Crafty Cat on a Lampshade
04-08-2023, Zig Tahir
Media: pencil drawing on 9in X 12 in paper
Media: pencil drawing on 9in X 12 in paper
The spirit, energy, and the creative nature of a cat captured in a moment of peace and rest on top of a lampshade. She is an artist at heart.
I created this drawing as a birthday gift for my older daughter, Alina, who has a deep love for cats. Alina is deeply contemplative, warm, and creative person. Her expression of art is though singing, writing and poetry. Embroidery is one of her hobbies. This cat is a reflection of Alina’s personality.
In this scene, the cat has gotten to my daughter's unfinished embroidery project, scattering string around the lampshade with a quiet and creative determination, and then resting and enjoying her creation!
What emotions do you feel and what messages do you hear when looking at this image? For my daughter, she felt moved to write a short poem!
Somewhere in the world
Somewhere in a house,
a cat grows tired of chasing every mouse.
She knows truly that she is an artist at heart.
So when she sees the embroidered canvas,
she pulls the threads apart.
With deep abstraction,
willful abandon,
she throws her lines.
“Finally…” she thinks.
“Art I am proud to call mine.”
--Alina
Creation Process
I had a vague impression of what type of drawing I wanted to make for her, honoring the spirit of the cat as well as reflecting my daughter's personality and love of cats. I envisioned an abstract drawing of kittens climbing on to and playfully handing off a lamp. I imagined the lampshade draped in ropes, something like ropes of many old sail ships at a shipyard. I felt inspired by lamps I have in my house. To me, they resemble trees, and symbolize growth and a connection to the universe.
I created this drawing as a birthday gift for my older daughter, Alina, who has a deep love for cats. Alina is deeply contemplative, warm, and creative person. Her expression of art is though singing, writing and poetry. Embroidery is one of her hobbies. This cat is a reflection of Alina’s personality.
In this scene, the cat has gotten to my daughter's unfinished embroidery project, scattering string around the lampshade with a quiet and creative determination, and then resting and enjoying her creation!
What emotions do you feel and what messages do you hear when looking at this image? For my daughter, she felt moved to write a short poem!
Somewhere in the world
Somewhere in a house,
a cat grows tired of chasing every mouse.
She knows truly that she is an artist at heart.
So when she sees the embroidered canvas,
she pulls the threads apart.
With deep abstraction,
willful abandon,
she throws her lines.
“Finally…” she thinks.
“Art I am proud to call mine.”
--Alina
Creation Process
I had a vague impression of what type of drawing I wanted to make for her, honoring the spirit of the cat as well as reflecting my daughter's personality and love of cats. I envisioned an abstract drawing of kittens climbing on to and playfully handing off a lamp. I imagined the lampshade draped in ropes, something like ropes of many old sail ships at a shipyard. I felt inspired by lamps I have in my house. To me, they resemble trees, and symbolize growth and a connection to the universe.
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Initial idea and sketch for the cat and lamp image
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I chose to draw the lamp and table with a bit of whimsical abandon and a fish-eye perspective. As I started to compose various versions of the drawing to test out proportions and shading, I liked the expression and position of the one cat on the upper right side of the lamp shade. I liked the idea of one cat instead of many kittens. I wanted to incorporate some types of ropes to give the drawing a flow and a bit of irregularity, however I could not quite envision how to tie them to the theme of one-cat.
My younger daughter, Sarah, suggested to incorporate Alina's embroidery project on the side of the table! Moment of inspiration and vision and story! This cat loves strings, and when Alina was not looking, this cat jumped up on the table gleefully tossing the strings in every direction turning the lampshade into her own artistic creation.
My younger daughter, Sarah, suggested to incorporate Alina's embroidery project on the side of the table! Moment of inspiration and vision and story! This cat loves strings, and when Alina was not looking, this cat jumped up on the table gleefully tossing the strings in every direction turning the lampshade into her own artistic creation.
Thank you!
Thank you for being part of my journey with this piece!
- Zig Tahir
- Zig Tahir