Byrdie in the Leaves

Original is 6"x 7 1/2"

India ink, watercolor, colored pencil on acrylic paper

Original in private collection

I painted this for my cat Byrdie. He was an indoor only cat, although I'd let him walk in the leaves maybe once a year while I hovered around so he wouldn't go far. When he got older he loved to sit at the window watching the leaves fall. One autumn day I saw him sitting there smiling as he looked out the window and I thought about how much he would love to go out there and play in the leaves. Since he was too old to go out I painted this for him. A picture of where he would like to be.

No matter what else I ever paint or draw this will always be my favorite picture.

R.I.P Byrdie April 25 1988-April 5 2011