This is a portrait of a cat - and an especially beautiful cat at that... His name is Shael Hayit Snowfox.
I was contacted by Brigitte, who is my Facebook friend and had seen my cat paintings there. Brigitte asked if I could paint a portrait of a cat - to be specific, her heart cat Snowi. How could I resist, having seen his beautiful pictures...
I want any portrait to reflect both the cat and the Purrson the cat owns. The key to this painting was the fact that Snowi loves to sit in a garden, next to the ferns. So I painted ferns.
And Brigitte loves poppies - and poppies popped up on the right hand side corner. The frame developed out of a picture of a Victorian picture frame. And the background was a Moroccon window grille.
Again this portrait of a cat is made with great care - I use miniature brushes to bring out the tiniest details.
Here is Brigitte' story of Snowi - in German on the left, and in English on the right (the translation is mine, so I do apologize for any mistakes).
Snowi, mein besonderer Freund |
Snowi, My Very Special Friend
|
Snowi wurde am 25.02.2009 geboren und ich habe ihn das erste Mal im Internet auf der Homepage von Anja Fabis gesehen.
Mit richtigem Namen heißt er Shael Hayit Snowfox.
Als ich Snowi entdeckte war er 6 Wochen alt und ich habe mich sofort verliebt. Ich besuchte immer wieder die Homepage von Anja und hatte dabei immer das Gefühl Snowi schaut mich direkt an, als wolle er sagen „ Ich muss unbedingt zu dir.“
Für mich stand es ziemlich schnell fest, dass er bei mir einzieht, Anja freute sich auch für mich. Nach langer Wartezeit war es dann Ende Juni so weit, Snowi kam zu uns.
Mein Mann und mein Sohn haben ihn abgeholt, ich konnte leider nicht mit, da es ein heißer schwüler Tag war und mein Kreislauf nicht in Ordnung war.
Als mein Mann dann mit Snowi in der Transportbox in unserem Wohnzimmer stand war ich total glücklich.
Snowi spazierte aus der Box und kam sofort auf mich zugelaufen, so als wenn wir uns schon ewig kennen würden. Von dieser Stunde an wich er nicht mehr von meiner Seite, egal was ich tat oder wohin ich ging, Snowi war und ist immer an meiner Seite oder in meiner Nähe.
Sobald er mich erblickt fängt er an zu schnurren.
Am allerliebsten liegt er irgendwo und beobachtet mich mit seinen unergründlich grünen Augen, in die man versinken kann und die einem bis in die Seele schauen.
Auch haben wir zwei unsere eigene „Gurr-Sprache“, die ich sonst mit noch keiner meiner Katzen vorher hatte und die nur wir verstehen.
Schnell gab es eigene Rituale zwischen uns z. B. bestimmte Spiele, die nur wir zwei spielten oder das Weckritual; zuerst ein wenig gurren und dann an der Bettdecke ziehen und wenn ich dann noch nicht aufstehe, dann wird mein Nachttischen abgeräumt.
Snowi macht das alles immer ganz als Gentleman und das ist er auch, ein wahrer Gentleman, nie aufdringlich sondern immer ruhig und vornehm.
Ein Schlafen gehen Ritual haben wir auch, denn wenn Snowi anfängt mich abends leicht in die Zeh zu beißen bedeutet es „ Mama, es ist Zeit für ins Bett.“
Mit Snowi fühle ich mich nie alleine und er bringt mich auch wenn es mir nicht gut geht zum Lachen, weil der dann anfängt Faxen zu machen. Ganz liebevoll kümmert er sich auch immer wenn ein Kitten in unsere Familie kommt, er übernimmt dann Erziehungsarbeit der Kleinen; putzt sie, zeigt ihnen alles und bringst ihnen bei wie man sich in unserer Katzengruppe verhält. Also Snowi ist rund um ein super Freund den ich nicht mehr missen will. Deshalb finde ich es ganz toll das Leena meinen Snowi malt und ich ihm damit danke sagen kann für alles was er für mich ist… bester Freund, Tröster und noch viel mehr…eben Seelenverwandte. |
Snowi was born on 25th of February 2009, and I saw him for the first time on the internet homepage of Anja Fabi.
Snowi's official name is Shael Hayit Snowfox.
