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An elderly Black grandpa in a cardigan paints a canvas at an easel in a cluttered backyard as a Siamese cat lies nearby. 5 / 23

Grandpa Set Up His Easel to Paint the Trees. Sapphire Struck a Better Pose.

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Brushes stand in jars of cloudy water, palettes are smeared with every shade of blue and green, and Grandpa Walter is deep in concentration at his wooden easel. He sits on a low stool in his chunky tan cardigan, glasses perched on his nose, adding careful strokes to a landscape of trees and sky. Stretched out on the ground right beside the easel legs, Sapphire lies on her side, dark paws crossed and blue eyes gazing calmly toward the viewer. Garden tools, a blue watering can, clay pots and a coiled hose crowd the backyard around them.

Outdoor painting is a peaceful hobby, but a few precautions help when pets are nearby. Some paints, solvents and thinners can be harmful if a cat licks them off its fur or paws, and cats groom themselves often, so spills are worth cleaning quickly. Water-based paints are usually a safer choice around animals. Keep rinse water covered or out of reach, since curious cats sometimes drink from unexpected places. Garden tools with sharp edges, along with fertilizers and certain plants, are other things to keep an eye on when a cat spends time in the yard.

Creative hobbies like painting are wonderful for older adults, offering focus, self-expression and a sense of accomplishment. Having a calm companion nearby can make the hours feel even more relaxed.

Sapphire may not be in the painting, but she has certainly made herself the most elegant thing in the yard. Walter seems to agree.

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