Kitties!

Whatever happened to all the cute cat photos online? Before it was all bad news (all the time) the internet was just brimming with adorable animal pictures. I say we bring back the cuteness! I declare this week: “Cute Kitty Week.”

Tucker With a Post-it, 2020

Willow charcoal & white chalk

17" x 18"

We recently added two little kittens to our furry family. Which means I have two adorable, new, art models! Tucker and Dale never seem to tire of chasing each other; the world is their playground and everything is a toy. Crumpled post-it notes are currently their prey of choice. It is such a joy to watch them play and practice their “mighty hunter skills.” 

Squirrel Cat, 2020

Willow charcoal

18" x 24"

Wanting to preserve this joy, and their cuteness, I set out to draw them. It wasn’t long before I realized this dynamic-duo was too speedy to render from life. I resorted to photography. My hope was to use the images as reference photos for a more “leisurely” drawing scenario. However, this also proved difficult. Many of the shots looked less like cute kittens and more like something one would find on a haunted house documentary: an ear here, a paw there. My personal favorite was a post-it note accompanied by a mysterious, floating, orange streak. 

Fortunately, my very patient (and very determined) sister managed to capture a few “moments of clarity” on her cell. These beautiful, candid glimpses inspired an entire series of willow charcoal drawings. 

Ready to Pounce, 2020

Willow charcoal

18" x 24"

I hope my adorable, little subjects warm your heart and bring a smile to your face. Remember: once upon a time, the internet was full of cute things that made us smile… Icanhas.cheezburger.com anyone?