Black Cat Appreciation
Black Cat Appreciation Day was on August 17! I forgot! I was also a malfunctioning mess that day, but that’s no excuse. I’ll do my best to make up for it now.
To celebrate, I decided to share some inky drawings of my black cat, Victor. He’s usually a mellow, floppy, easy-going guy—except for when he’s hungry. He madly adores food. But he adores attention, compliments, and ear massages, too. He’s a good boy (and a big, huggable boy) who enjoys being in the thick of things, collecting tissue packets, and stealing warm seats. He’s also a dependable nurse who keeps a watchful eye on me when I’m feeling lousy and a chatty companion who’s never at a loss of words.
This was done with a gel pen a long time ago—not an advisable tool for drawing all-black critters.
It bothers me that black cats (and dogs) are the ones that have the hardest time getting adopted at shelters and thus end up being the ones most likely to get euthanized. They have as much personality and heart as animals of any other color. That people still shun these animals for superstitious reasons is downright pathetic. Don’t be phobic—take your dated (and inaccurate) notions and fling them in the trash, please.
This was done with fountain pens.
I was shocked to learn a few years back that many people avoid adopting black animals because they don’t show up as well in selfies. That’s just as deplorable and stupid! Selfies are such a weird and annoying part of today’s culture. That people cater to selfie-taking to such an extent disgusts me.
And guess what? Even though he’s black, I have a fair amount of pictures of Victor that have turned out fantastic! (Also, I have several hundred pictures of Victor and only handful of myself. He’s far more photogenic than I am, so at least my photo-taking priorities are straight.)
I admit that black pets can pose a unique challenge in the art department, but it’s a good challenge. It’s the sort of challenge that forces you to grow as an artist, to take a closer look at those lights and darks, to become a bit more creative in your execution, to learn new techniques.
For this, I covered a page with black ink with a wide brush, then went over it with several different types of white ink as a test to see how they behaved. No pencils were used for this picture at all.
I used to bust my hand all the time when I drew Victor because I was dumb enough to use gel pens. Then I discovered the noble brush pen and life became so much easier (and less painful). Hint—invest in a brush pen if you’re into art. They’re great tools.
Another hint—maybe you should adopt a black cat, too! They make amazing pets. And despite their dark coats, they can brighten your life. Just watch where you step when it’s dark.
My latest drawing—excellent for venting frustrations. I played with all different things for this—fountain pens, brush pen, gel pens. Again, pencil-free fun. And, don’t be scared—he’s just yawning.
