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Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 13h

But I had just been experimenting with oil pastels and as I tried some techniques handed down to me by other artists and they soon grew to have their own life as I understood the best ways to achieve the colors and textures I wanted.

Read more: portraitsofanimals.net/birches-1-au...

#oilpastel

Birches 1, Autumn Showers - Portraits of Animals

Birches 1, Autumn Showers, oil pastel, 24.5 x 18, 1998 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

portraitsofanimals.net

Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 13h

The original of this painting was oil pastel, 24.5″ x 18″, on 300 lb. smooth watercolor paper. The technique was an experiment borne of an off-hand remark from a fellow artist. I had tried to use oil pastels several times but they always felt like crayons to me.

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Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 13h

The trunks seemed to emit their own faint light in any season. Here, in the darkness of the woods, the grouping of white trunks looks like a crowd clustered for discussion, decorated by a maple branch and its brilliant leaves all in different stages of fall changes.

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Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 13h

Birches 1, Autumn Showers, oil pastel, 24.5 x 18, 1998 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

From the time I met the paper birch in our front yard I have always been fascinated by the delicately detailed white bark of birch trees etched with deep contrast gray and black seams and splits.

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Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 14h

Hope everyone had as great a day as Mewsette!

2025: I'll always be grateful for the inspiration they gave me.

thecreativecat.net/featured-dai...

#bigbeautifulmewsette #catart #catartwork #catsketch #catpastel #catnap #blackcatart #catartist #thecreativecat

thecreativecat.net

Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 14h

It’s a Daily Sketch and I don’t usually go for a scene this complicated on a weekday afternoon, but I just couldn’t let it go. It’s the same bed and reminds me of “Afternoon Nap”, and I’m oh, so glad I took the time to capture that one.

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Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 14h

...and yet we are right there with the subject, watching our cat have a nap on the bed on a cool-ish autumn afternoon when the leaves are green and yellow and the sun is bright.

This is done in Sennelier soft pastels on a scrap of Wallis sanded paper in Belgian mist.

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Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 14h

I think this little sketch is one of the undiscovered gems of my collection of Daily Sketches and generally my cat art. Mewsette’s contemplative shape, such a common feline posture for a quiet rest, the slightly tousled covers and the play of light and shadow make it almost abstract,...

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Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 14h

The maple outside the window that casts green tones all summer now casts shades of yellow as the leaves turn on a sunny late October afternoon; the bedspread is actually solid white. Some other cats had their way with the covers, leaving a rumpled mess that added character to the simple scene.

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Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 14h

"Autumn Afternoon Bed", pastel on sanded paper, 5.5" x 7.5", 10/28/2013 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

From 2013: Mewsette has a quiet nap on my bed in the afternoon.

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Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 15h

Oooooo! Potat-o-lantern is ready for #Halloween!

Some garden art by Mother Nature.

#potatoart #gardenart

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Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 15h

The two feral cats who own this house are happy to stand/sit/crouch behind their protectors, two witches and two VERY large black cats. Happy National Cat Day (wait, isn't that every day?) including all the feral cats out there.

#nationalcatday #feralcats

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Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 16h

Every month or so since the potato plants bloomed in May I've lightly raked the soil to pull up the potatoes on and near the surface, then more potatoes surface and every month or so I get a basket like this.

Nothing like fresh-from-the-garden.

#homegrownpotatoes #homegrown #backyardgarden

Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 16h

My haul of potatoes from the garden this morning. Don't be too impressed, it's a small basket. It's actually the first basket I made back in the '80s when I started learning basketry, because it looked like the basket in Van Gogh's painting The Potato Eaters.

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Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 2d

Stronger Than Hate, 7th Anniversary Tree of Life

Today is the seventh anniversary of the Tree of Life shooting and while we still have many "Stronger Than Hate" signs around, the world around us does not.

Stronger Than Hate, 7th Anniversary Tree of Life

Today is the seventh anniversary of the Tree of Life shooting and while we still have many "Stronger Than Hate" signs around, the world around us does not.

open.substack.com

Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 2d

All the cats are having really good naps today.

Don't forget about the coupon code for virtual shoppers until tomorrow, $10 off of a $25 or more total. Read more at:
bit.ly/TheCreativeCat-VirtualOpenHouse

#mariposawhitemittens #catlovergifts #shopsmall #buyfromtheartist

Marketplace: Virtual Open House - The Creative Cat

As I've done in the past when I have a physical Open House at my home, I also invite followers who don't live near to shop online during the same time.

bit.ly

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Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 2d

Don't let Mariposa fool you--she was in the basement any time a human so much as walked past the house. Brave Hamlet and even braver Sienna were in the kitchen, and Sienna took the occasional peek.

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Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 2d

We had a nice little open house this weekend just as soon as Mariposa and Sienna inspected every display and enhanced it with just the right amount of cat hair.

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Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 5d

Read the post for links and a coupon code for virtual shoppers. The coupon is good only for items in my Handmade Gallery which is a lot of the items I've been sharing from my vendor shows.

Read more here:
bit.ly/TheCreativeCat-VirtualOpenHouse

#virtualopenhouse #handmadegoods #handmade #shopsmall

bit.ly

Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 5d

Virtual Open House

(If you look really closely you can find Sienna and Mariposa. They are not for sale.)

As I've done in the past when I have a physical Open House I also invite followers who don't live near to shop online during the same time.

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Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 5d

I got two of these fluffy donut beds on clearance, a smaller one then went back and got a bigger one. They were instant hits, even the smaller one that barely fit anyone in the house. Bella barely got out of it for days. I love it when they're that happy and relaxed.

wp.me/p2snop-nIV

#bellagirl

wp.me

Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 5d

A relaxed Bella is draped over the bed, conforming to its shape. Look how sleek she is, and how dark her fur is, inset with those pale blue-green eyes. I just want to run my hand down that slope of sleek black fur.

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Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 5d

The original sketch is still available, matted and framed as well as prints and soon note cards.

wp.me/p2snop-nJ9

#giuseppeverdicat #charcoalsketch #catart #catartwork #catrollingaround #catartist #thecreativecat

wp.me

Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 5d

This was another fun attempt to follow a moving target with my eyes while drawing with my hand and not looking at the paper. I really like using a mid-range tone and color with my black and white charcoal pencils.

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Bernadette E. Kazmarski @bernadettek.bsky.social · 5d

"Rolling Around", black pastel pencil and white charcoal pencil on blue Canson paper, 10.5" x 7.5", 10/12/2013 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

Giuseppe was having a really good roll around on the floor for no apparent reason except that rolling around made him happy. I think we should do that each day!

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