New paintings and regular art updates.
You know that look cats have. That long slow stare, then a shift to look away at something else. Perhaps a twitch of an ear. Paws tucked up underneath. Then a sudden decision, movement, a lick of the paw. Settle again. Warm body resting on my knee. Curled up now, but if I move an eye opens and he stares again. Measuring minutes and hours, quietly, steadily…. I always miss his blink, to me his eyes are eternally open, then closed, but open…..
I was just thinking of the names I call my cats, not just their proper names but pet names.
Seamus is also Mouse,
He can be Mus it Tus tat.
Moggie, buggle, pud,
Paws, tatty cat.
Seamus can be fluff,
Great big paws.
He is muscle tough,
Also muggle and Mugs.
Gracie can be girl, girly, sweet paws,
Kitty cat, choochie, mooch, grinkle,
Spooks, cheeky tat, shortie,
Garlic, glory, tiny.
Splash, flash, sassy………
I don’t know where half of these come from. Garlic is because the pattern on Gracies face looks a bit like a garlic bulb. Seamus is mainly Mouse, they know their own names and come when called or in Seamus’s case whistled.
I think I probably call them other things which interchange between the two or cover both of them. Like little batty cats, bat’s, puddy puds, puggles, tusses and cusses.
Don’t ask me why.!
You sat a while, washing, paws crossed in contentment. A tiny leaf near to you, ready for the swift pounce when you see it again. Then dance around the room, catching, lifting it up in the air, only to see it fall again. Your eyes gleam as you lick a back leg, plotting a swift twitch of your paw. A substitute mouse or bird, but far less cruel. Cat you have got cattitude!
When my partner goes to bed Seamus likes to snuggle up on his chair. Then he turns over on his back as if to say rub my belly. But beware, it’s a sneaky snare. Tickle too hard or too long, or if his tale is twitching. Out come the claws! Ouch…. He’s really sweet though a friendly cat, you just have to be gentle and watch for the signs ..
X
I’m playing with digital sketches to decide whether to paint or draw a card design. After the first set done in a sketching app, I did the last one as an artrage oil sketch – over drawing a picture of a firework exploding that I did last week. I’m happier with that than the others.
I’m only doing these because I’ve got a cold. I was due to go out and go to an art group but I woke up feeling snotty this morning. But you can’t keep me away from drawing or painting for long. I’ve got a large peice of foam board in the car to paint on for something else this week….. But that’s another story.
X
I think this looks more refined and handsome.
Argh that’s my leg! My cat is “poddling” that’s kneading it with his big, heavy, sharp clawed paws….I’m suffering from tiny puncture wounds in my thigh…stroke his back and he starts up again. Left, right, left, right…..look of concentration on his face, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, slowing down .. almost..no he’s started up again. Ow, should have worn thicker trousers….finally settled down, ready to sleep….thank goodness…
I once saw a poster “poddle free cheshire” that’s where I found this wonderful word.
X
How old was I when we first had a cat? 11 or 12 I think, we had two cats, a tortoise shell and a grey tabby. I remember loving them. One was a kitten and we had a settee which had four legs so it would run underneath and pounce on my ankles. I had to sit cross legged on the seat to avoid getting scratched!
I went to college and my friend had two kittens which we took to the vets and we saw an old cat there which was due to be euthanized. we asked to take it in and looked after it for a year until it died of old age. That cat was Jinx and I did a lovely painting of him.
The following year we took in an adult female cat. She was very clever and liked to ride on my shoulders. She had kittens and we kept two of them. Once their mum died they were our cats for many years. The female lived to 21. As they got old we took in another two strays, one of these would sit on the white line in the middle of the road, waiting for me to come home. He was knocked over in an accident with a car and was put to sleep. The other cat we think was killed by antifreeze or another poison. I was very sad when that happened, but we were later persuaded to taken in two more cats. They lived long lives . Finally last year we took in a brother and sister cat. They love chasing each other around the house, up and down stairs. Having fun trying to catch water from the bath tap and jumping up on top of the cupboards in the kitchen. They are a little shy when new people visit but they are loved and give love. I could write more but I don’t want to bore you.
X
One cute cat.
Not for sale, because we are his…
We feed him. Water him. Tend him.
Stroke, pet, hug him.
Spend time with him.
The other cat objects.
She is cute too…
But she doesn’t pose this well!
One problem with being ill is that sometimes my energy levels are not good. I’m often tired, and if I get a cold like I have now I just feel washed out. I end up looking at the canvas instead of painting it.
That being said I’ve promised to finish these two this week. They have come on well, but I think they will need daylight so that I can see the colours properly.
So I will take my time but work hard to finish them. Until I’m happy with them.
X
I love ornaments, but have an aversion to dusting, hence all of my ceramic cats are rather dusty.
The more I collect the worse I get. I added up the number of cat ormaments I had once and gave up after 50. I’m afraid I like collecting “useless tat”. Maybe one day I could use them in an art work. Or more likely they will sit and continue to gather dust.
I think each of these cats is a depiction of a Egyptian goddess Bast? I may be wrong.
Mallaband-Brown