When I first saw Snowi he was six weeks old and I fell in love immediately. I visited Anja's homepage again and again, and felt like Snowi was looking directly at me, as if he wanted to say "I absolutely want to come to you."
The decision was quickly made that Snowi would come to me, and Anja was also happy for my decision. And after a long wait, at the end of June, Snowi came to us. My husband and my son went to get him. Unfortunately I was not able to join them as it was a hot, damp day and I had problems with my blood circulation.
When my husband stood there in our living room with Snowi in his carrier box, I was totally happy.
Snowi walked out of his box and immediately ran to me, like we had always known each other. And ever since then he hasn't moved from my side, no matter what I do or where I go, Snowi is near me. As soon as he looks at me, he begins to purr.
What Snowi loves the most is to lie somewhere, observing what I do , with his myserious green eyes. You can forget yourself into those eyes, and it is like they see your very soul.
Snowi and I also have our own "cooing-language", something I never had with any of my cats, and something only we two understand.
Soon certain ritual developed between us; for example games only the two of us played. Or the waking-up-ritual; first small chirps, and then pulling of the bed covers. If I don't get up, my nightstand will be cleaned of things.
Snowi does all this as a Gentleman, and that he really is, a true Gentleman, never intrusive but always acting calm and aristocratic.
We also have a going-to-bed ritual. He bites me ever so gently in the finger to let me know "Mommy, it is time to go to bed."
I never feel alone with Snowi. Even when I am not feeling good, he makes me laugh with his antics.
He also takes loving care of kittens that arrive in our family. He takes over in caring for the little ones; he cleans them, shows them the important things a kitten should know, and teaches them how to behave with the other cats.
So you can say Snowi is a super friend I can't be without.
I would also like to say it is wonderful Leena painted my Snowi, and with this painting I can thank him for all he is to me… My best friend, my comfort and so much more… My real Soulmate. |
Below is a detail of this portrait of a cat. To give you an idea of the size of this painting: each whisker is shorter than a match.
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This portrait of a cat is copyrighted, do not copy. If you like this portrait of a cat, click on the shop links on the upper right hand side of the page and you can purchase the design in printable products.
This book travels with the King Tut - Treasures of the Golden Pharaoh exhibition on his world tour of ten cities from March 2018 onwards |
Tutankhamun: In My Own Hieroglyphs tells the story, for older children, of the life and afterlife of the famous young pharaoh in his own words. Tutankhamun tells us about the trouble he got into as a child in Akhenaten's palace in the new city of Akhetaten, and how he became a boy pharaoh. As we learn, his life changed a lot when he died as a teenager, and long years of boredom started in his tomb with only his pet monkey Fingers and his treasure for company. He did meet some of the Egyptian gods, of course, and had fun scaring off tomb robbers, but it was mostly rather dull. Then one day, some new and strange people, including a Mr. Howard Carter, arrived and began to take all the treasures out of his royal tomb. Fortunately, through the eyes of his beautiful golden mask, Tutankhamun, could have fun again traveling around the world |
An ancient friend of mine, Mr Mummific dictated a book about how he became a mummy - and I was his scribe and artist. The book is available at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk On my other website www.ancientagypt101.com he continues his stories about life in ancient Egypt. |
Another hilarious adventure for children with Mr Mummific, the mummy with attitude. He now tells the story of his mishaps, misunderstandings and misadventures as he leaves his tomb through the False Door to embark on the complicated and dangerous journey to the Afterlife aboard the magnificent Ship of Millions. Find the book at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk |
The first book in an epic fantasy series based on human mythology. The search for the mythical Watchers, the angels who fathered the Nephilim, the half-angels. A story that moves on three levels - our times, ancient Greece and ancient Egypt.
***
If you like "Snowi's Garden", you are welcome to visit my Zazzle or Cafepress shops, where this painting is available for prints on products.
I received the sad news that Brigitte had passed away after a short and severe illness in January 2015. Snowi is taken good care of by her family. I am sure Brigitte is still with us in spirit, now happy and free of pain.
It was a privilege to know you, Brigitte. You shall be missed, my friend.
If you are looking for demanding coloring, check:
Online Coloring Books Magazine - No.1
It shows you step by step how to color this pretty Abyssinian cat with flowers. Each page has a color sample, and all the techniques are explained.