Cat's meow

Cat + You + Tree

March 4, 2013 by Edlyn

I think I should get more points for being one of those writers’ that spends a lot of time day dreaming about the world outside. Except that means I won’t get to be a writer. That’s okay though. Many times I can’t put my thoughts into words. It’s those times that I’m glad I have some other forms of creativity to flow with.

Yes, we can all feel the seasons turn. The trees can a lot more. I always wonder how they must feel to just stand there, day in and day out, feeling the true meaning of every gust of wind and each freshly frozen drop of sky. They know the good part is coming.

My inner battles with this changing global climate begin and end with these trees. There’s no better measure of the truth. No better life form that will tell us where it begins and ends.

And there’s no better place than in the shade of a tree.

Cat + You.

February 26, 2013 by Edlyn

Between looking for jobs (now that I can), writing cover letters and aimlessly wandering around and ending up in the kitchen (always always), I haven’t been able to draw as much as I want to. Shame on me? Not really. I have been writing a lot more (though I don’t post every thing I write) and I’ve genuinely been trying to do things that make me very uncomfortable. For example, I start conversations. I am 100% socially awkward and if it’s just me and another person I’m not too familiar with, I freeze. I think of a thousand questions but they never make it past my cerebral cortex. Instead, I just smile like I inhaled aerosol fumes before walking through the door.

A lot of people in the US are very nice. They always greet you or even strike up a conversation instead of just staring you down like many Indian pig males and aunties. So instead of being the way I usually am (and not for my own good), I pretend I’m the best person in the world. A person that you wouldn’t need to talk to 12 times to realise she’s not a clam. So far so good. I’m not getting dirty looks either. I guess I hide cat lady very well.

Deep deep down in the depths of my soul. Don’t worry, it’s always going to be there.

I’m thinking of something and it begins with a “C”: Part 13

February 16, 2013 by Edlyn

First it was my pen, then it was a pencil. We have very creative dogs who love making art with their faces and all over the floor.

Lucky us.

I had to take a break from doodling until I could buy some more stationery for myself and the dogs (if they have their way). So yes, I’m back again. I also made a new header which I think is a bit off centre but pretend it’s not. For my OCD friends, pretend REALLY hard. It’s difficult for me too, but I’m staying strong until I suck a bit less with Photoshop and blog design. Here, have a cookie!

It could take a while.

PS: I’m still thinking of names for this series. All I have so far is ridiculous. Ehehehe.

I’m thinking of something and it begins with a “C”: Part 12

February 12, 2013 by Edlyn

A big part of me wants to change the name of this drawing series. I think I’m almost up to a month’s worth of them and the title takes forever to type. I’m a bag of lazy bones. While I think about what the new title will be, here are two more of my creations.

They’re both related to food. Surprise! The first one is a drawing I made Gayle for her happy birthday and the second is related to my recently chocolate hoarding (This kind is mind-altering). It’s one of those things I have to do because I live with a sugar-crazy person who does not know how savour chocolate unless savoring means eating the whole bar.

His new name is husbandit.

I’m thinking of something and it begins with a “C”: 11

February 7, 2013 by Edlyn

My own mother gave me an idea for a cat drawing today. She read in the most rubbish paper in the universe that the board game Monopoly is getting rid of the “iron” counter and replacing it with a cat counter instead. I swear newspapers really know nothing better than how to waste precious space.

I think I’m going to go mad thinking of how to draw this one up.

Thanks a lot Mama!

Just kidding.

PS: I’m halfway through my “Can’t Live Without” Thursday post and I just can’t finish writing it right now. You know why?! Because it’s the first Thursday of the month and that means Art Walk in Seattle! I have to go take advantage of the free museums or I’ll just die. After that, this blog will be over. There’s always a point to it all.

I owe you this. It should explain a lot.

February 6, 2013 by Edlyn

I feel like I’m going to look back on this post and regret it completely. Or maybe I’ll get honorary membership to the Secret Cat Society. I’m hoping for the latter.

Here, look at this picture!

That’s a real cat sitting in front of a real money plant. Isn’t it a cool trick?! I found this scraggly-looking thing in the monsoon of 2009, right outside where I worked. Obveeeously, she needed a tour of a newspaper factory. So I picked her up and took her to work with me. She stayed with me all day and in the evening, I took her home. Jane didn’t think it was a good idea. I mean, it’s a pooping-peeing little monster who’s probably going to cry for its mommy all night and never let us rest our tired heads in peace again!

