Mimi’s Little Visitor is an original watercolor, 8″ x 10″, the original framed in 1″ wood with a gold finish and natural white and purple mats. Prints are made in archival inks on Epson Velvet Art Paper, Cold Press Digital Giclee Paper or Artist Canvas.
About “Mimi’s Little Visitor”
Mimi’s Little Visitor, watercolor, 8 x 10 © Bernadette E. Kazmarski
I was very honored and excited when Deb Barnes, then president of the Cat Writers Association, contacted me at the end of March 2020 with a very special commission, to create the artwork for the thank you note that would be given by the organization to the many sponsors, donors and others who helped their annual conference be a success. That painting is Mimi in the Formal Garden, which won both a Certificate of Excellence and a Muse™ Medallion in last year’s CWA Communications Contest.
I was possibly more honored and excited when, in September, as immediate past president, she again contacted me for artwork for a thinking of you, get well, all-purpose greeting card to be used by CWA for correspondence with members.
Creating the image
Her idea this time was again to include little Mimi cat with flowers in a very colorful composition. Another opportunity for a cat painting that I’d been wanting to do! And which would also go into the hands of cat lovers who, like me, were members of this organization (more about CWA below).
We discussed a few of the photos I’d posted over the summer which included colors we both wanted to use, Including one that I’d wanted to create a painting from, but it just wasn’t coming together no matter how I tried to visualize the finished work. So I took the elements we wanted, worked my way through ideas as I organized my studio spaces, and came up with a combination of the colors we both liked and which I’d been wanting to paint: Mimi at the window watching birds.
I have always had a windowbox at my dining room window, and for most years I had geraniums in that box until the shade became too dense. I had plenty of photos, and red was one of the colors we wanted. Also, years ago, I had grown morning glories around that window, and while they never looked like this, that was my aspiration, plus I’ve got plenty of photos of morning glories since I photograph them wherever I see them.
My current window wasn’t really good for this painting, too dark brown and not enough of a “window” look without too many muntin bars. Of course, I have photos of windows I like and slipped one in. And then there had to be a covering of some sort behind Mimi so you could actually see her. Originally I had wanted a vase of flowers indoors, or perhaps some pretty glassware in the sun, and a patterned or lace curtain. But with the flowers all those patterns and objects were just too much and distracting, so I made it a simple white curtain.
And then the bird, which one or ones would that be? I have feeders outside all windows, and we attract all sorts of birds. Of course, my first thought was a sampling of all those colorful little friends. But then I thought I was channeling a lot of similar art I’ve seen all my life and I wanted something a little different, and perhaps more accurate and appropriate. I’ve also always had hummingbird feeders, and those little hummers have come right up to the screen to look at Mimi! Plus, they are attracted to the red geraniums so of course they’d be around outside the window. And I have photos of hummingbirds and the feeder, of course. Then I had to add a couple of Tiger Swallowtail butterflies because they visit us too, and they also visit morning glories. Then finally Mimi’s silhouette shape, her tail curled in a circle, her alert ears and eyes intent, the red collar with the jingle bell, that’s my girl.
Thank goodness Deb was patient while I worked my way through all these ideas last autumn, completely distracted by all the physical work of renovating my basement for studio space and reorganizing nearly the entire house in the process, until some painting area in the house was ready for me to work. I didn’t actually finalize the idea until November, and painted the painting in December. Normally I jump right on things, but by the time I could finally sit down and paint again I was so ready for this painting it practically painted itself. I chose watercolor for all the details and contrasting light and shadow, and enjoyed every stroke.
Here is the framed original.
Mimi’s Little Visitor, framed.
About the CWA
Conceived on November 21, 1992, the Cat Writers’ Association is a worldwide, 300 members plus organization comprised of a wide variety of talent, supporting evolving mediums and platforms such as Fine Arts, Journalism, Social Media, Graphic Design, Writing, Radio, Television, Videography, Podcasts, Websites, Blogs, Photography, Illustration, Cartoons, and so much more! Their goal, whether through humorous and lighthearted pieces, to serious, highly technical information is to improve the quality of cat information for the general public and to inspire, educate, and inform.
SHIPPING AND CHARGES
Shipping within the US is included in the cost of each print.
Prints up to 16″ x 20″ are shipped flat in a rigid envelope. Larger prints are shipped rolled in a mailing tube unless otherwise requested; flat shipping is an extra cost because it’s oversized.
GICLEE PRINTS
The giclees are printed on acid-free hot press art paper for a smooth matte finish using archival inks. Giclee is the highest quality print available because the technique uses a dozen or more ink ports to capture all the nuances of the original painting, including details of the texture, far more sensitive than any other printing medium. Sometimes my giclees look so much like my originals that even I have a difficult time telling them apart when they are in frames.
I don’t keep giclee prints in stock for most of my works. Usually I have giclees printed as they are ordered unless I have an exhibit where I’ll be selling a particular print so there is a wait of up to two weeks before receipt of your print to allow for time to print and ship.
DIGITAL PRINTS
Digital prints are made on acid-free matte-finish natural white 100# cover using archival digital inks. While digital prints are not the quality of a giclee in capturing every nuance and detail of color, texture and shading, I am still very pleased with the outcome and usually only I as the artist, could tell where detail and color were not as sharp as the original. Digital prints are only available up to 11″ x 17″ and some of the prints are cropped to fit standard mat and frame sizes.
Digital prints have at least 1/2″ around the edges depending on the size of the print. All are countersigned by me.
CANVAS PRINTS
Because the standard size canvas prints are not proportional to the original painting, canvas prints of this painting will have a portion cropped off.
I usually have at least one of the smaller sizes of canvases on hand, but order larger ones as they are ordered because I have limited storage space. Smaller canvases are a 3/4″ in depth, Canvases 12 x 16 and larger are 1-1/2″ in depth. I set them up so the image runs from edge to edge, then the sides are black or white or sometimes I slip in a color that coordinates with the painting. This canvas mirrors the edges of the image around the sides.
FRAMED PRINTS
I do all my own framing and can custom frame a print for you. Please ask.
GREETING CARDS
- Cards are blank inside but can be customized with your message for an extra charge.
- 5″ x 7″ Feline Fine Art Cards assort with all other 5″ x 7″ greeting cards (except custom printed cards) for a quantity discount.
- Individual cards are shipped by first class mail.
- Set of six 5.5″ x 4.25″ note cards are printed on textured watercolor paper and packed in a clear-top stationery box.
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All images used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission. Please ask if you are interested in using one in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of this image or a product including this image, check to see if I have it available already. If you don’t find it there, visit “purchasing” for availability and terms.
