Featured Daily Sketch: Jade, 2013

April 10, 2026 Bernadette

"Jade", brush markers, 6" x 8" © Bernadette E. Kazmarski — “Jade”, brush markers, 6″ x 8″ © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

From 2013: Mimi has been sitting on the windowsill to watch the birds in the morning, and has the choice of turning to look out the window behind her that looks into the side yard with feeders right outside, or the window on the opposite wall that looks out front with another feeder and birdbath, and the street that’s just busy enough with cats and dogs and people to keep her looking back and forth.

I photographed her in this pose and used it for a story she “wrote”, and thought how nice that would be as a three- or four-color block print or screen print, simple shapes and nice contrasting colors. Then this morning she sat in the same position but the sun was shining on the leaves of the jade plant and it was just too inspiring. I sketched her and the leaves, but it wasn’t until evening that I inked it in with my markers. I may need to pursue this design! I like it with the white behind, or perhaps even a pale blue.

I like the title “Jade”, and perhaps if I use it for something outside of publishing here people might think Mimi’s name is actually Jade. She likes that. She is sitting on my right hand right now as I’m typing.

Thinking about new markers…

Also have to be a little more diligent at cleaning the cat hair off the platen of my scanner.

From 2026: All those ideas about how I might use this sketch, and I actually did use it with a blue background—but didn’t read the original post before I did! I guess a good idea sticks around. The drawings “Mewsette on the Afghan” and “Lucy the Most Exceptional Kitten” are both popular on keepsake boxes but I needed art in a similar style when I made the sets of three—and that’s when I added the blue background in Photoshop, for the sky outside the window, to this little sketch.

"Fun and Colorful Kitties" nesting keepsake box set. — “Fun and Colorful Kitties” nesting keepsake box set.

And I love the name “Jade” for Mimi too, she always looked a little exotic. I did get those new markers, and I still need to be more diligent at cleaning the cat hair off the platen of my scanner.

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.

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

Gifts Featuring Cats You Know!

Fine Art • Photography • Gifts • Greeting Cards • Books • Commissioned Portraits & Artwork

This small pendant is made with a print of my sketch “Jade”, inside a narrow black metal frame and a 1″ curved glass cabochon cover. It comes with a black 1″ black flocked cord. Read more and order.

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.