Hello, remember babies? They’re a lot worse.

I could’ve let her figure out the harsh weather or I could’ve named her.

That thing they say about not naming something or you’ll get too attached, it’s a true thing. Don’t do it. If you find a bird, it should not be called Samwise. I don’t know why I didn’t learn this lesson when I reared Kathy the caterpillar and he decided to sprout wings and fly away. I found him the best leaves in town but he like the big bad bug-eating world better.

I won’t go into details of her name changes, but I finally settled on Bidli. It’s a mash-up between button and idlis — My most favourite food and my nickname in school. My friend Mehjabeen had suggested it after a visit to Bangalore where she—and much later I— ate the yummiest button idli masala. Sticking with the name was also a sort of tribute to this wonderful friend of mine, Rudra. When I think of Bangalore, he’s the first person I think of… best extension of the city I’ve ever met. He was supposed to take Bidli back with him to Bangalore since Jane had reservations about keeping her and I might have said I’d find her a home in the beginning.

Oops.

Jane, look at this cute cat picture you took and forget all your worries!!

Two months later, Bidli was still with us and yes, she became a jumping-scratching-under-the-blanket-sleeping part of the household. I became “Bidli ki maa”. Vet visits in taxis with drivers who wondered why I bothered became the norm. Trips to Crawford Market for 10-kilo bags of cat food had me cursing my weak arms and dumb luck, as any parent would do. When Rudra FINALLY came to Bombay to claim the kitty, I thought I was going to die (of sadness). So Mehjabeen, Rudra and I planned a nice “just like that” breakfast at Tea Centre and I told Jane to come along. We use mind control powers and snapped our fingers. This led to that and at the end of it, Rudra went home without the cat.

😀

Bidli did eventually go on to live with Rudra in Bangalore and then with his friend Sujay in New Bombay when I was a travelling fool. She might have stopped over in Pune too…I forget. Eventually, she came back to me. I did have to let go of her again, but she’s now living comfortably in Goa with my parents and my father is in love with her. She drinks milk on the fridge and then preaches how lack of fish distresses her. My dad gives in every.single.time.

Even though Bidli no longer gives a damn about me, I hope she realises how hard I fought for her.

I know she won’t. The imbecile.

(^Photo by Rudra)

(Photo by Jane^)

I’m thinking of something and it begins with a “C”: Part 10.5 + GIRLS + Food

February 4, 2013 by Edlyn

Here I go, deviating from the cats but only by a little. These are just rough drawings I do in my little sketch book everyday. I don’t claim to be a genius artist unless I really have no other choice. I’m doing this to prove something to myself. The fact that I have you around for the ride is the added bonus.

High 5, friendses!

These past few days, I realises that I need to practice my lines. I’m still very shaky. If anyone wants to recommend a book or somewhere I copy drawings from, let me know. When I say “copy”, I don’t mean I’m going to pass it off as my own. I just believe we can learn a lot from those more experienced than us by doing what they do. I’m sure there was a point they also had some help and I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t like to be an inspiration if someone is not abusing the privilege.

Speaking of copying, that broccoli drawing is my own.

Speaking of copying AGAIN, I loved this closing scene from last night’s GIRLS episode. I loved the cinematography and as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to draw it. Never mind that I had no idea how I was going to accomplish the task. Since we have HBO On Demand (Wooooo), I could pause the scene. Which I did. And then I proceeded to watch Hannah sing Wonderwall over and over, followed by the closing credits of Liam Gallagher singing Wonderwall over and over.

Then I thought, “Okayyy, I guess I should draw now”.

So I did.

Then my husband walked into the room just as I finished and said: “What the hellllll….!?”

He didn’t even need to be there and I shouldn’t have to explain myself.

More soon.

I’m thinking of something and it begins with a “C”: Part 10

February 1, 2013 by Edlyn

I’m not lagging behind, don’t worry. Still cat crazy. I just couldn’t get these pictures up two days ago for two or three reasons that had nothing to do with my procrastination.

It’s the truth.

I’m going to try and go a little more off the beaten path now because I feel like I’m thinking too one-dimensionally while drawing. It will be a good brain exercise and great for my creativity, I’m sure.

Back to the drawing board!