Featured Daily Sketch: Kelly’s Nap, June 30, 2012

July 7, 2026 Bernadette

paitning of tortoiseshell cat napping on eyelet pillowcase — Kelly’s Nap, watercolor pencil, 9 x 12, 2012 © B.E. Kazmarski

From 2012: Kelly has been having really good naps on the bed lately, ever since she rediscovered just how nice the bed is. I drew this in watercolor pencil then brushed water over it, then experimented with wetting the brush and brushing it on the pencil to pick up the pigment, worked well.

The paper is an older watercolor paper that is heavily textured, and it didn’t quite all fit on my scanner bed at one time (disappointing) so there are some shadows around the edge but I kind of like the effect.

In any case, Kelly certainly enjoyed her nap!

From 2026: I like not only Kelly in her really traditional nap shape, but also the eyelet pillow sham with all its little open dots that make up the pattern. Both of them are so familiar. This is the last daily sketch I did of Kelly; she went on to her next life on August 11 that year. But I’ll always be glad she was here for daily sketches and I had the chance to work with her tortie spots.

And I am happy to know this sketch has a wonderful home with a friend in Winnipeg, MB, Canada!

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 my feline artwork

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Now in its fourth 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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Here is Kelly again along with her fur sister Cookie. Read more and choose one or both.

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.