Enchanting Cats

Mondriyawn.

Piet Mondrian was a painter. He painted stuff like this, with black horizontal and vertical lines, and blocks of primary colors. He probably did not include cats in any of his paintings.

I am not always particularly drawn to this sort of thing- very simple shapes in exact placement. But drawing this was interesting, and I threw out my first two very similar compositions because they were “ugly.” If you think this kind of art is silly because “anyone can do it,” I encourage you to pick up a pen and try it yourself! You may be surprised to find that you actually do have opinions about shapes, lines, and colors. It is a visibly psychological exercise, like a Rorschach test in reverse.

Simple as it is, how alluring, elegant and universally appealing is the silhouette? An all black cat is like a living, breathing, moving silhouette, but with vibrant eyes that stare out at you from the void –  judging you (as all cats do).

I think there is something especially poetic and beautiful about a black cat, but they get a bad rap. October is especially difficult for them, and many rescues will not adopt out black cats/kittens during this time for fear that people will abuse them around Halloween or will buy them as temporary “decorations” and discard them after the holiday. Last year, I found myself with a black kitten in October as part of the litter that we rescued in our neighborhood. I was very happy to find a home for this kitten with someone kind, who doubtlessly loves her. I thought she would be the last to go, but it was not so! I am grateful for this wonderful woman, and all others who want to take black kittens home simply because they are so often left behind.