Mat for a cat

I had to buy a new mat today, the old one was worn out. The cats love it, they have burrowed underneath it, scratched their claws on it, played with a tiny toy and a ball, (both under the sofa now). The mat is where we walk by the sofa and one of the cats has decided he wants to sleep on it, but as I’m walking backwards and forwards over it he’s had to move. No doubt he will sleep there tonight! The cat will be sleeping on the mat. X

No toes…

Our cat looked cute, but hubbies foot in a sandal was in the top right corner of the picture. I decided to try and hide it. I used my sketch app on my phone. Using the ‘chalk’ pen tool and the colour picker option. I carefully chose colours that corresponded with the parts of the mat that needed redrawing. I also drew over a metal tin that was in the bottom right of the picture. The chalk option was good because it gives a more mottled pattern to the mat. It’s not perfect but I’m reasonably happy.

Cat toy on a mat

Found my old cat toy while tidying up today. I will balance him on the back of the sofa but I couldn’t resist putting him on my old mat. Then I played with the texture to emphasise the fake fur on him. He has a gold tartan ribbon. I think I got him to go with a ‘merrythought’ tortoise soft toy that I won in a raffle years ago. That’s missing too, but I only just realised that because they are linked together in my mind.

Now my cats have come in. They want food! The toy cat has one advantage, it doesn’t need feeding!

Cat box

I painted the leather seat if this stool/box about thirty years ago. It used to hold all my old oil paints but they dried out years ago. I unearthed it recently. One of the problems with being an artist I have found, is collecting art materials. I have stuff that goes back years. I tend to think one day things will come in handy. Is anyone else here an artist? Are you the same? Materials cost so much its almost a sin to throw things away.

This is a cat on a mat on a parquet floor. As you can see even then I loved patterns. It’s varnished, but you can see where I must have left a thinners can on the surface that left paint rings…