A Man and A Cat is an 8” X 10” 32-page children’s picture book about the growing friendship between two unique individuals: a lonely old man with a terminal disease, and a quirky orange stray cat. The story will focus on the three themes throughout the story, forming a close friendship, showing affection in a nontraditional way, and grieving after the loss of a loved one. Through limited text and illustrations made with bold traditionally inked line work, collage- based digital painting and soft looking ink and charcoal texture, A Man and A Cat will visually show how the two’s bond becomes deeper as they get to know one another while the man’s terminal illness is progressing.
A Man and A Cat is an imitate story which strongly relies on the emotional impact of the narrative and characters. The setting for the book reflects the personal atmosphere of the story. The backgrounds made for A Man and A Cat has an old timey almost relic feel to it. The couch they sit on together is worn out and the mugs they drink beverages from are cracked to the point of breaking. The cracked mugs and the worn couch are the objects that stay with the man and the cat as they become friends and what bring the two together every day.
At the end of A Man and A Cat it is implied the man succumbs to his disease and passes away. The cat is saddened but knows that even though the man is gone, their special bond will always be present through the memories they shared together. The story is inspired by my personal experience of seeing the close friendship my late father had with his own cat, Angel, while he was going through his own terminal disease.