Alli and Ibis

I work mainly from home, which means my two furry assistants are always involved. Alli and Ibis — two domestic cats whose lives revolve entirely around their own schedules — have gradually become part of my creative process.

The other day, I needed to quickly take a few photos of my paintings. The moment I had carefully positioned the artwork for the photo, Ibis appeared in the frame. Normally, Ibis avoids cameras like the plague. After I lifted Ibis away and switched to another painting, Alli arrived instead. First came a slow stretch, followed by an unhurried grooming session directly in front of the artwork I was trying to photograph.

Alli, a sixteen-year-old black-and-white cat, is a highly dignified old lady who insists on sitting in my lap whenever I work on the computer. Computer time equals lap time in Alli's world, which means I usually do all computer work in a deeply unergonomic position. These are Alli's rules — and Alli's rules are not questioned.

Ibis, a five-year-old completely black bundle of energy, is the opposite. Ibis is not content with simply observing, but prefers active participation — especially at the worst possible moments. The water cup for paintbrushes is endlessly fascinating, and every moving brush deserves to be hunted. There is always the risk that an enthusiastic leap will land directly in the paint palette.

A true "art project" happened when Ibis stepped directly into black paint. Cleaning black paint off a black cat turned out to be an art form of its own — I found myself digging paint out from between tiny cat toes.

Sewing and pattern drafting are also favorite cat activities. Whenever I spread fabric across the floor or table, it becomes an invitation either to jump directly into the middle of it or crawl underneath it. Pattern paper is considered an official playground, and every extra piece of paper must eventually be crumpled into a ball and thrown for chasing.

Alli plays delicately, while Ibis destroys everything completely. Sitting on top of the sewing machine is one of Alli's specialties, and apparently nothing is more entertaining than occupying the machine precisely when I'm trying to sew a seam.

Even though working with cats as assistants is often far from efficient, I'm not sure I would know how to work without Alli and Ibis. Having them around — sleeping beside the easel, watching a paintbrush, or simply existing nearby in their own quiet way — makes working from home feel less lonely and fills ordinary workdays with small moments of joy.