It’s gotten chillier with the arrival of fall, but that hasn’t stopped Blackie from taking the occasional (unauthorized) excursion over the patio fence — especially when there’s been the promise of a good meal on the other side.
The other day, for instance, when I wandered into the kitchen to pop open a can of Fancy Feast, I found this note. (Blackie probably realized I’d worry if I didn’t hear the thunder of cat paws as soon as his replenished dish hit the floor, and he was right.)
But when Charlotte saw the note, I think she started worrying: Mrs. Jones is not only a great cook, but a pretty kitty with a cute figure and long eyelashes. And while Charlotte prefers to keep the worshipful Blackie at a distance, she also doesn’t like competition.
(Yes, Blackie eventually came home, and no, Charlotte hasn’t been any nicer to him since.)
Speaking of fall, and also of competition (nice segue, eh?), I thought I’d share a new fall illustration I created for last month’s Blown Covers Contest.
The theme was “Autumn,” and this was the first time mine was the winning entry — a big surprise and nice compliment (especially considering how much I liked so many of the other submissions). Lest it go to my head, however, Charlotte let me know that she hated the way my drawing “glorified squirrels,” as she put it. Oh well!
In other news, I recently finished redesigning my illustration website, adding a number of new images in the process, as well as an updated gallery of cat and mouse cartoons (my favorites from this blog), and a gallery containing the other (30) Blown Contest Covers that I’ve created over the past 6 months or so, just for fun. Some of these are sketches, some are more finished, but they’ve all been a nice opportunity to do some personal work that isn’t a cat doodle, to experiment and try out some new ideas. (I’ll be sharing my submissions for the current contest theme, Halloween, real soon. Stay tuned.)
Meanwhile, I hope everyone has been having a really good week — nearly over, folks! —and is enjoying the beautiful (albeit also “nearly over”) fall color…as well as some fun fall excursions of your own. Happy Thursday!
Jean, I love your website! Regarding the Blown Cover contest, has the winning entry ever ended up on the cover of the New Yorker?
Glad to hear that Blackie returned.
Richard, thanks so much — Really appreciate the positive feedback.
There are a few times that I know of that Blown entries have been considered for real New Yorker covers (and once I know of that one’s been actually published as such — my friend Gayle’s June brides cover. (Never my own though — well, not yet, anyway!) 😉 But when that happens, those entries don’t get posted on the Blown site at all, but are held off to the side, in reserve. (New Yorker covers are super top secret until they are published, apparently.)
What a great, new site, Jean! Lot’s of rich, fresh content and a cool interface, as they say. Loved the history pages. Bill
Thanks a bunch, Bill! I’m hoping this version will be a bit easier to keep up to date than my last design.