Sunny Spot for Ninja

This was a difficult painting to make. A couple of weeks ago, we had to say goodbye to our dear Ninja kitty. On her penultimate day, we spent much of it outside together with her sister Marbles. Ninja drank from the creek, basked in sunny patches, and allowed the bees to hum to her. It was reassuring to see her find enjoyment in nature before she left us. 

Ninja was a very special cat. She was the big boss lady of Spring Bird – greeting guests and keeping an eye on the place like a watchdog. She was a perfect studio companion, as well – often on my lap watching me draw and paint as if she was studying the craft for herself or getting ready to pounce on a brush. Her favorite game was pulling the pins out of my pincushion, and of course, she was one of my greatest, most popular muses. Knowing that many of my paintings of her hang in people’s homes is comforting. Her presence lives on in this regard. We miss her heaps, but I already suspect that she is haunting us in the calls of the catbirds who are as vocal as she was, and I also imagine she might resurface in future paintings.  Rest in purrs Ninja – in your forever sunny spot!