June Featured Artwork and Desktop Calendar: Paws for Reflection

June 3, 2021June 3, 2021 Bernadette

Paws for Reflection, Pastel, 18″ x 14″, 1999 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

In 1999 I was honored to create artwork for a limited edition print to be sold as a benefit for The Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania, Inc. I donated original art to the shelters for their art auctions all the time as well as certificates for a custom pet portrait, and I was known for this realistic and colorful style. I was honored that the shelter chose me for this project.

“Limited Edition” is a rather outdated term referring to the days when art was printed on printing presses. Printing plates were made and once the press tests produced an artist’s proof that was as close to the original as possible, an “edition” of a limited number was printed like 50 or 500, then the press was stopped, the plates used to print were destroyed. This gave each of the authentic prints a higher value because they were limited in number.

The shelter had purchased the rights to that limited run of prints and they bought the original painting. As part of the agreement, I agreed not to make prints of the image for five years following that, though I could include it in my portfolio to show others as examples of my work.

I worked with the shelter to design the image, and chose a cat from photos I had on hand, then worked with the rest of the composition so it was pretty, but not overdone. I love those old wooden casement windows, and you’ll see windows, curtains and vases of flowers as a theme in several of my paintings.

Paws for Reflection, vase and curtain detail

Paws for Reflection, hinge and wood detail

The Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania, Inc. has merged with the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society to become Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh. Limited edition prints are no longer available, but the artwork still hangs in the shelter’s original building.

Why have I waited so long to offer it as a print?

I have offered this image on gift items and a greeting card in the past. But my digital file of this image was based on my photo of the artwork, which I took with my film camera. It wasn’t bad for photographing a larger painting in those days, but was still too “soft” to offer as a full-size print; even as an 8″ x 10″ I could see the soft edges that should be sharper and more clear and in this painting it didn’t work for me. Because I have many of these older paintings that I photographed with film and sold or gave the painting to its commissioned owner before I got the prints back and found the photos weren’t clear enough, I recently purchased a program that uses more refined methods of sharpening images no matter the reason it’s blurry. Now I can finally revitalize these older paintings, and photographs too. I’m happy to offer this kitty now.

You can read order other sizes and styles here. In addition, you’ll find this image on gift items.

Click here to register for your account to order your free print. When I receive your registration I’ll send you an email with information on how to order.

Where to find this artwork

A New Member Thank You

Register for an account on Portraits of Animals and get a free matted print of “Paws for Reflection” or choose from several other sketches, paintings or photos of cats and other subjects.

The New Member print is a signed digital print of my pastel “Paws for Reflection”. Prints are made in archival inks on Epson Silky Photo Paper. This print is 8″ x 11″ and matted an 11″ x 14″ frame.

This print is only available as a new member gift during this month while it’s the featured artwork and desktop calendar, so make sure you sign up before the end of the month!

Or purchase another size print or greeting card

The original painting has been sold, but you can choose another style or size of print of “Paws for Reflection” on the product listing. I offer prints as:

digital prints on matte-finish art paper
giclees on art paper
on canvas in standard sizes
as framed prints, as shown, and custom framing is available

You may soon find this image on several gift items

You can find this art and more on Portraits of Animals. Search “Paws for Reflection” to find what’s currently available. I’ve offered it as a tile and refrigerator magnet or pin, and I will use this design on a garden flag that will be available soon.

This month’s desktop calendar

I’ve worked this image into a desktop calendar for you to enjoy and use for the entire month.

If these sizes don’t work for your device, or if you have problems, please let me know. Often I can troubleshoot the reason an image won’t download or won’t load on your device, but if I just can’t figure it out I can just email it to you and hope that works.

How to download and use your desktop calendar

Click on one of the images below that matches the dimensions of your monitor to open the image in a new page.
For desktop computers and laptops, right-click on that image and on a desktop computer choose “save as desktop wallpaper” or “save as background” or whichever option your operating system gives you to be able to do this. You may also simply save it to your hard drive and set it as your background from there.
For mobile devices, download the image to your gallery then choose it as your wallpaper—this is slightly different on all devices.

Horizontal and HD monitors and screens

Desktop calendar 2560 x 1440 for HD and wide screens.

. . .

Square monitors and screens

Desktop calendar 1280 x 1024 for square screens.

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Small Mobile Devices and Tablets

Desktop calendar, 600 x 800 for iPad, Kindle and other readers.

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Cell Phones and Smartphones

Desktop calendar, 330 x 700 for cell phones.

Take a look at other featured artwork and desktop calendar posts.

Each month I feature a piece of feline artwork from the archives to the present day, discuss its history and process, and set it up as a free downloadable desktop calendar for just about every electronic device available.

Click here to see daily sketches, click here to see daily photographs

click here to see other artwork featured on The Creative Cat

or visit Feline Artwork on my main website.

If you are interested in a print of this image, check 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.

Gifts featuring cats you know! Visit Portraits of Animals

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

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.