The Cat Arteest

I am going to let you in on a little secret. I am about to turn you on to the next big modern artist.

About nine months ago, I began an endeavor into a completely new field: cat artist. My muse is, of course, Tuba. That crazy little baby cat was the perfect model for my new passion for drawing. First of all, if you don't already know, I am generally an awful artist. I barely made it past the whole, "Mom! This potato with sticks for limbs is a picture I drew of you in my first grade class!"

Needless to say, I have finally found my artist calling. I am an awesome cat artist.

Let me first remind you of what Tuba looks like:

Note the crazy eyes and the ears specifically. It is also hard to see from this angle, but Tuba always sits with one front paw facing almost forward and the other turned out.

One day I was staring at the cat, as per usual, when she basically said to me, "Draw me like one of your french girls." And really, who can say no to that? I mean, this cat wasn't even alive when Titanic was released! So I grabbed the nearest pen and a junk mail envelope and set to work. Contrary to what some people may tell you, Tuba was sitting right in front of me, and I was drawing her true to life. Please also remember, this was my very first attempt.

Cat Scratch Fever

As you can see, Tuba was a little portly at the time. But otherwise, it looks exactly like her.

I then moved on to incorporating more colors. But I still hadn't quite perfected Tuba's body.

The Cat Came Back

(I would like to give a shout out to Delaney's, a bar/restaurant with paper table cloths and crayons for all! Much of my best work happened at Delaney's!)

One day, I was inspired to draw Tuba at work. I couldn't even stop myself. It was like the pen was moving itself. Like it knew exactly what to draw and how to draw it. Like the pen had a direct connection to my brain.

She Works Hard for the Money

This is when I really started getting the hang of the fur. I suggest you refer to the photo of Tuba at the beginning of this post. She looks just like this drawing. More than the last time I said it.

Since I had the basic cat form down, I started to get a little more creative.

Channel Z

Yes, this is a photo of Tuba struck by static electricity. I like to think that one day, after my death, they will categorize this drawing as part of my "Mogwai Period." Just in case you have no idea what I am talking about, let's do a side-by-side comparison.

Ah yes, Gizmo and Tuba, two poor souls separated at birth. Or maybe earlier.

Next I went creative AND used color. This is when it starts to get really interesting.

Welcome to the Jungle

(A Delaney's original). A cat in the tall grasses, just like in the wild. At the time, this one was my favorite as well as my art critics' favorite. That is, until I drew the next one.

Come Sail Away

(Yet another work of art created at the local watering hole, Delaney's). And off Tuba goes on the kitty flagship, Miau. For those of you that are not well versed in non-english onomatopoeia, miau is the spanish word for the sound a cat makes, or meow in english.

So now you know. I know how news of the next best thing tends to take off like wildfire. Tell whomever you would like about my artistic prowess. I am perfectly willing to admit that it was not Ryan who started the fire. Oh no -- it was me. I started the fire.