Pewter - Just Hanging Out

This is the starting sketch for an oil painting I am working on this week. This is Pewter, one of the two cats we kept from Mama cat. Pewter looks like a Ragdoll, he has a dark mask around his slightly blue eyes, cream colored body with a tan saddle marking across his back. His brother Fred is completely black. This was last winters bed, you know how it is , each winter the cats stake out a spot in the house that is theirs. If another cat sleeps in their spot there is hell to pay.

My Christmas card is finished, I tried to photograph it tonight but it didn't come out clear enough and it is still too tacky to put in the scanner. Once I have it scanned I will post it.

I have started a second blog - it will have both my Christmas cards and other Illustrations. I've posted 5 images so far - I'm picking out which images I want to add. You can click here to see it or click on Holly Zemak Design Studio in the right hand column.

Tis The Season

When it comes to pumpkins I think I border on obsessive. Grocery stores or farm stands, one comes home every time. By Halloween we have amassed quite a collection.

The weather is getting cooler and there is just a hint of color in a few trees, just a tease of things to come. I have really noticed how quickly it gets dark now. Cats are starting to think about staying in at night. Wow, where does the time go.

I'm not finished yet with my card and I have worked on it a little every night. But, I am at the point where I am just wrapping up loose ends which feels good.

The above painting - oil on board - 5" x 7".

In Process Christmas Card

This is my Christmas card so far, it's not finished yet but I thought a few in process posts might be nice to see. I was gone for part of last week with my girl friend and I tried as hard as I could to finish before I left. But it was just too much. So now it's back at it.

Missing Ember

He appeared out of nowhere one day, to become a member of our family for the next 15 years. Back then he was a real "ladies man" and attracted to our female cats at the time.

We never knew where he came from, what his "real" name was - we called him "Ember" - nor where he went during the time he was gone those days during his average week with us.

He was gentle with our new kittens a few years back, though they didn't deserve it most of the time, and he made a great lap cat on those cold winter nights.

He'd eat anything you placed before him, and Oh boy did he like his canned milk!!!!

There were times he spent several weeks straight enjoying the good life with us, then he'd disappear again, only to materialize days later.

When he left us he had two favorite directions he'd wander off in, so he must have had an extended family of loyal milk suppliers. Wish I knew what they called him, what his "other " names were, and what his favorite sleeping nooks looked like.

He cashed in two of his 9 lives during the last decade he was with us, but pulled through thanks to our vet's good care.

During his later years with us , he got thin and bony, lost some teeth, and went blind in one eye - and on one sad lonely unremarkable night he walked out of our lives forever.

Where ever you are Ember, what ever happened to you, we miss you pal. Thanks for all the great memories. You blessed our lives.