Wendy Christensen writes and paints at Bobcat mountain Studios, high on a wooded hillside in rural new Hampshire. She shares her home with her scientist husband, over 10,000 books, and the family of dear feline muses who daily inspire, amuse, mystify and comfort her — and serve as her models.
Wendy is a cultural ailurologist (student of feline social and cultural life); award-winning writer, artist and illustrator; painter of cat portraits; designer and builder of cat jewelry; cat behavior consultant; and pet columnist.
Her writing focuses on a wide range of feline topics, but especially the social life, culture and behavior of cats living in groups with humans. She’s written extensively on virtually every feline topic you can possibly imagine for every cat publication you’ve ever heard of, and some you probably haven’t. Her painting focuses on capturing the uniqueness, beauty and “catness” of each individual kitty she portrays.
In all her activities, Wendy encourages and facilitates feline-human harmony; understanding and overcoming feline behavior challenges; creative environmental enrichment for indoor cats; and developing comfortable, easy-care shared living spaces that work for both cats and humans.
Wendy is the award-winning author of Outwitting Cats: Tips, tricks and techniques for Persuading the Felines in Your Life That What YOU want Is also What THEY want and other books.
Also an award-winning illustrator, Wendy illustrated the best-selling Why Do Cats Do That: A Collection of curious Kitty Quirks by Karen Anderson, and a children’s book, daddy Day, daughter Day by TV’s Larry King and his daughter, Chaia King. Her colorful, realistic, highly-detailed cat paintings have been reproduced on magazine and book covers and on a wide range of consumer products from collector plates to t-shirts.
I’m delighted to welcome Wendy to The conscious cat today.
Wendy, what came first: painting, or writing?
Definitely painting. I’ve always been an artist, and my original goal was to become a professional illustrator. I was accepted into the top illustration college in the US, but it was far too expensive for my family. So I went to night school and became a software engineer instead. I loved engineering, but I eventually retired to try to pursue an art career, again. Along the way, I unintentionally became a writer.
You also create unique jewelry for cat lovers. tell us a little about the pieces you make.
I’m an engineer at heart and I love developing and building things. I love jewelry and especially cat jewelry – I have a large collection – so making my own cat jewelry was a natural. I enjoy the exciting and never-ending search for cat beads, pendants and vintage cat jewelry for use in my one-of-a-kind pieces. and I really enjoy the intensive process of manipulating tiny components, wire, beads and beautiful gemstones. I want each piece to be a treasure for someone. (Editor’s note: Wendy’s jewelry is available in her Etsy shop.)
What is the creative process for a project, whether it’s writing or painting or jewelry making, like for you?
Meticulous, detail-oriented and craftsmanlike, with a dash of intuition. It’s all the same process, with different tools and materials. I may be using a keyboard, pliers, brushes, or grammar to manipulate words, beads, wire, colors or images for the different things I do, but it’s all the same design/composition/assembly process. I see a lot of synergy and synchronicity in everything I do. All my creative pursuits feed one another. I may write an article in my head while hiking, get an idea for a new necklace while tending my hundreds of lilies, or mentally sort out color options for a painting while doing paperwork for the cat Writers Association.
Where does your inspiration come from?
My cats, and all the cats I’ve ever known. I grew up with a large family of cats (44 at one point) and individual cats of the past still inspire me.
Do you have a favorite medium, or do you enjoy writing, painting and jewelry making equally?
I love doing all of these things, and I usually have several projects in each medium in progress at any time.
Tell us about your own cats.
I always adopt from shelters, and always in pairs or trios. I’ve been lucky – I have the best kitties in the world! senior felines-in-residence are eleven-year-old Ada Augusta Abigail Tabitha (“Tabigail”); Sir Sterling Silver Longfellow (“Silver”); and handsome Harry, Wizard of Bobcat mountain (“Wiz”). They’re joined by ten-year-old calico sisters Angel and Chrysanthemum, both polydactyl on all four paws. A trio of seven-year-old tabby sisters, Pemigewasset (“Pemi”), Aunt Jesse Guernsey (“Jessie”) and Winnepesaukee (“Winnie”) and a six-year-old brother sister team, golden tabby prince Syvert the bold and torbie Hazel-Marie round out the group.
I’ve learned so much from all of these cats, and they continue to teach mnullnull