Neighbour Tabby Cat - 2024 10 19

 

Graphite, ink wash, pencil crayon, wax crayon on paper - 11" x 7 1/2"

I was out walking Adele one sunny day and this tabby cat was lounging on the walkway. He didn't run away as we passed, so I took the opportunity to capture his image for reference.

I got the first layer of graphite, crayon and ink down and then made no further progress for several weeks as Mom's health deteriorated and I had to focus on taking care of her.

Now Mom is gone and I am making sense of this new experience, where I no longer have her to take care of and my time and my day is mine to organize. My life without caring for Mom is mine to piece together.

Today is the first day I have been able to take up my drawing and painting materials again and get lost in curiosity about how this work will turn out. It is very comforting to sit at my art desk with the rain and wind of an atmospheric river pelting outside.

The cat is on the edge of something, an unknown space lies ahead. The cat is crouched near the edge, but looking back, something has caught his attention and arrested his movement. Is he going over the edge? Is he wandering along the edge? Will he leave the safety of the path and step into the unknown? Will he leap off the edge with a great show of confidence? Or step gingerly off the side, taking one careful step after the other?

I used to show Mom my drawings fresh off the drawing board. They could be mere feints of shapes and shadows, layers in progress, or finished pieces. She always said, "Oh! Jenny! You are such a good artist! This is beautiful!"

I'm going to miss my Mom. 

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