Get ready to be wowed! My friend Cathy McCort has done it again. She’s completed another year of fun, colorful sketched calendar pages.
(See this post for Cathy’s 2019 calendar sketches.)
And what a year 2020 turned out to be!
Cathy had no idea back in January 2020 that the next twelve months would bring us a strange combination of a worldwide pandemic, lockdowns, marketplace shortages, widespread protests, and a nasty presidential election. But, day-by-crazy day, she captured it all in her painted calendars.
 |
| Copyright © 2021 Cathy McCort |
 |
| Copyright © 2021 Cathy McCort |
The calendars were done on 9×12 Strathmore 400 series paper with Micron pens and a combination of American Journey and Daniel Smith watercolors.
 |
| Copyright © 2021 Cathy McCort |
 |
| Copyright © 2021 Cathy McCort |
I asked Cathy to tell us a little bit about the process she’s goes through in designing these slice-of-life calendar pages:
“The calendar design process is simple, there really isn’t one! The first things I do are to decide on a border, lettering and quote appropriate to that month, and I decide whether I want to use a block layout (like February, May, August, and November) or just fill the page with random drawings.
 |
| Copyright © 2021 Cathy McCort |
After that, it just flows.
 |
| Copyright © 2021 Cathy McCort |
I think I prefer the ones without blocks. Sketching the things to make them fit together is a challenge.
 |
| Copyright © 2021 Cathy McCort |
 |
| Copyright © 2021 Cathy McCort |
I try to vary the sizes and shapes to make them complement each other.
 |
| Copyright © 2021 Cathy McCort |
I do not plan ahead of time what I will sketch for each day. I pretty much fly by the seat of my pants!”
 |
| Copyright © 2021 Cathy McCort |
Keep on flying, Cathy!
 |
| Copyright © 2021 Cathy McCort |
And thanks for taking us along on your wild ride through an unforgettable year.
 |
| Copyright © 2021 Cathy McCort |
5 Comments
Such a treat to see Cathy's entire year of work. I hope that a local gallery will see fit to give her a show! I think the collection would be of interest to so many people.
Thanks for sharing her work and introducing me to this artist!
Again, Cathy, you have blown me away. Your perseverance (ocd as you call it) and talents are amazing. I adore your little sketches and unique borders. My favorite was the September border. Then I saw the intricacies of October's. Wow! But I love how you sketched the trees in November's. You just get better and better. I think we all should toast gin and tonics in your favor. 😍
Wow is right! How awesome. Thank you for sharing her beautiful art with us.
This is such a joy to see! Your work is beautiful and fun!