Featured Daily Sketch: Swirling Bath, 2014

May 27, 2026 Bernadette

pastel sektch of cat bathing — “Swirling Bath”, pastel, 7″ x 10″ © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

From 2014: Well, this wasn’t at all what I’d set out to do, but then I’d set out with kind of a loose idea to begin with, “sketch Mr. Sunshine on my desk”. I started out with the toned paper and charcoal seeing Sunshine with his glossy black fur, but suddenly discarded that in favor of my pastels and a half-formed idea of blended color areas on paper with a black outline sketch on top to give them definition. He is so graceful, especially when he turned to wash his side with his tail curling around to the front. So, here it is. It’s a little darker than I’d have liked it had I planned it, but overall I like it. Below, I cropped it so that it didn’t have the white edges. Often the white edge dilutes the colors, which is why I sometimes crop the colorful ones to eliminate that influence. The colors look a little more intense this way.

pastel sketch of cat bathing — “Swirling Bath” cropped.

From 2026: I am still very pleased with this sketch over a decade later. I think I caught the energy of a cat bath. And though more white on the edges does dilute the intensity of the colors I still prefer the irregular edge on this one because I think that adds to the sense of movement.

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.

~~~

*Certificate of Excellence, Cat Writers' Association 2014 Communications Contest

Gifts featuring cats you know! Visit Portraits of Animals

Fine Art • Photography • Gifts • Greeting Cards • Books • Commissioned Portraits & Artwork

I donated this original sketch, framed, to the Animal Rescue League Shelter & Wildlife Center’s annual Paws & Prints Benefit in 2014. But I still have prints available on paper an canvas. Read more and order.

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.