Featured Daily Sketch: Cats on the Edge, 2012

March 17, 2026 Bernadette

Cats on the Edge, compressed charcoal, 10" x 7", 3/16/2012 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski — Cats on the Edge, compressed charcoal, 10″ x 7″, 3/16/2012 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

Jelly Bean and Mimi curl up on the top of the highest box on the stacks in my office. But they could curl up in the center of it, they don’t have to hang on the edge. Both of them like it that way too—Mimi is always on the corner, even when she’s up there alone.

Yes, the box is as beat-up as it looks, and it’s also listing along with the ones underneath it; I like sketching objects now and then. And they will all be moving to other areas in the house this weekend. The kids will miss these boxes—cats love heights, and while they have two other perching places in this room each of which can fit two of them at a time, one up near the ceiling, these boxes are: 1) new; 2) higher than me, and; 3) right behind me, so they can really look down on me and even jump down onto my shoulder.

From 2026: I like gestural sketches like this, just catching the essential details that describe the subjects, their actions or postures. Jelly Bean all curled into his center but with his tail down, the curves of his toes and the shape of his sides, little Mimi, just a ball with some shaggy fur on the bottom, the tip of an ear, it’s what I saw as important to me when I looked at them, and hat’s what I recorded of them. It’s so accurate to me I feel as if I could touch them as I probably did then when I was finished, a hand on top of Mimi and she would lift her head and squint at me then put it back down, Jelly Bean would not uncurl except to maybe stretch out his hind leg and spread his toes.

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.

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Cats on the Edge, charcoal, 10" x 7", 3/16/2012 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski — Cats on the Edge, charcoal, 10″ x 7″, 3/16/2012 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

This original sketch is still available. If you’re interested please let me know.

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