The Lost Sketchbook, Cookie Again
I knew I had a few sketches of Cookie and until I found this sketchbook I wondered where they had gone. She appeared before now and will appear again tomorrow.
These are on the next two pages in the book, the more detailed one first, then the simple outline. I think I was in the mood for the detailed style, I can tell by my lines and how much detail I’ve worked into her markings, especially the sure, straight lines of shadow around her; I can actually feel the certainty in my hands while I look at the sketches. The sketch in simple outline is a build from the style of Nikka, which may have been weeks or even months before this, but I probably flipped through the pages.
Here she is mid-bath, sitting in her somewhat roly-poly position where it’s easiest to get her belly. I’ve got more of her markings than in other sketches and I may have rendered some of them from memory, but because another version of her in the same position appears on the next page, likely I was working quickly and Cookie was holding more or less the same position for several minutes.
Nearly all of the first sketch is drawn with the side of the pencil, where nearly all of the second sketch is drawn with the point of the pencil. Pencil is so expressive: as I said above that I can feel the certainty in my hands while I am looking at these sketches, and I can see the next place I would have gone if I had had the time that morning, using the pencil as a brush stroke, pulling it along the paper, letting the varied line form from the tip.
Bernadette, I can’t wait to see more kitties as well as the bird’s nest with eggs and story behind it!
I am a firm believer in the power of art to heal. Creative self-expression may be the greatest gift our soul has to teach us.
My Mom thought just getting a photo of me was tough…I cannot imagine she’d ever try this. Well, she cannot really draw with a lick anyway. Your portraits are really lovely though…we enjoyed checking them out on the pet portrait page. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for visiting–and thank heaven for cameras! Even the best-behaved dog can’t sit still long enough for a portrait, let alone my cats!
Susan, it took years of getting them to break their habits of curiosity! Even flipping pages in the sketchbook got them ready for play–you know how kitties love to play with paper–and of course the camera was a subject for investigation.
I’m so glad I could inspire you to to sketch again–I know you’ve read of the healing powers of creativity after a loss, and don’t forget that those sketches also share your kitties with the world in a way other things cannot. Get out the books and get them used to it!
I have two more of kitties, and the last is of a bird’s nest with eggs! There’s a story with that one.
Love your drawings, Bernadette! I draw my cats too but have to work quickly. As soon as they hear the pencil on paper, they come running over to see what’s making the curious scratching sound!
You’ve inspired me to get back into my painting and drawing. I have three interesting feline models. What more could I ask for?
I look forward to seeing more of your work!
Hugs and purrs,
Susan