Featured Daily Sketch: The Zen of Basket, After Toulouse-Lautrec, 2014

December 4, 2025 Bernadette

brush pen and watercolor sketch of two cats in basket — “The Zen of Basket”, watercolor and brush pen on watercolor paper, 8.5″ x 5.5″ © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

From 2014: So one of the “other ideas glimmering in my periphery” from yesterday did stay with me today—the two cats cuddled in the basket like Yin and Yang, but in the style of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, the reason for the red cats. If you’re wondering about that, visit this post that celebrates his birthday to see his particular style that influenced me many years ago.

For this sketch I used watercolor paper instead of my multi-media paper so I could layer the watercolor. That paper is smaller, so this sketch is smaller, and I had yesterday’s sketch (below) in front of me and sketched from that in pencil on my watercolor paper, then painting it in and finishing with my brush pen.

"The Zen of Basket", charcoal on white multi-media paper, 9.5" x 6" © Bernadette E. Kazmarski — “The Zen of Basket”, charcoal on white multi-media paper, 9.5″ x 6″ © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

I had also used this color scheme and style with another sketch back in February, “Magic Carpet”. I had also wanted the new sketch to mimic the colors and lines of that sketch, but you can see the difference between an older brush pen, below, and a new one, above! I like the rough lines in the one below, but I also like the smoother lines on the one above. They may have noticeable differences, but they do make a nice set.

inkand watercolor sketch of two cats — “Magic Carpet”, ink and watercolor, 6″ x 9″ © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

Below is the original sketch from yesterday featuring Giuseppe and Mr. Sunshine are curled together like Yin and Yang, sharing and commingling and multiplying their inner peace. In fact, they were probably practicing zazen and were discovering universal insights into the nature of existence, even as Mewsette did earlier as she explored the inner ambiance of the very same basket.

As much as I like the color and composition of the sketches above, I also love the simple lines of this charcoal sketch.

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

Both original sketches are available, framed. If you’re interested, please ask!

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.