
Sweet black cat
Nervous and shy
Stepped towards us
Then ran away
Black shadow in trees
Rush away now
Fast on your paws
Down the road you go
Quick and silent
Shiny and sleek
Now you go
Home you seek.
New paintings and regular art updates.

Sweet black cat
Nervous and shy
Stepped towards us
Then ran away
Black shadow in trees
Rush away now
Fast on your paws
Down the road you go
Quick and silent
Shiny and sleek
Now you go
Home you seek.

The cat turned to stare at me. She had seen me in the corner of her eye. She had been staring at the wizard as he cast a spell. As his words ended she started to grow. Paws and legs, tail, body, head, ten times bigger? Twenty times. More. She was sitting on the stairs landing, but now her head and shoulders were about five feet above where they were minutes before.
This is a gentle cat, but her claws were now three inches long, she looked at me longingly. Ready to knead me with her paws, but they could now be deadly. Quietly I closed the bedroom door. Quietly I rang the local zoo. The wizard roared with laughter at the transformation. Claws started to scratch at the door….

Tig was a stray cat we took in several years ago. I loved his black nose and chin. I used to draw him at sketchfu and this was the drawing I did of him after he died. He was very bright and got up to all sorts of mischief. Our outdoor cat could be his son! The similarities in looks and behaviour, even their thick shiny, glossy coats.i
I do like drawing cats. Most of them are black and white, but we once had a ginger cat and when I was a child I had a tortoiseshell cat. I have lots of paintings and drawings. Seeing this brings back fond memories.

Curled round in sleep,
my hubby and the cat,
snoozing after tea.
Cat’s ears twitch,
hubby snores gently,
perfect peace for a while.
Resting at ease,
calm and relaxed.
Surely it can’t last?
Have to wait and see…

She’s just come I from outside, curled up, happy, waiting for a belly rub.
Most of the cats I’ve had are black and white. So called ‘tuxedo’ cats. I think they may be the ‘Jellicles’ cats from the poem by T S Elliott who wrote ‘Old Possums book of Practical Cats’ which the musical ‘Cats’ is based on. I can’t remember much of that poem but it does say something about Jellicles cats ‘dance by the light of the moon’?
Other cat poems in the book include ‘McCafferty the Mystery Cat’, ‘Gus: The Theatre Cat’ and ‘The Naming of Cats’. I think they are much better as poems than adapted as songs.
Birthday present I got on Sunday off a friend who knows I love cats. Gold acrylic paint and fine black ink liner pen. The prompt for this Thursday was a gift I received. #bandofsketchers


I’m just catching up this week for #bandofsketchers so here’s my speckled drawing. Our outdoor cat. He’s actually black and white but I’ve drawn him in a pointellist way. I was interested in how the speckles changed direction as I drew…
Last night the cats stayed out till dawn. I called them every hour but they were not bothered. The two indoor cats are fine, they love being out now. They sit on garden walls and seem to stick together. They follow the outdoor cat around and the dynamic between them all has really settled down. They are being very loving when they are in. Lots of purring and cheek rubbing. They seem to be staying round the back of the house and garden, keeping away from the road.

If I can find them in all the foliage I will try and post some photos of them.


Rough sketches, three panel wordless piece. I experimented with colour and the positioning of the panels. Also could it be a front, side or top or bottom view of the cat and of it breaking out through the cat flap? Could the sequence change? What are the cats emotions? Why does it want to get out? Fear, adventure, looking for a friend? Lots of reasons, even sunshine….? Or a bird it’s seen singing outside… Oh dear!