PORTRAITS BY RACHAEL ROSSMAN

Unique watercolor portraits and pet portraits as seen on dooce.com, marthastewart.com and The Pioneer Woman. Commissions gladly accepted.

An open letter to my studio cat

Dear Ron Weasley, I think that if this relationship is going to work out, we need to establish some ground rules. Firstly, my desk must remain off limits. I am a very busy person and I don't have time to pick cat hair out of my paintings or rework smudges that look remarkably like cat footprints. Secondly, you must refrain from drinking directly from my paint water pot.  Yes, I know watercolors are nontoxic, but that murky water can't possibly taste good. Perhaps you'd enjoy drinking fresh water from the bowl I've provided just inches away. On the floor. Third, my stack of portfolios is not a cat nest. Neither is my desk chair. You'll note that that there is only one chair in the room, and that it is mine. If you are feeling the strain of your difficult cat-life and need to take a nap, kindly retire to the cushions that have been provided. I tolerate much from you Ron Weasley. I even find most of your habits charming. The squeaky purr that sounds downright painful. Your crow-like chattering.  Am I not always quick to let you in I when see your nose pressed up against my studio window? When you got your head stuck in the collapsible water jug, was I not the person who extracted you and shooed the children away to avoid unnecessary embarrassment? Like any relationship, what's required here is compromise. I agree to offer you food, shelter and snuggling. You sir, must stay the heck off my desk.

I can't work like this.

9 Comments on “An open letter to my studio cat”

  1. Oh man this is amazing! It should be printed up on plaques and sold to all cat lovers. That reminds me SO much of all of our cats, especially the troublesome Merlin. Thank you for putting so perfectly into words what Nikki & I feel every day. You’re awesome!

  2. Well duh – of course painty water is better than fresh. It’s like that bowl outside that fills with rainwater, insects and green stuff is always better than the charcoal filtered, constantly running stuff in the very expensive cat fountain. And how very dare you not have two chairs, allowing sir to pick which he prefers at that precise moment!

    If you’re looking for a cat magnet of a bed, I point you towards bean bags. Ever since I got my three one each, I don’t have to remove them from my seat, the printer, the dishwasher….

  3. As someone who shares her workspace (read tiny bedroom) with THREE cats I feel your pain! I just walked in there a few minutes ago and realized it’s springtime again. They’ve started the fun fun shedding process 🙂
    The do so love to be a part of everything though, don’t they? (and I don’t just mean their fur woven into everything I sew) It’s nice to have some watchers even if they’re usually more in the way than casually observing!
    Love your art work!

  4. I loved this post! It made me laugh out loud-right in front of others, which is something I avoid doing because my laugh can break glass or at least ear drums from time to time.
    My cat and yours could become friends and train each other these bad habits. Cowboy the Cat seems to think that my desk, chair and anything else that I may want fur free is his for the taking. I keep a lint roller at arms length at all times….

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