A Cat in a Fishbowl

Now the kitty knows what it’s like to be the goldfish.

Cats are curious creatures, and cats in the wild often enjoy playing with whatever catches their attention. But when it comes to domestic cats, sometimes they take that curiosity a little too far.

Cats have a natural instinct to hunt, and they are often drawn to small moving objects. Some cats may be attracted to fish bowls and aquaria (fishbowl – aquarium) because of the movement of the fish inside.

cat in a fishbowl or a fish bowl
Cat in a Fishbowl with transparent edges – great for T-shirts and home decor items.

In the “cartoon” image above, the cat has evidently changed places with the fish, presumably a goldfish, by being inside the fishbowl. He (she?) should have chosen an actual aquarium – because it might have provided bit more room.

cat in a fishbowl
Cat in a Fishbowl – full rectangular image for wall art and home decor items.

Now the cat knows what it’s like to “be” the goldfish. From predator to prey, curiosity and all that, right?

Perhaps you would like this as a small print for a child’s room or, perhaps, in your home or office as a conversation piece. Click one of the images above or one of the gallery links below for more information or to shop.

Link to: Cat in the Fish Bowl at Fine Art America.
Link to: Cat in the Fish Bowl at Pictorem.
Link to: Bill’s Redbubble store for T-shirts and more with this design.


A Marketing Challenge for the Year 2023

This is a follow-up marketing challenge to what was started in January 2022.

This is NOT a New Year’s Resolution – they don’t usually work. This is a re-commitment of something I did in January last year to jump-start my art photography business. It worked very well last year – and positive results/metrics were shared here on this website.

This year I am modifying the goals just a bit to make a longer-term commitment well within reach. I am continuing to wean myself from social media and put more emphasis on positive results from the major search engines. I want to (need to) increase the organic search results that bring people to see my photography and my galleries on the various POD (Print On Demand) art production companies that host my gallery stores – listed in the site menu.

Blue Flams heating the Tea Pot
Let me get the fire lit and get underway.

The goal is to create one new article per day for the entire first quarter of 2023.

The caveat is that I will give myself weekends off. (Hey, I am supposed to be retired.) I also will not adhere to a strict schedule. That means, overall, I will publish an average of 5 articles per week on one or more of my websites, 20/21 per month for January, February and March. (Yes, I will count this article among the list below…)

Obviously, this particular article will be a Work In Progress

January Articles

  1. Fenwick Island Dunes and Waves, USPictures.com, 01/01
  2. Fenwick Island Lighthouse Historic Panorama, USPictures.com, 01/02
  3. A Marketing Challenge for the Year 2023, BillSwartwout.com, 01/02
  4. Fenwick Island Lighthouse, SouthBaltimore.com. 01/02
  5. Eclipse of the Moon over the Indian River Bridge, IndianRiverBridge.com, 01/03
  6. Simulated Watercolor from a Photograph, IndianRiverBridge.com, 01/05
  7. Staying on the Boardwalk in Ocean City, Maryland, OceanCityBoardwalkHotels.com, 01/11
  8. For Purple Mountain Majesties, BillSwartwout.com, 01/12
  9. A Cat in a Fishbowl, BillSwartwout.com, 01/14
  10. One Cat Eye Looking Directly At You, BillSwartwout.com, 01/15
  11. Red Sky at Night, Sailor’s Delight, IndianRiverBridge.com, 01/15
  12. Dangerous Passage, BillSwartwout.com, 01/16
  13. Tuckahoe River Railroad Bridge in Delmarva, USPictures.com, 01/17
  14. Photo Tip for Photographing Sunsets, BillSwartwout.com, 01/20
  15. I’ve Always had a Keen Interest in Astronomy, BillSwartwout.com, 01/23
  16. Catching the Sun in Her Arms, BillSwartwout.com, 01/23
  17. Having Fun at the Beach in Ocean City, MD, OceanCityBoardwalkHotesl.com, 01/25
  18. Finding Places to Stay in Ocean City, MD!, SouthBaltimore.com, 01/25
  19. Ocean City Twitter Account Is Now Verified, USPictures.com, 01/26
  20. Iconic Red Barn, USPictures.com, 01/28
Fenwick Island Dunes and Waves
Fenwick Island Dunes and Waves and Sea and Sand in the Afternoon Sun

