Saturday, January 21, 2006

Illustration Friday: Cat

Tiger sometimes thinks he's a hood ornament. Here he is on a '58 Edsel.

We share space with two cats, one indoor only and one outdoor only (though he has access to the garage through Blackie the mutt's doggie door). The indoor cat is a diminutive, albeit full-grown, gray and black female named Skweex. The outdoor cat is named Tiger, and he must remain outside because, even though he's neutered, he has chosen a corner of the living room in which to urinate. This is a non-negotiable offense with me; he only comes indoors under constant observation. He prefers the outdoors at this point, anyway, because the much younger and smaller Skweex pesters him.

When we come home from work or the store or a small trip, Tiger is at the end of the driveway to meet us, trusting our driving skills (and our brakes) implicitly. I have warned my daughter and my wife that the noble feline will surely end up as driveway pizza someday, no matter how careful we are. He disappears under the front of the vehicle, and we must creep forward at tortoise pace, praying that he is moving ahead in front of the wheels.
One of his favorite cat things to do is to warm his rump on the heated hood of the car. See below...

The real Tiger on my actual mode of transportation

Tiger will often be perched on one of the vehicles when we are ready to use it ourselves. He will stay there until we have backed out of the driveway, only jumping off when the auto starts moving forward, at which point the driver is forced to crane head and neck to determine that he has retreated back to the yard. Fortunately for
Tiger, we live at the end of a cul-de-sac, and there is not much traffic. Also, he is a homebody, and never ventures more than a couple of doors in either direction.

For those of you who are wondering why I've placed the cat on an Edsel in the illustration, you'll have to go to my Illustration Friday post on 'E is for...' I made a promise that I'd include an Edsel in the illustration for the next topic. So, true to my word there's the rough rendering of the elusive Edsel. I've been a bit rushed this week, and the illustration shows it.

Hope this finds everyone happy and healthy (or at least complacent and contemplative). Peace to us all.

37 comments:

modroom said...

Charming image all the same, whether or not you had enough time this week. Cats can be totally practical on one level i.e. warming up on the boot, and yet wander around the wheels of a moving car. Like the pics and your cats as well.
...::: )

Unknown said...

Nice car! ;-)

Radha a.k.a Ratlion said...

Like the illo, and the post that goes with it...Tiger sounds like quite a character :)

andrea said...

Thank you for the Edsel! I've always wanted a '50s vehicle and a ginger cat, so I like this for more than just the high quality of the work. As for your solutuon to Tiger's 'lav issues' it's a good one. Once they start marking indoors it's almost impossible to break them of it. Been there done that.

Cream said...

I once wondered why my car bonnet had very faint scratches. I asked the garage. The guy asked if we had a cat. I said: "Two!"
"They're the answer to your scratches!"
Lovely illustration!

Queen Tut said...

Haha, cats are just such funny creatures!

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed the illustration and the story, too.

TheTart said...

Just fabulous!

The story & the ART!

Big Big Smooch to your furry model/muse,
The Tart

TheTart said...

There is a kitty named Edsel and I have sent him to meet your kitties and see your car!

http://edselthepooch.blogspot.com/

It is a small word world!

Smooch,
The Tart

Edsel/The Pooch said...

here i am, here i am!! i got named after a pink edsel and my Mom now collects little edsel cars and signs, etc. your illustration is very nice, just don't squash your kitty, please!

Alison Ashwell said...

cute cat

Tony Sarrecchia said...

I love how proud the cat's pose looks. Great job!

Robin Alexa said...

Excellent.

Love the cat. Love the car!

carla said...

The whole driveway thing is so typical, isn't it? They always mkae us watch out for them - after all - we're just the mere humans. Anyway, I like the illo of Tiger on the Edsel, and I really enjoyed seeing pictuers of Tiger and Skweex - what very delicious cats!

valerie walsh said...

this is so great! happy to see the promised edsel, love that you made it that perfect green color and the story is hilarious! It is funny how animals tempt fate all the time. I guess they need a little excitement too! Reall terrific illo and story!

Anonymous said...

Great illustration of Tiger on the Edsel and photographs well shot :) Cats can be delicious!

modroom said...

Terry is protected by a potato, you were concerned.

Karlishhh said...

Very nice colors, is very confortable

String said...

Love the colours of the illo too! I thought about taking a pic of my cat too - amazing the personalities -

Zórdís said...

Tiger is very independent karakter. Not to forget very handsome if that goes for cats. Nice illo.....

Dana S. Whitney said...

Edsels and Studebakers... nothing else like'em! And I miss having happy paw prints on our cars... but we think a coyote got our last cat, so the current one is indoors only. Like the Elephant from last week, too. Those middle of the room invisibilities are quite powerful, aren't they!

bee'nme said...

I love a good kitty story...and a good kitty portait...thanks for both! Long live your cats!! You're drawings are always a joy!

Jim said...

Nice Illo! I think the Edsel adds a nice touch to it.

Amy Zaleski said...

I'm digging the Edsel idea - and nice you made good on your promise! Thanks for your nice comments on my blog as well.

steve said...

Great illustration, with the car and all. Nice statement to go along with the pics too!

Uta Ritke said...

Wonderful work! Great!

The Tart said...

bravo to the regal kitty....such a wonderful subject

Wilnara said...

Love how this image is so sleek! The kitty is cute too!

Janet said...

Great illo! I knew you'd come thru with the Edsel!

madretz said...

Fantastic drawing made even better with your story.

Rachelle said...

The green color of the Edsel is very fresh. Cats do make great hood ornaments. I love the stories of your cats. The name Skweex is very cute, just like him! I had a cat that looked similar to him growing up. Her name was Tim (don't ask). She lived to the ripe old age of 19. I still miss her!!

TXArtcGal said...

GREAT illustration!!...and LOVE the story! I'm also a cat lover...they are the funniest (and smartest) animals! :) I am also a fan of classic cars...you captured both so well!! LOVE you illustrations!!

Jaimie said...

I love this illustration. I love old cars and I love cats! Though my two annoy and bedevil me.
Thanks for the cat story, very entertaining.

Kay Aker said...

Your car obsessed felines look so blissed out perched atop their chosen vehicles.

Aravis said...

This is great! Both of my cats are indoor cats, but some of the neighbors' cat run loose and I'll find dusty little paw prints on my car sometimes. Cat have such a knack for being difficult, haven't they? I think it's one of the things I like about them. *G*

Prospero's At The Laundry said...

Oh my gosh!!! Tiger is totally my Tuffy. Makes me want to reach out and hug him and tell him all my new life dramas. And how wonderful to include the Edsel which I consider the epitome of life, something you remember as big and glorious and full of promise but with its share of problems and heartaches.

Dorkus Americanus said...

You have created my boyfriends nightmare! He has two 1958 Edsel's (he collects), and I have three cats which he barely tolerates (we live together). I think if any of my kitties decided to sit on his Edsel they would not live to see another day.

You can check out his website at: http://www.edselstuff.com. He is a car photographer and an Edsel FREAK. Did you know there are a lot of Edsel freaks? It's true. They are on par with Star Trek freaks in their freakiness. I know because I've been to their conventions. I keep meaning to do a documentary about them.

Anyway, very cute drawing. I can't wait to show Matt tonight. He will cringe.