If you've ever tried to get some work done with a cat nearby, you probably know that your plans aren't always theirs. Especially when they decide it's time for some attention!
Meet Steven, my beautiful tortie girl and current furry studio companion.
And yes, you read that correctly. Steven is a girl. My boyfriend named her after Steve-O from Jackass because she was such a wild child when she was tiny, and everyone thought she was a boy. By the time they figured out otherwise, the name had stuck.
And honestly? It suits her perfectly.
She's still very much a wild child, although at nine or ten years old, she's finally starting to slow down a little.
Steven, a tortoiseshell cat with green eyes and black-and-orange fur, lounges comfortably against colorful pink floral pillows.
A Typical Day with Steven
Steven has a pretty familiar routine when she decides to visit me in the studio.
She'll wander in, give a little meow to announce her arrival, and head straight for my chair, where she gives it a few head bumps. Naturally, I stop whatever I'm doing and give her some pettins. Now, whether those pettings are enough is entirely up to Steven.
Sometimes she's satisfied and wanders back out. Other times, she'll make her way to the twin bed I have tucked into one corner of my studio and settle in for a nap. Or she'll jump onto my desk, find a comfortable spot, and keep me company while I work. She also loves sitting in the window in front of my desk, watching whatever happens to be going on outside.
But if she's decided she hasn't received nearly enough attention?
Well, that's when things get interesting.
She'll walk right across my laptop while I'm trying to use it, get directly in my face, and make it perfectly clear that whatever I'm working on can wait.
Apparently, pettins are a higher priority than running a creative business.
Luckily, when I'm actually making art, she's a little more respectful of my workspace. To her credit, she rarely bothers my supplies or makes a mess. Unless, of course, I've made the mistake of using a pen or paintbrush to play with her first.
Then all bets are off!
Most of the time, though, she's perfectly content to sit or sleep nearby while I paint, collage, or work on whatever creative project has captured my attention.
Steven, a fluffy tortoiseshell cat, rests on colorful collage papers in a mixed media art studio, surrounded by paintbrushes, scissors, and creative supplies.
Like Mother, Like Daughter... Sort Of!
The funny thing about Steven being my studio companion is that she actually inherited the position from her momma, Helen. And while the two of them are incredibly similar in some ways, they couldn't be more different in others.
Momma Helen was my beautiful orange girl, and the second love of my life, right after my beloved dog Coco.
She was such a special cat.
Helen loved spending time with me at my art table. She'd sit or stretch out right on the table while I worked, occasionally playing with something I was using. But most of the time, she simply wanted to be near me.
She'd even fall asleep right there among my papers, pens, and whatever artwork I happened to be working on.
I've got some wonderful photographs of her sprawled across my artwork, sitting beside me while I worked, and even sleeping with her paws wrapped around one of my pens.
Apparently, creative supervision is exhausting work!
Close-up portrait of Momma Helen, an orange cat with golden-green eyes, fluffy fur, and long white whiskers, looking directly at the camera.
Following in Momma's Paw Prints
Sadly, Momma Helen never got to see our new home. She was with me through the Holiday Farm fire and while we were living in our fifth wheel during the rebuild, but she passed away before the house was finished.
And that's when Steven stepped right into her momma's paw prints.
Honestly, I believe that if Helen hadn't already claimed her place as my studio companion, Steven would have been there all along. Steven simply took over where her momma left off, keeping me company in the fifth wheel and eventually settling into our new home with me.
And while the surroundings have changed, one thing hasn't.
I still have a furry little companion who likes to be right there with me while I create.
She sits on my desk, sleeps among my things, and keeps me company while I work, just like Helen used to.
But the similarities don't stop there.
Every night, Helen used to sleep curled up on the left side of my pillow. She was the perfect little sleeping companion. She'd settle into her spot and simply sleep. Now Steven sleeps in that exact same place. Although her interpretation of a peaceful night's sleep is a little different from her momma's!
Sometimes she curls up nicely beside me. Other times, she's pressed against the top of my head, walking back and forth across my pillow, or strolling right over me. And every once in a while, she'll reach out and paw at my face while I'm sleeping.
Thanks, Steven.
It's funny how two cats can share so many of the same habits and favorite places while having such different personalities.
Helen was generally content just being close to me.
Steven enjoys being close, too, but she's also quite happy to remind me when she thinks I should be paying more attention to her.
My Favorite Kind of Company
Looking through photographs of both girls recently brought back so many wonderful memories.
There was Helen, stretched out across my drawings, sleeping on my table, and keeping me company while I created. And then there was Steven, sitting among my paints and papers, curled up on my desk, or making herself comfortable right beside my laptop.
And you know what's funny? I even have photographs of both girls sound asleep on the exact same cutting mat on my desk!
Different cats, different personalities, but so many familiar little moments.
I love that these photographs capture a part of my creative life that doesn't always make it into my finished artwork or tutorial videos.
The little meows, the head bumps, the unexpected interruptions, and the quiet company while I work all remind me to enjoy life as it comes, breathe in those little moments of joy, and cherish the unexpected moments of connection.
Helen will always hold a very special place in my heart, and I love that her daughter has made so many of those same places her own.
These days, when Steven wanders into my studio and gives me that familiar little meow, I never know whether she's stopping by for a quick visit, settling in for a nap, or demanding my undivided attention.
But my heart is always happy to see her.
My fluffy tortoiseshell cat named Steven naps in the sunshine on a creative workspace desk, surrounded by papers and art supplies.
Keep Creating
And if you happen to have a furry studio companion of your own, I'd love to hear about them. Do they quietly keep you company, or do they insist on being right in the middle of everything?
Hi, I’m Misty
Mixed media artist, creative guide, and passionate believer in the power of fearless self-expression. After years of playing small and settling for a life that didn’t feel like mine, I chose to rewrite my story through art — and I’ve never looked back.
Now, I help women just like you break free from perfectionism and self-doubt so you can reconnect with your creative voice and boldly explore what lights you up. Whether you’re picking up a paintbrush for the first time or returning to art after years away, my mission is to help you step bravely into your own magic — one joyful, messy layer at a time.
Let’s create a life (and art) you absolutely adore. 💙
If you’d like to explore mixed media with me, explore ways we can work together here.