Written by For our prompt of “Tiger” today, I decided to sketch a little tiger cub and pull in some leaves for an extra splash of color. I adore baby animals and particularly the kind that will one day grow very large. They always have these incredibly enormous feet that signal what’s to come. It’s the same with humans in that hands and feet are the first to start and stop growing. On a tiger cub, this gangly look is rather cute. On me, when I was a kid, it was a touch more awkward. But it’s heart-warming to know that one day this little cub will grow into those feet and become a big brave tiger. I was running behind today, and when I realized what the prompt was, I was really daunted. I only had a short amount of time to sketch and tigers seem so complex. So I just jumped in and went for it without thinking too much, which is always my approach when I’m starting to doubt myself. This time, it was both my inner child and my inner tiger that helped me quickly get to a completed sketch.
Today, when Philippe was about to pick me up from work, he realized the car had a flat tire. So, I had to take an Uber home to let the dog out while he dealt with fixing that. I had wanted a glass of wine tonight and contemplated asking my driver if he would mind stopping, but didn’t know if that was proper etiquette. Since we happened to have a bottle of champagne in the fridge, I told Philippe when he finally made it home that we should toast to finding solutions to problems. He looked and me sideways and said, “You just really want a glass of champagne now, don’t you?” to which I said, “Yes!” This was one of those weeks where Thursday felt like it should be Friday all day long. The kind that drags on for one extra day when it seems like the weekend should have already arrived. But, as soon as I started painting I felt recharged. It’s honestly magic. No matter how rushed or stressed I feel when I get home, all of that goes away the moment I put a brush to paper. Sure, the champagne was a nice bonus (yes, Philippe agreed to my plan of questionable logic), but the act of making something is the best thing of all.
This is why I love my sketching habit. I’m not sure how I would have transformed my day without it. I think I would have been a touch grumpy or still feeling overwhelmed. And yet, having one more thing to DO, which is make a sketch of some kind, could easily seem like too much to bear. But, for me, sketching is its own thing. It’s on a completely different level than the other things I feel like I have to do in my life. This is one of those fabulously unique things that I simply always want to do, and doing it makes me feel so happy. But there was an extra layer today that included a bit of fear. The subject matter felt far too complex for my harried brain to handle. Yet, I’m the guy who’s spent four and half years bravely sketching everything imaginable. Some sketches are better than others, to be sure, but I’ve already proven to myself that I can indeed sketch anything. So, why the doubt? Well, I’m simply human, after all. But, in my heart, I always try to approach life with all of the courage of one little tiger.
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Such a cutie Charlie and yes he will grow into those paws! My grand dog did, mastiff/Saint Bernard mix.
Thanks so much, Karen! 😃💕Aww… love that you have a big dog for a grand dog! They’re so awesome!!
We love your sketching habit too! Maybe that’s why you feel uplifted after doing your sketch – you know you’re going to lighten the mood for many other people as well! By the way, I’ll bet Philippe was thinking about that bottle of champagne even before you said anything, after dealing with a flat tire.
Thanks so much, Sandra! 😃💕 Yeah, I do hope I can make people smile! And you’re so right… I’m sure I didn’t have to suggest it… Philippe was already there! lol
He is tooo cute..and again all your words ring true. My time spent doing art is the highlight of my day no matter what else is going on and even when I don’t post. Just the act of doing makes my day better…Thanks again!
Thanks, Priscilla! 😃💕Yay for that! Yeah, the acting of DOing is the best of all. I can’t imagine a day where I didn’t DO! hehe
Aweeeeeee such a cutie!!! Here is to a most beautiful weekend!!! 🙂
Thanks so much, Lisa! 😃💕 Yay for the weekend!
Oh, come on now! He is ridiculously cute! Funny, I have been thinking about this prompt for a few days and it has caused a road block for me, no a cement wall. All along, I have been telling myself it is going to be difficult, it won’t look like a tiger. Ugh…….here I go. Wish me luck. 😉
Thanks, Lori! 😃💕 You can DO it! hehe… but this why I don’t look ahead. I forget what prompts I made right after I post them! 😊lol
Felines are my favorites, and 🐅 are the best… But this one you have done is simply the cutest….
Aww thanks, Walt! 😃💕 Thrilled you enjoyed him!
I love when our cats nap with all four paws together in a clump. I don’t even know how they do that, but it’s so cute. Especially when the pads are both pink on some and dark on others. Of course when I start trying to take a picture, they fold them away. Cats are shy that way. Or maybe just contrary. Hard to know.
Hehe… I think contrary, but in that cutest way ever! Love kitties! 😃💕
Wow, I wish I could do a rushed doodle as well as you do Charlie. Do you draw from memory? Bad luck about the flat tyre.
Thanks so much, Gary! 😃💕 I used a reference for the face and front paws, but didn’t like the backend, so I drew that from memory. Then the leafs are just sort of made up as well! hehe
Wonderful
Thanks so much! 😃💕
and your sketches bring happiness to others thank You.
Thanks so much!! 😃💕 Thrilled you enjoy them!
Adorable!! I thought it was Friday all day yesterday…have no idea why. Felt like I was all thumbs yesterday, accomplishing little and getting more stressed by the minute. Finally decided to pull out my paints and work on the prompt and VOILA! I felt much better. Painting is like a really excellent glass of wine.
Thanks, Mary! 😃💕 I know right? This week had one extra day… probably just getting up prepped for leap year! lol And I agree! Painting is so like that. Of course, it doesn’t stop me from having the glass of wine as well sometimes! hehe
Awww…the painting is precious. It is so fluffy and cuddly.
Charlie says “This time, it was both my inner child and my inner tiger that helped me quickly get to a completed sketch.”
I love it, but this is so much more than a completed sketch. It is a work of art that lives and breathes. I
keep going back to it, and loving it more each time!
Thanks, Sarah! 😃💕 I’m so thrilled you enjoyed this one! I felt a bit rushed and less confident, but sometimes, that’s just the right space to create something unexpected.
Crikey Mate, its a Sumatran Tiger. lol. I used to watch Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter a lot when I was a teenager, it was always interesting to see the differnent animals he wrangled and rescued. I really like how you included the jungle leaves in the background with the Tiger Cub.
Thanks Shawn! 😃💕 Thrilled you enjoyed this! Cool that this was an actual tiger in the end actually… I used a couple references and made up some bits! lol Yay!