Awhile back I shared my frustration over being unable to sketch or paint a reasonably accurate rendering of the beautiful facial profile typical of all cats–from my precious grey and black Macro Tabby Louis, to his exotic cousins whom I love to view again and again via the PBS app on my I-pad.
Still unable to do faces, I am managing the back side of a cat, as well as a fairly good job of a curled-up sleeping cat. When I add my one strong point–color–things work out to my satisfaction, including the above feline who is matted, framed, and hanging on the wall above my piano.
Meanwhile, I am a bit pumped up because I’ve discovered that I am in very good (even famous) company. In a totally charming book called LETTERS TO CHILDREN, the author–C. S. LEWIS of all people–confesses in one his letters that he simply cannot draw the face of a cat, but he can draw the backside. He includes a sketch of a rear view.
Since C. S. Lewis is one of my very favorite people, I am delighted to be on the same page with him–at least concerning the matter of drawing cats.
But please don’t give up on me. Some day I may surprise you with a fantastic likeness of the guy pictured below–LOUIS THE GREAT, with whom I am incredibly besotted! Till then, I will just have to share photos.
LOUIE ATTENDING VIRTUAL CHURCH (He sleeps, but I stay awake and take notes.)
AND LOUIE SEES THE LIGHT (This one got put on “bounce”. I love the I-phone camera!)
What a beautiful profile!!! And Louie knows he is beautiful.
Margaret L. Been — March 21st, 2021
The Messy Palette . . . 