Featured Daily Sketch: The Daily Chase, 2015

March 6, 2026 Bernadette

"The Daily Chase", pastel on textured paper, 5" x 6" © Bernadette E. Kazmarski — “The Daily Chase”, pastel on textured paper, 5″ x 6″ © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

I was experimenting with preparing a background of some sort then drawing on top of it, most likely black cat silhouettes!

Note: Basil’s original name was Smokie.

From 2015: “This is Smokie (now Basil) and Bella in their daily chase around the house. Working in my studio I heard the thundering of little black paws coming up the steps, saw two blurs run across the landing into the bathroom and thump around in the tub, then run across the landing to the bedroom and bounce on the bed, Bella in the lead at one point, Smokie at the next. Not sure where the colors came from but that they are happy and I like them.”

From 2026: Bella was about one year old and Basil about 10 months then, BFFs, both crazy playful they matched each others’ energy.

On the day I posted it I wondered where the colors came from but shortly after I figured that out–the landing has a tall, narrow casement that’s filled with sun on sunny mornings. I looked at it again and could see the vertical bands of light and color on the landing in this background, not literally but the morning light was full of color.

And an inspiration for my first votives

"The Daily Chase" votive. — “The Daily Chase” votive.

For decades going back to the 90s I had wanted to see my art on candle jars or other types of lighted jars for years. Like most of my other gift items I thought about it long enough and figured out a way I could make something that matched my idea.

I had the idea to make votives myself using upcycled jars and later began keeping various jars in 2016 or 2017, when we could no longer recycle glass jars. I remember seeing my growing stash of these jars in my kitchen, first in a drawer, then more in a box slid underneath a cabinet, then even more on shelves here and there. They were really getting in my way and taking up space in a small kitchen that didn’t have enough space to begin with and thinking I really should get to this idea or stop keeping jars. This is how many of my creative projects start, and sometimes it’s just out of desperation from lack of space that I actually start on something.

I needed to find some sort of transparent color that would adhere to the glass, that I could use like a watercolor to paint. Then I discovered alcohol inks and the project was on. But I didn’t like how the candle—at first a wax votive candle—glared inside the jar and had to somehow diffuse the light of the candle. I wondered if etching the glass would work.

In August 2017 I etched the outside of three jars and got the inks and paint together. The Daily Chase votive and two others based on similar daily sketches were etched on the outside, handpainted on the inside with translucent colored alcohol inks, then I painted the black cat silhouettes with opaque black enamel paint on the outside. The three designs were “The Daily Chase,” “Peaceful Nap,” and “Sunfall,” all based on that theme in my daily sketches of a background color or pattern with a black cat silhouette design.

My very first upcycled jar votives in August 2017.

My votive lamps have gone in many directions since then. When I wanted to have art on them that I couldn’t paint on the inside I experimented with various clear then frosted vinyl labels, LED tealights and string lights. Then I purchased glass votives and after a few with art I used a few square ones to make custom votives for three friends when they ‘d lost their animal companions and my Custom Pet Memorial Votives were born.

The upcycled glass votives with my artwork are still popular and versatile, and I love to make them. This is where they all started.

I still have this one with Basil and Bella here at my desk.

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.

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

Gifts Featuring Cats You Know!

Designed from a Daily Sketch from Portraits of Animals!

I think I’m going to make a few in these designs, and maybe a few others too.

In the meantime visit the Votives page on Portraits of Animals to see what’s available now.

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.