Texturised

I used photodirector to adjust the textures in the effects part of its editing tools. I like the rippled effect, it somehow reminds me of the patterns in the cloudscape on Jupiter taken by the Juno probe a few years ago. Because I didn’t shade all the way up to the outlines I like the dark edge that lies between them and the silver shading. I could imagine using this style to illustrate a book cover or within a magazine article. Perhaps one day I will get a commission to do something like this? I don’t know.

New pens on black paper

I do like new pens

I spotted five metallic pens made by Bic in the shop today. So on a whim I bought them. I have to say I was impressed! They have large felt pen nibs and the ink flows well. The lines you can draw are a good weight and if you tip them on their side you get wider lines because they have a bevelled edge. The colours are strong and they seem to work well on my black cartridge paper sketch pad, they are nice and opaque. I will see how they work on white paper next.

Every day…

The cat jumps up and lies on a cushion between mine and my hubby’s chair, sometimes you can hear him purring or snoring. It’s a sign of how he trusts us. But EVERY day hubby, at some stage, will decide to stroke the cat ‘because he loves it’. The cats tail starts to twitch. He is disturbed by the attention. He wakes up and jumps down and goes out.

I have TRIED to explain the cat wants to rest and sleep. The attempt to stroke him really irritates him. I have said leave him alone and let him be. But the temptation is always there. Stop it! Leave it alone. The trouble is that it doesn’t work. Hopefully he will learn.

Cat presents…

Cat presents, not so much presents as lovingly presented remains of mice. Ooooh no! I get up in the morning, and there on the doorstep, something not very nice. Is there a deterrent? I feed my cats well, I give them toys, and yet they try and show love in the only way they can…. Yuk! I’m glad it only happens occasionally.

Big cat

Ex-outside cat slept on the stairs last night. He sometimes sleeps on our bed now but instead he was halfway down and I almost stood on him. He is very big and was lying on about two thirds of the step. Luckily I just saw him in time. He is a real character, when we are in the living room he sits between the arms of the chairs we sit on. He seems to really want to be with us. I hope we have completely gained his trust.

Since he moved in with us he’s put on weight and become much calmer. He seems to be very settled with us now. He also gets on well with our other two cats despite him being twice the size of our small female cat. I can’t imagine a time without cats.

Sweetie Gwurly

Does anyone else talk to their cat using nicknames and silly words?

I catch myself calling them foofs, and chuzzies, tussy pats, fluffiez, nus-nus.

I call the boy cats nussies, mussy cats, twuddles, puddy pats.

I call the girl cat fluffy chuff, sweetie gwurly, little fud, and hus.

There are other words I can’t remember. I’ve always done it with all my cats. I don’t know why. I think they are ‘terms of endearment?’ I think I probably do it all the time. They are similar sounding to either their names or alternative words that mean cat like puss, pussy cat, puddy tat etc. Am I strange?

He’s better

He’s better, his eye will never completely heal but he can finally go out again for the first time in weeks.

I’m still keeping him in at night, especially now the nights are getting dark earlier. It’s also getting colder at night. There may be a frost in Scotland tonight.

But that means he can carry on recovering without hurting himself. Fingers crossed he will get even better. X

Relaxed Cat

Relaxed Cat, digital drawing on ArtRage. Hard to do he kept moving x.

I feel like it could have been drawn in ink or watercolour, and I tried to keep it monochrome but a touch of warmth crept in. I was worried I’d made him look like a sheep dog!

Anyway this outside cat is now so settled he eats food out of my hubby’s hand! He sits between us on the arms of our armchairs perched on a cushion.

Free meal?

A fourth cat is trying to muscle in with my other three cats. We think she’s female and she has spent an hour yowling in the garden. We have two indoor /outdoor cats and one outdoor/indoor cat. Hubby likes the look of her and went out and fed her!

Cats they are cheeky

They know a trick or two

How to get a free meal

And some loving too!

Yowling and purring

Making such a fuss

She will soon be eating

A free meal, will that puss!