writers' Association 2014 Communications Contest

Originals and Prints inspired by rescued cats from Portraits of Animals!

This sketch is still available. Please let me know if you’re interested.

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.