Cat sketch

dsc_2407.jpgI do like sketching in biro, you can get a good strong line, but by varying the pressure on the pen its good for shading. I have also found that by spraying the biro with hairspray you can sometimes get the ink to blur and bleed. If you are using black or blue biro you get interesting colours flowing from the lines. I guess it depends on the chemicals in both the pen and the hairspray. It might not always work. I have also used hairspray as a fixative for astel and charcoal drawings.

Did you know you can use milk sprayed onto charcoal or pastel as a fixative too? I found an old perfume bottle with an atomiser and used that to spray drawings. They might end up smelling a bit cheesy but it works. You just have to remember to wash out the bottle and spray after use.

Trying to be an ornament.

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Sitting by the black cat,

staring into space,

straight and statue like,

that look on his face.

Looking all innocent,

quiet and still.

Never moved a muscle,

while I looked at him.

Then down on the ground

like a flash.

Tiny shards of pottery

fallen with a crash!

Butter wouldn’t melt,

no sign of remorse,

going to be a statue.

Somewhere else?

Of course!

Morning cat.

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About 7.50 this morning. The cat was on the window ledge looking out over the garden. Standing sentinel. Approving the occupants of the green place outside. Birds fly or scurry across the land, feeding on wild bird seed. Other cats stalk through the plants and drink the pond water. None miss my cats gaze. He also seems to protect us. Standing guard against interlopers. I feel secure seeing him sitting statue like. Patient, watching over us.

Big cat

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A recent painting that has gone to a good home. I love painting animals and people. I think I’m reasonably good at capturing a close image of what I’m trying to portray. I’m not a super or photo realist, but I try and be as accurate as I can be.

Next year I would  like to do some more commissions, and they can be of just about anything. I enjoy the challenge.

 

Schrodingers cat?

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Quantum physics. I like reading books about it. But I don’t really understand. Schrodingers cat is in a box. There is a phial of poison in the box with it, but no one knows if the cat us alive or dead unless you open the box. What causes the phial to break depends on entangled electrons…… Which is where I’m lost and can’t remember what I read.

Books I would recommend, that I’ve had for years. In Search if Schrodingers Cat, by John Gribben, and In Search of Schrodingers kittens, by the same author. He also wrote In search of the Edge of Time.

So it’s up to you. It’s a tricky subject, but worth looking into.

Hand painted jug

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My hand painted jug. I chose to paint it with a tortoise shell cat (black white and ginger). With added daisy type flowers. I gave it as a Christmas gift last year. I like keeping my hand in by decorating pottery. I don’t get the chance to do this very often. It came up on my Facebook memories page. I think I did it on a visit to the Emma Bridgewater factory in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent.

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Squabble over a basket.

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My cats do like play fighting, at the moment they are either squabbling over a basket or trying to be top cat on top of the settee. Seeing them running backwards and forwards is great, or hiding under the coats by the back door and pouncing from underneath them as the other one runs past. It can be very funny. But it is only play fighting. They make little purring noises as they chase. Its like they are talking to each other. Leaping over each other. Flying, skipping, jumping. Fun.

Cat staring

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One of our cats watches TV. If she sees animals she gets interested. If it’s a dog she will get nervous and walk away. But if it’s a cat, leopard, or lion she gets very interested and stares at the TV. She sometimes goes up and puts her paws or nose on the screen. She seems to notice movement mostly. If it’s a cat stalking another animal she stares intently. She is the first cat that I have ever seen take an interest in TV programmes.