Gentleman's Gentlecat and Budapest

Since it has been too cold to sketch outside, I am sketching from some photos I took of the parliament building in Budapest in 2008.
It is a fascinating city. It almost looks like something out of a fantasy landscape with giant statues popping up all over in almost Númenórean ways.

Our gentleman’s gentlecat is finally getting his due! Our tuxedo cat Spike...

Knee deep in book trailers and my next picture book. Enjoy these offerings from the sketchbook!

Snow Day!

Miffy Watches the Snow

We got a little snow last week and I could not resist doing a quickie sketch of Miffy watching the snow fall. Both cats were at my painting studio windows. Spike ducks and paws at the window.

Crazy Holiday Season

Spike gets into the Holiday spirit...

This is a crazy time of year with a lot of deadlines so this is a quick post. I am finishing another fun book for Sylvan Dell called the Fort on Fourth Street (images form this very soon when I have time to breathe) and starting some new and exciting projects as well.

Anyway, Happy Holidays! I will be revealing this year's card soon! As well as the Pop Smoothie Spectacular, Spectacular Holiday Special...

Miffy must know she is in this book and wants to provide reference...

Little watercolor I did for Troy's parents for Christmas with their adorable fox terrier Angie up front. No spoiler alert for them; they do not have computers or internet access... (They do have electricity though and phone service. They are not that old school.)

Rough Cat Studies

Boris and Spike

Boris and a little Miffy Sketch

In preparing for our journal workshop, many of the books about making journals have lovely cat studies so I decided to do some of my cats. 

Yes, Boris really looks like this. He is almost 17 and has been shaved because his fur gets severely matted. It gives him an odd appearance. He has a huge head and a little old man body underneath. Great for sketching cat anatomy...You can see every bone and muscle.

Spike meets the Catnip Plant

I bought a catnip plant for the catio and hilarity ensued... I need to re-pot it if it lasts long enough...

 Of course while Spike is goofing off, Miffy is the epitome of helpfulness... She is obsessed with my light table.

Catio

 We have lived in our house since 1992 and never have used the little porch off of the living room. Finally, we had windows and a door installed and it is like having a new addition to the house! It is odd that we waited so long.

We are calling it the catio (as you can see, Spike is already loving it), but I think we will be out there a lot as well... It will be a nice sketching spot.

Studio Helper: Why Cats and Paintings Sometimes do not Mix...

I should have a lot to show you but here is a photo of Spike, new studio helper. He likes lounging on my paintings while I work, unfortunately... It is a good thing he is cute... (Also a sneak peek of art in progress for Warm Winter Tail)

Why you should never leave your purse open on the floor...

Wild animals might get in...

New Furry Studio Gremlin

His name is Spike and he loves knawing on art books and terrorizing Miffy and Boris.

Hopefully, eating paintings will not be in his repertoire...

I suspect there will be a lot of cat hairs in the paint tho...

In other news, I just signed up with a sketch journal group through the Art Academy going to Taos, NM in June to take in the atmosphere and draw. I will keep you all posted. It is helmed by Amy Bogard who does really lovely journals of her life. I have been inspired by sites like http://www.urbansketchers.org/ and http://www.theydrawandtravel.com/

I recently posted my Greece Sketchbook. I am hoping that this will be an excuse to do more travel sketching and different techniques.