The Court Painter Studied His Sitter and Dabbed One Last Color
A fine brush is held in the gray paw of the Russian Blue court painter, and a wooden palette covered in dabs of blue, red, white and yellow rests on his other arm. His coat is silver-blue and his eyes are a bright yellow-green, fixed on something beyond the frame, where the sitter must be. He wears a brown artist's smock over a dark green embroidered coat, with a white lace collar, and two candles flicker behind him. The smell of oil paint almost seems to come from the canvas.
Cats love to watch, and many will happily spend an afternoon observing a person at work, from an artist at an easel to someone typing on a laptop. That calm curiosity is one reason cats are such good studio companions, but a painter's workspace can hold hazards. Many art supplies, such as solvents, turpentine and some pigments, are toxic if licked or swallowed, so keep them closed and out of reach. Wipe up spills right away and wash any paint off paws promptly, rather than letting a cat lick them clean. If your cat gets into something unsafe, contact your vet or a pet poison helpline. A comfortable seat nearby lets your cat watch safely.
The painting is almost done. All that remains is to add one small paw print in the corner, for good luck.
