Reading & Writing
Sanmu Memoir
Stories, photographs and watercolors from my life with Sanmu, the cat who stayed beside my drawing board.
Articles
11 articles
I Got a Cat So I Could Paint Cats
In 2013, I got my first cat to better understand how to paint them. I named him Sanmu, a name taken apart from the name of my creative venture, Huisenhuo.
Having a cat for the first time made me notice everything
When I first had a cat, I paid close attention to Sanmu's every movement, worrying about things being knocked over or my art supplies being scratched. No particular event changed that. We simply lived together, and without noticing when, I began to relax.
Sanmu stays beside me while I paint · Sanmu Memoir 003
As a kitten, Sanmu would reach out a paw to bat at my watercolor brush. Of course I stopped it; that really got in the way of painting. Later, Sanmu spent more time lying nearby. I painted and reached over for a stroke now and then. We did not have to set special rules for each other. We fitted together just right.
One can a day · Sanmu Memoir 004
Sanmu has one can of food every day. The habit began with care after an illness and gradually became something to anticipate in the early morning. Sanmu meows a few times; I do not get up; after a while, the cat jumps onto the bed to sleep beside me again. The fourth Sanmu Memoir is about trial and error with food, and small moments of living together.
When the Plastic Bag Rustles: Sanmu’s Memoir 005
Sanmu is usually an easy cat to live with, but the sound of him chewing plastic bags is hard to ignore. I suspect he wants my attention. One moment I am telling him to stop; a little later he is beside me, and I am scratching his chin and kissing him. In life with a cat, worry and closeness often sit side by side.
A cat to come home to · Sanmu Memoir 006
Sometimes, when I open the door at home, I first hear a thud from the room inside. A few seconds later, Sanmu ambles over. I do my own things when I am out; when I return, I stroke the cat and say a few words, and that feels good. This essay is about the ordinary happiness of having a cat at home.
Waiting for Sanmu to Look at the Camera | Sanmu’s Memoir 007
To photograph Sanmu, I first need a way to make him look over. After many photos, I found that the same way of attracting him produced similar expressions. This entry describes waiting for his gaze and gathers a few cat-photography tips to help you keep a clear picture.
The Model at Home: Sanmu’s Memoir 008
Having a cat also gave me a model at home. From a challenging silver tabby coat to Mucha-inspired portraits surrounded by flowers, Sanmu has accompanied many painting experiments and helped me begin portraits of other pets. Includes a watercolor process video of painting Sanmu.
For My Future Self: Sanmu’s Memoir 009
Seeing paintings of Sanmu from different periods brings back small details from those years. Writing down everyday life with a cat also records how I have lived. I want to leave a few images and words so my future self can still remember.
Sanmu Never Crosses My Boundaries, So I Almost Forgot I Had Them
Sanmu comes close without taking over. After years with a cat who never crossed the line, Tee Sang almost forgot that boundaries need active care. Only when other relationships caused real discomfort did that sense of room and distance become clear again.
Sanmu’s Memoir · vol.000 | Remembering Is a Verb, Not a Noun
Sanmu has been with Tee Sang for 14 years, witnessing his life as a freelancer. This memoir is not an attempt to manufacture a goodbye. It is a way to look again, write down, and preserve the details everyday familiarity can hide, while Sanmu is still here.
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