This is my cat Charles Aznavour (not Charles Aznavour the French singer). These little quirky, fuzzy polaroid photos were another treasure I found when cleaning up for the big move.
Charles Aznavour, or Charlie to his friends, was a delightfully playful main coon cat I had when I was a teenager. He was HUGE! But he had a chiruppy meow and the sweetest personality of any pussy cat I've ever had the honour of knowing. His most marked characteristics were his bright eyes and quick paw. He had the fastest paw in the west - you literally couldn't see him move it. He would have been a fantastic mouser on a farm somewhere in a past life I think.
Below is another of those mini polaroid shots (I have no idea where Mum got this camera or what's happened to it now) of a rabbit I had called Astral. He was given to me by a flatmate in my early 20s when I was obsessively drawing cartoons about a space travelling rabbit called - you guessed it - Astral. It's a bit abstract this one but it actually captures the determination and rabbityness of young Astral on the move. He's in his cage here but fear not rabbit lovers! He had a large back yard all to himself to hop around in.
Thank you to everyone for your super sweet comments regarding my work and posts - it warms the cockles of my heart truly!
Those are really sweet Polaroids! Charles Aznavour was adorable as was little Astral. They remind me of my George and Blas! :) So on a very personal note to the artist... do you see the return of Astral Rabbit anytime in the near future?
Posted by: Gabbi | July 01, 2009 at 12:08 AM
main coon kitties are the best!!! i had one a while back, and he was the most mellow and sweet cat imaginable. wah. love them!
Posted by: drollgirl | July 01, 2009 at 04:16 AM
Those Polaroids are precious.
I wonder why you named your cat Charles Aznavour... was he something of a crooner?
Posted by: Mary-Laure | July 01, 2009 at 04:22 AM
i love the catty polaroids... although i don't think Spanner would like me saying that ;)
tha first pet i had was a wee grey kitty that i named 'fluff' he was my bestest friend in the world (at the time!) and it broke my heart when he died... sadly there are no pics of him... *sigh*
and as for Spanner having his own blog... pfft! i have enough trouble finding the time to keep my own going as well as an etsy shop, a very addictive flickr account, so much crocheting and whatnot to do... as weel as looking after a dog and his man! i think what he really needs is a fan-site... ;)
emma
x
Posted by: emma lamb | July 01, 2009 at 06:19 AM
I love the picture of Charles with the flowers - very gorgeous. And as for your work well it is just so original and exquisite and that is a fact.
Posted by: Lilly | July 01, 2009 at 05:31 PM
he's gorgeous, what adorable pictures! x.
Posted by: miriam | July 01, 2009 at 07:08 PM
Charles Aznavour sounds like he was one cool cat! That's a cute pic of Astral. Those charming polaroid photos are a great find! Here in Qld it's against the law to have pet rabbits. Such a silly law! I've never understood it. I've always wanted a pet bunny!
Posted by: Tracy | July 01, 2009 at 10:39 PM
it warms the "cockles" of your heart?! love it.
my first and only pet growing up was a little white bunny that we treated like royalty.
Posted by: Down and Out Chic | July 02, 2009 at 02:54 AM
Wow! Gabbi - you are so right! They are like the Alice through the looking glass versions of your two people! ...and Astral Rabbit - I have been toying wioth the idea of resurecting him...hmmmm!
Yes! Drollgirl - Main Coons rock for sure! Big beautiful sweeties that they are!
Mary-Laure!! Hehehe! Too funny! He was actually more of a chiroer than a crooner! :)
Emma - so sorry about your heart break...:( They really do wriggle right into your life don't the, these sweet animal companions. As fir that splendidly handsome boy of yours - well I think a fan pageis a fabbo idea! I'd join yesterday!
Thank you so much Lilly! You are very sweet to say so! The photos are a little fuzzy but they capture Charlie's loveliness I think quitewell!
Thank you Miriam!
Wow Tracy! I'd totally forgotten about the rabbit ban in QLD. Rabbitsare a huge problem for a parge art of Australia, aren't they?
Awww! Christina - do you have any photos? I'dlove to see them...hint hint!
Posted by: Sam | July 02, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Charles Aznavour... you crack me up. Did you name the cat, even all those years ago?
It is our pleasure to send you nice thoughts and words!
Posted by: Emma | July 03, 2009 at 07:33 AM
what lovely photos, and so nice to rediscover them.
Posted by: PRIMOEZA | July 05, 2009 at 10:06 AM