Featured Daily Sketch: Sunshine Reclining, 2014

June 3, 2026 Bernadette

sketch of cat in white and black charcoal pencil on gray toned paper © Bernadette E. Kazmarski — “Sunshine Reclining”, white and black charcoal pencil on gray toned paper, 8″ x 5″ © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

From 2014: Sunshine relaxed on the cabinet in the kitchen in one of his characteristic poses, front legs curled under just so, hind legs kind of splayed, and tail curled over them. I decided it was one of those things about Mr. Sunshine I wanted to remember. I had been working there for a while and he’d settled with me, happy.

When I left he stayed, and he stayed when I secretly decided I’d get my sketchbook and pencils, came back, turned on the lights and got into position and got started with just an outline, then he moved. So we played and had some pets on the table and he was very pleased with himself for getting my attention. Then he went back to the cabinet and I tried to pet him in a way that he’d return to that position and he did, sort of, for a bit, then got up again. But after several sessions of affection he did eventually get back into a position surprisingly like the first that I could work from it. Felines are rarely completely still unless they are completely, deeply asleep, though, and he kept adjusting for maximum comfort.

Some details aren’t right, especially his hind paws, but for the most part, it’s my Mr. Sunshine in a posture I find very familiar.

From 2026: All the way back in 2014 I wanted to be sure I had a sketch in what really was Mr. Sunshine’s most frequent resting, and supurrvising, pose, even to his last days. While there are some things about it I don’t like that probably arose from stopping and returning to the sketch as Mr. Sunshine shifted and moved around, like the shaggy appearance of his back and tail which were always pretty sleek, it is otherwise the Mr. Sunshine I remember. As always with my daily sketches, I’m so grateful I took the time.

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.

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This original sketch is still available as well as prints, and maybe I’ll print a few as note cards too. Let me know if you are interested.

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.