(My coworkers, roommates, emotional support chaos gremlins.)

Before we go any further in this newsletter journey, it’s time you officially met the real bosses of my studio. Yes, I paint the art. Yes, I sign my name. But let’s be honest — the cats run the place.

There are three of them. There have always been three of them. There will continue to be three of them. We’re not discussing anything else.

Let’s begin.

🐈 Noah — The Escape Artist

Noah is the one who believes he’s an outdoor cat trapped in an indoor cat’s body. He “runs away” approximately once a week, which is dramatic considering he only makes it as far as the patio before panicking and hiding under a chair like he’s in witness protection.

His most recent adventure lasted six hours. I stayed up listening to every noise the wind made — which was a lot, because the wind was feeling theatrical that night. Then, at midnight, Noah strolled in like he had just returned from a European vacation.

He is currently sleeping on his favorite vintage bag. Which means that bag is no longer going to market. He has claimed it. It is his now.

🐈 Tessy — The Supervisor

Tessy is the quiet one. The observer. The manager. She watches me paint with the same expression someone uses when they’re judging a cooking competition.

She doesn’t interfere. She doesn’t knock things over. She doesn’t drink paint water. She simply sits there, staring, silently evaluating my brush strokes like she’s deciding whether or not to fire me.

If I ever produce a perfect painting, it will be because Tessy approved it.

🐈⬛ GG (Goth Girl) — The Phantom Menace

GG only meows when she is under something. The bed. The sofa. A piece of furniture I’m actively trying to move. She’s like a Victorian ghost with fur.

She also enjoys sneaking up on me while I’m painting. I’ll be focused on a canvas, turn around, and suddenly she’s there — silently judging, silently plotting, silently existing like a shadow with whiskers.

Her hobbies include:

• drinking from my cups

• drinking from my paint water

• drinking from anything she is absolutely not supposed to drink from

• scaring me

• disappearing

• reappearing

• being mysterious

She is the reason I check every cup before I take a sip.

⭐ Together, They Are…

My coworkers. My roommates. My studio assistants. My emotional support chaos. The inspiration behind half my art and the destruction behind the other half.

They walk across my work station. They sit on my laptop. They inspect every brush stroke. They interrupt every moment of silence. They keep me company while I paint in a room with two windows, palm trees outside, and questionable decisions inside.

And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.