My cats don't get any privacy.

I have sketchbooks and materials in every room of my house. I actually work at home, so that's not too unusual--every room contributes to the creation of artwork, so having art materials stashed everywhere is part of how it gets done.

But my poor cats--between the photography and the sketches, they don't get a moment's peace. Even for my electronic design work, it's important to awaken my creative senses every day, and watching my cats, photographing and sketching them is the best warm up I know of. I often use the resulting pencil sketches, and the occasional piece done in other media, as donation items to events that benefit shelters and animal welfare organizations.

This page contains my full-color works, and you can see my pencil sketches and linoleum block print inspirations on two other pages.

Color Works Pencil Block Prints

Many images are also available as cards, and most of these pencil works are also available on notepads and notepaper. Almost all are available as prints, and many originals are still available--read the descriptions and see my marketplace page.

For information on the Animal Artwork Display program, visit "Animal Artwork Display".

Find feline note cards and other items made from my artwork in the "Marketplace".

Click on any image to see an enlarged version.

Sleeping Beauty

MEDIUM: Pencil; SIZE: 18" x 16"; 1987

This drawing is very special to me for several reasons, and not only because the subject is Sally (animal lovers, click here for the full story). It was a turning point in my career as an artist; it was the first time I looked at a scene, took in all the necessary details, visualized the finished work, and actually created what I had visualized. This is what has to happen for anything I render, whether it's a commissioned portrait from photographs or a drawing "en plein air". Before this drawing, although I had created some works that had merit, it was all child's play.

And of course the fact that Sally was the subject was one of the things that made it a success, which is one of the reasons I always say that my cats are the reason I am an artist today. Before that drawing, my visualization and interest had been almost entirely technical, concerned more with medium and technique. But her peaceful, relaxed posture, especially knowing what she was like when she was awake and fully engaged, made me weak with love. And as I worked I actually began to choose details that made the scene meaningful and conveyed what I felt, instead of trying to draw everything and convey only what I saw. From that experience I realized that what made good art for me was the inspiration of love, not intellect, so now, be it a cat, a flower or a sunset, I ride that swell of love as I create, and there is no art for me without it. For individual notecards or the set of Feline Sketches notecards, see my Marketplace page.

In the Box

9" x 10", pencil, 2005

That box is prize real estate in this house since someone is always in it. It started out as an empty box from file folders that I set down on the floor, and as if a magnet had pulled him, Namir was in the box. I discovered it was a great way to encourage them to move from my desk to another vantage point, so it sits on the table by the door; summer and winter they can look out the door. Sophie is a big girl with lots of fur, and she really does fit in the box, even if the corners split a little. For individual notecards or the set of Feline Sketches notecards, see my Marketplace page.

Pawse

12" x 10", pencil, 2000

I follow my cats around with a camera or a sketchbook, and while I can catch active moments with the camera, most of my occasional sketches are of naps. Here, Moses sleeps on my pillow, unaware that she's a subject. This was donated to the Animal Rescue League in their annual Paws and Prints art auction to benefit the shelter. For individual notecards or the set of Feline Sketches notecards, see my Marketplace page.



Stripes

9" x 10", pencil, 2004

I've always loved Stanley's "racing stripes" on his face and the back of his head. This pillow was meant for me to use during yoga, but apparently I was wrong about its purpose. Stanley was diagnosed with kidney failure in February 2004, but with regular palliative care turned him around and he still found the best places to sleep for the next three years. For individual notecards or the set of Feline Sketches notecards, see my Marketplace page.

Conversation With a Daisy

9" x 12", pencil, 2005

I don't know if they were trading secrets, but Namir decided to look this daisy right in the eye and get to know it a little better. The tall Shasta daisies seed themselves freely all around my yard, and when they are knocked sideways by a storm or another plant falling on the, I cut them and put them in vases inside the house and out. The one daisy with the bent stem may have elicited sympathy from my sensitive Namir.For individual notecards or the set of Feline Sketches notecards, see my Marketplace page.




Don't Wake Me Up

8" x 8", pencil, 1993

This is not one of my cats but a photo from a small calendar. The cat's sleepy expression is so typical, illustrating the saying, "...cats will take a message and get back to you later." Naps are very important. For individual notecards or the set of Feline Sketches notecards, see my Marketplace page.







In the Bag

9" x 8", pencil, 1993

Who needs cat toys? Just put a paper bag on the floor and they're good for about two weeks, until they get tired of it or the bag is completely shredded. And, of course, you can't see them in there. For individual notecards or the set of Feline Sketches notecards, see my Marketplace page.





Moses in the Sun

10" x 10", pencil, 1993

My precious Moses was a feral cat rescued near death, and while she survived with only slight physical handicaps, she was always wary and kept to the edges of the room--except when a big beam of sunlight hit the middle of the floor. Until her last, she could never resist a patch of sunlight.For individual notecards or the set of Feline Sketches notecards, see my Marketplace page.




Ready for Play

8" x 8", pencil, 1993

This little kitten's picture has that expression that makes people fall in love with kittens, and if it was anywhere near me, I'd have to pick it up and kiss it--or get out the laser toy.For individual notecards or the set of Feline Sketches notecards, see my Marketplace page.








My Little Girl and How to Have a Good Nap

9" x 10", pencil, 2005


My niece regularly sends me photos of her children, and while they are all beautiful I couldn't pass up these ones of Miss Cassidy and her kitty Elsa. Elsa knows the most comfortable place to sleep, especially on a child who is like a little living furnace. When it's time for Cassidy's nap, it's time for Elsa's nap. I pictured these in pencil from the beginning--Cassidy's curly hair and little pudgy face, especially the open mouth, the wrinkled clothing and sheets and pillows, and of course, Elsa's markings.

Kitties Being Kitties

pen and ink sketches sold as notecards


These cards were printed from a series of drawings I did just for fun years ago using photos from my massive cat image bank (calendars, magazines, books, old photos, anything else with a cat on it...). For individual notecards or the set of Kitties Being Kitties notecards, see my Marketplace page.

Feline Artwork

This page contains my full-color works, and you can see my pencil sketches and linoleum block print inspirations on two other pages.

Color Works Pencil Block Prints