Featured Daily Sketch: Just a Tiny Nap, 2013

October 23, 2025 Bernadette

charcoal sketch of cat — “Just a Tiny Nap”, charcoal on textured paper, 5″ x 7″ © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

Another cat in a box…and intentionally lured there by me. If you look closely in the lower left corner of the box you’ll see Mimi’s nose, and the two lighter areas just above that are her ears catching the light.

I’ve been working in my studio late into the night, or early into the morning as it were, and last night my supervisor was Mimi. Mimi was not interested in supervisory duties, however, she wanted love and play. I, on the other hand, had inks and papers and linoleum blocks at hand. So between designs I took some time to play with Mimi and have a little love session, then I took a very tiny bent-up box from tiny envelopes which had been holding my tubes of ink and set it down on the floor in a conspicuous place.

How cruel am I to lead Mimi about like this, knowing her weakness for any container no matter the size? Mimi was instantly on the floor and stepping into the box, a settling-in bath was next, and then although it took quite a few adjustments, she had completely squeezed herself into the box and curled up for a brief nap. Perhaps I tired her out with our play, but I think napping in or on a new thing is a pleasurable experience for cats, kind of like watching a good movie, and has little to do with resting.

I watched all this out of the corner of my eye as I was printing the next series, and by the time I was done she was all settled in—and I without my camera. If I’d gone to get it she would have gotten up and followed me, but I used the next best thing—charcoal and paper. Because I walked across the room to hang each print as it was done, I had plenty of floor space, making Mimi and the box look even tinier than they already were.

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

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Feline Artwork on Portraits of Animals

This sketch is still available, framed, for $75.00. I have too many to list all of them so I just mention them here when I can. Please get in touch if you’re interested! Email bernadette @ bernadette-k (dot) com.

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.