When I was painting almost exclusively in watercolor a couple of years ago, cats were one of my favorite subjects.

I loved how every face had its own personality. Curious, grumpy, dramatic, sleepy… they always seemed to tell a little story.

Maybe that's because I still remember every cat that lived with our family while I was growing up. There were three of them, and they're all long gone now. I don't even have photos of them anymore, but the memories have stayed with me.

I remember them knocking over our Christmas tree every single year (we eventually started tying it to the wall), waiting impatiently while I thawed fish from the freezer for dinner (there wasn't really such a thing as ready-made cat food where I lived back then) and confidently strolling along our sixth-floor balcony while I stood there absolutely terrified.

Those little moments never really leave you.

Looking through these watercolor paintings again reminded me how much joy they brought me, and how much I still want to paint cats. They make me slow down, smile, and somehow feel at home.

I hope they bring you a little bit of that same quiet joy.