Featured Daily Sketch: Stanley With Apple, June 22, 2012

June 24, 2026 Bernadette

pastel sketch of cat on table with apple — “Stanley With Apple”, 5″ x 7″, pastel © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

From 2012: So because I had long thought today’s vintage photo would make a nice painting I decided to use it for today’s sketch. It’s tiny, 5″ x 7″, and the paper is rough so the details are loose but I think it captures the composition; there are things I would change, there are always things I’d change, and perhaps someday I’ll do the larger sketch where I can capture all the details and those things I would change.

But for now, I’m very happy to see this as a sketch. To think I took that photo nearly 25 years ago, before I had done most of what I have today. 25 years ago my rendering would have been quite different, or 10 years ago or last year or even yesterday, literally and metaphorically colored by my experiences in life and as an artist, and even the quality of sunlight coming in the window.

And 25 years ago Stanley was about 9 years old, not even halfway through his 25 years.

And the reference photo as a Vintage Photo on June 22, 2012…

cat in silhouette with apple — Stanley With Apple.

From 2012: Sweet Stanley dozing in the evening sun just a month or so after I moved in here in 1990. I turned to see just an interesting composition: all of Stanley’s white from his chin to his paws alight with sun and he relaxed and asleep, the little apple-shaped candle on the table next to him providing an interesting color point in an otherwise nearly monochromatic painting. It looks very symbolic and perhaps it is, but then again perhaps it’s just an interesting visual composition.

Stanley loved that spot of sun all his life. A few months later I had moved my oak dining room table here and over the next few years I took the reference photos for After Dinner Nap, a painting that totally changed my life as an artist. Even when I moved that table Stanley continued to enjoy the evening sun in this spot. To this day the evening sun shines into the window at the same angle and dozens of cats enjoyed it; I remember them all, but mostly Stanley and his moments of relaxation.

See another vintage photo of Stanley in Building Memories, 2012 Perspective

Find out more about the amazing Stanley who lived to be 25 years old.

From 2026: Even when I took the photo I thought it would make a nice painting, and like so many other photos I waited decades before I got to it as a daily sketch though they were usually done from life with my cats at that time. And my handsome and inspiring Stanley gets to be featured twice. After living for 25 years, he deserves that.

Stanley’s all over the place on The Creative Cat, so click here to see more images and read more stories about him.

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.

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The original sketch is sold, but you can choose another style or size of print of “Stanley With Apple” on the product listing.

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.