February Articles

  1. This Crab Saw His Shadow, BillSwartwout.com, 02/03
  2. Starry Night at the Indian River Inlet Bridge, IndianRiverBridge.com, 0204
  3. Before Sunrise at the Indian River Bridge, IndianRiverBridge.com, 02/05
  4. Starry Night Over Fenwick Island Lighthouse, FenwickIslandLighthouse.com, 02/06 (first sale was 02/07)
  5. Stay on the Boardwalk in Ocean City, OCtheBeach.com, 02/09
  6. Fenwick Shoals in the Atlantic at Fenwick Island, FenwickIslandLighthouse.com, 02/09
  7. Should I Choose a Hotel or a Condo for Vacation? OCtheBeach.com, 02/09
  8. Artificial Intelligence Art Imagery, BillSwartwout.com, 02/10
  9. Indian River Bridge Cam at Delaware Seashore State Park, IndianRiverBridge.com, 02/14
  10. Indian River Inlet Bridge Gift Shop, IndianRiverBridge.com, 02/14
  11. Song for Sunrise over the Bridge at Indian River Inlet, IndianRiverBridge.com, 02/14
  12. Ocean City Gift Shop, OCtheBeach.com, 02/14
  13. About Dead Tree Pictures, DeadTreePictures.com, 02/16
  14. Ocean City Jigsaw Puzzles, OCtheBeach.com, 02/18
  15. New Website Created, aiArtImagery.com, 02/20
  16. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Art World, aiArtImagery.com, 02/21
  17. Right Time Right Place Photo Tip, BillSwartwout.com, 02/22
  18. Why Are Barns Painted Red? BillSwartwout.com, 02/23
  19. Free Shipping Now Available for Bill Swartwout Photography, USPictures.com, 02/23
  20. Visiting Myrtle Beach, SC? USPictures.com, 02/23
  21. Do You Have a Tote Bag for the Beach? OCtheBeach.com, 02/23
  22. Vacationing in Ocean City, Maryland, OceanCityBoardwalkHotels.com, 02/24
  23. Virtual Sisters Feline and Human, aiArtImagery.com, 02/27

March Articles

  1. Decaying Red Barns, BillSwartwout.com, 03/01 (Almost ready…)
  2. Vanishing Red Barns in America, aiArtImagery.com, 03/01
  3. Myrtle Beach Beach, Sand, Dunes, Ocean and Sky, USPictures.com, 03/02
  4. Watching the Sun Setting Under the Indian River Bridge, IndianRiverBridge.com, 03/03
  5. Pier Against the Storm, aiArtImagery.com, 03/09
  6. What’s Cooking in the Kitchen?, aiArtImagery.com, 03/09
  7. Fenwick Island Lighthouse on the Rocks, FenwickIslandLighthouse.com, 03/10
  8. Last Bridge into Ocean City, OCtheBeach.com, 03/10
  9. Double Trouble – a Two-Headed Rattlesnake, aiaARTimagery.com, 03/11
  10. OC Vacations on Record Pace for 2023, OceanCityBoardwalkHotels.com, 03/31

OK, so March did not make the cut. We were on an extended vacation and I “finally” realized that doing a daily article was distracting. I will pick this activity up once we return home and things get back to normal (whatever that may be).


Results

Metrics and more… TBD


Moonshadow Has a Place in Many Hearts

She also has a place in our home where we see her every day.

Moonshadow was one of the wild horses of Assateague Island in Maryland. Sadly, she was mortally injured by a hit-and-run motorist and was found dead on July 6, 2021. Her young foal, Moonbeam, was also hit but survived her injuries. This original painting has been framed and hangs in our home near the piano in a sunroom off of our living room. Everyone who has visited has complimented the painting. They are also saddened to hear the story behind behind her accident and subsequent death.

original painting of Moonshadow Forever Free framed and hanging in our home
Original painting of Moonshadow Forever Free by Abbie Shores – framed and hanging in our home.

A well known British artist, Isabella Francesca Abigail Shores, out of compassion, fell in love with the story of Moonshadow and her untimely demise. “Abbie” asked my permission to create a painting of Moonshadow based the photo I shot the last time I saw Moonshadow “alive and free” on Assateague Island. I applied in the affirmative because I knew it would be a wonderful tribute to this beautiful Assateague Pony (as these animals are affectionately called).

Moonshadow Forever Free painting by Abbie Shores
“Moonshadow Forever Free” painting by Abbie Shores

We now have the original painting by Abigail Shores in our home. However, you can purchase a high quality Giclee print and/or home decor items in Abbie’s online gallery at Fine Art America.

Abbie’s painting was modeled after my original photograph of Moonshadow and Moonbeam, a beautiful mother and child, that was shot only a few days before the tragic event. This is the last photograph I have of her and her foal.

Rest in Peace Moonshadow photograph by Bill Swartwout
“Rest in Peace Moonshadow” photograph by Bill Swartwout. The small horse in the background is Moonbeam, Moonshadow’s recently born foal.

The Assateague Ponies, as they are affectionately called, are actually feral wild horses who roam Assateague Island north of the Maryland/Virginia state line. Park officials and signage continuously remind visitors to slow down and always drive with caution along the Assateague Island National Seashore’s roadways. Visitors are advised to always be on the lookout for the wild horses and other wildlife that live on the island. Any accident inside the park, especially if an animal is involved, should be reported to park rangers at the main office or Visitor Center. Unfortunately, neither that caution nor protocol was adhered to in this tragic story.

Use the links below to purchase either a print of the original painting or of the original photograph and/or to see home decor items available with either image.

Click here for: A print of of Moonshadow by Abbie Shores.

Click here for: A photograph of Moonshadow and Moonbeam by Bill Swartwout.


Note please, that there is no “Misty of Chincoteague” here. The horses of Assateague Island are separated into two herds – “Misty” was representative of the Virginia herd. “Moonbeam” was in the Maryland herd.