My own little Bastet

Portrait of Bimini as ancient Egyptian Goddess Bastet, acrylic 8"X10" 2025

I visited my sister in Northern Florida and came back very inspired to paint and write. I have a lofty project in mind for my writing. It is stretching my confidence, but in a good way. I'll tell you more as I get underway. First step: I need to buy Microsoft Word so I can start a long manuscript with all the official bells and whistles. I'll keep you posted.

I came back to a creative frenzy. I was bummed about some experiences with psychics (no doubt I will tell you about it in another post), so I buried myself in painting. I finished two paintings quickly and am on my third. I'm not showing all of them because some of them may be gifts and I think that the potential recipients read my blog. So I am keeping them under wraps for now. They will probably be Christmas gifts. Yes, I start working on my gifts way early (because I like to make them).

One of my painting projects is a series of our animal companions. My family loves dogs but especially cats. In another post, I must tell you about my family's cat, Pilor, who was so mean to me when I was young and used to scratch my butt when I walked around in diapers or naked as a toddler! 

Perhaps because I was terrified of Pilor (who had three incarnations in my family), I always thought I was more a dog person. But I have to say, I now have a black Bombay cat named Bimini and we have a love affair going on. She is feisty and diva-like and we struggle for the upper hand; but that just makes me love and respect her all the more Jajaja.

Bimi has a strong affinity for the ancient Egyptians' goddess Bastet. Bastet originally had the body of a woman and the head of a lion, but later transitioned to the head of a domesticated cat. She is depicted often in frescoes and sculptures and tombs. She protected the pharaoh's home. 

Domesticated cats were seen as her embodiment and brought good luck in fertility, child birth and home-life in general. She was also a muse for music and dancing. And she helped the deceased in the afterlife.

This stock illustration shows a modern illustration of ancient Egyptian art that depicts Bastet as she would have appeared in ancient Egypt. She was often painted around orange and wore colorful decorations. 

Bimi chose a sphinx-like pose and while I love her pitch black coat, I was moved to paint her colorfully. Last year, I did a silly smooshed painting with Bimini. I wanted to have a painting of her or by her, but the result was ugly, even though it was done by her. So I did not hang it. This I will hang. She is happy with this.