Featured Daily Sketch: Lopsided Nap, 2013

June 23, 2026 Bernadette

charcoal sketch of cat — “Lopsided Nap”, white and black charcoal pencils on tan toned paper, 7.5″ x 4.5″ © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

From 2013: I tossed my apron on my work table, so of course it became a cat bed. Mimi settled down in her usual perfectly symmetrical manner, then began sagging here and there, lopsided, until she was fully on her side. I began to sketch her in mid-sag, when she still had one hind leg underneath her and one stretched out at her side as she began listing to the left.

No sketching the new cats yet, they need their beauty sleep.

From 2026: Those new cats would have been Lakota and Emeraude

And I can absolutely feel Mimi in this sketch. A sketch like this is what I intended with my daily sketches, just noticing Mimi in the room and letting my natural visualization go to work as it always does, then with that plan taking a break from work, collecting the materials I’d need, and spending about 15 minutes on the sketch. Scan and post. Capturing an everyday moment and sharing it.

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.

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.