There’s something about studio cats. They always become legends. And so we mark the passing of Winnie. She came to us as a rescue, overweight, shy and with little function in her legs. She was sweet and nothing like her predecessors. Winnie’s health improved with the love and affection she received and she soon became Queen of the Studio. Winnie loved all the comings and goings of the students and seminar attendees. She soaked in all of the attention and knew exactly how to please. This rescue cat knew how to get along! Hands down, Facebook posts about Winnie got more likes than any other posts. That cat was a star! And when class wasn’t in session and it was just the few of us, she so missed the company and attention. She passed this week with the same grace and dignity that she lived. Anne
Here are some memories from her fans:
This morning I miss her. She isn’t here to greet me. I will miss taking care of her, feeding her, and loving her. Steph
When she left, she left an empty spot. We are missing her. Rachel
I remember the morning that Winnie and Ginger (the studio dog) teamed up to catch a mouse! Joan Newhouse
Winnie was the chubby brown bundle of love that greeted and entertained hundreds of people who passed through the doors of Cobalt Studios. For more than a decade, she walked on many backdrops, drank plenty of paint water, kept critters at bay, charmed visitors, staff and students and was a Cobalt Facebook star. She will be forever in many hearts. She was a sweetheart. Donna Wymore
“Winifred (fondly known to most as ‘Winnie’) was unequivocally a cat beyond all cat expectations of mine. Being more a “dog person”, I like cats just fine, but Winnie was the finest of felines I have had the pleasure to know and I would like to think she thought the same of me. May your trip over the Rainbow Bridge be paved with cozy velour & lots of mice. Kim Williamson
Rachel called me one summer and said “Amy, we have a problem!” You see every day I would come back from lunch a little early to pet Winnie. Eventually I didn’t even have to hunt her down. Turns out I had actually trained her so that at 12:50 she would walk around and look for me. Rachel said for 10 min she would meow and wonder around looking for me. Amy Shimko
Winnie was the ultimate shop custodian. She greeted you; kept you company while painting, checked on your work and purred her approval of your presence. She will be missed. Jenny Knott
This is so heartbreaking, I am so sorry. She was an integral part of my time at Cobalt. My favorite memories of her involve her sitting on the tables and playing with pencils and trying to draw as we did our own drawings. We will all miss Winnie. Amanda Gimbel
Winnie was sassafras when I first met her. Strong, independent, cuddly when you needed it. A quiet, confident presence in the shop. So glad she learned to love me and welcome me as the years went on. I will miss you greatly. Sweet memories: time she stepped in paint and left a paw print on the drop, when she killed a mouse and we had to clean blood off the drop, when she climbed on the table and watched me work. Jannetta Britt
I believe that Winnie was the first to greet us on our first visit to Cobalt in 2017. She was a great ambassador for the arts – and an outstanding feline. My heart goes out to everyone mourning her loss. Valerie Hendrix Yacik
Winnie was there to welcome me on my first visit 11 years ago. Somewhere I have a photo of her lounging in the middle of my perspective project, floating in an Escher landscape of planes and shadows. That cat was friendly with more scenics than I am, I think, and I’ve been really working on it. I think she had a special intuition, about when to keep company, when to distract, and when to demand attention. Charges take note: Winnie the cat had things to teach us. Valerie Light
I am blessed to have known her plushy, quirky, nappy self. By nappy I mean she loved naps. Morgan McCarthy
Oh sweet Winnie, you were one of the best cats I’ve ever known! RIP darling. You kept my company in the shop during the snow storm while everyone else was at USITT. You we great company during long lonely hours of painting. Your bucket drinking made me laugh and you were always forgiven for erasing my drawings! Shayna Parker
Ode to dear Winnie,
Your presence will be missed by many it seems.
You have brightened our days, our art and our dreams.
Your paw prints leave a trail to heaven above.
You will be remembered, the cat we all love. Lisa Giovannetti
Winnie embodied a flavor and attitude of mischief and whimsy that could not be as well contained by any other creature. She has been a presence of comfort and welcome that infused the last decade of my Cobalt experience. Her warmth will be missed while her presence will live on. RIP Winnie. Joe Rial
Oh, Winnie, I always felt chosen by you. We would congregate in the morning and it was always my lap you came to before starting our work. You were beautiful and full of love. Thank you for being the best studio supervisor any painter could have. It was a rite of passage to have a charcoal erased by you. You loved all and all loved you. We shall erect a carved foam statue in your honor! Tony Crawford
What a great life you had! So much joy and memories for all of us! Your spirit will be everywhere- teach the new kitty how to sit on the art work! Patricia Brook
So sorry to hear about Winnie! I will always think fondly on her sitting on my sketchbook waiting to be petted. She will be greatly missed. Jamie Lee Clausius
Oh Winnie dear, how loved you were by our whole group. Although you would frequently erase my charcoal drawings with your tail, your snuggles and tiny paw prints in drops will always be part of my Cobalt memories. Rest in Peace, my furry friend. Ashley Donnert
Winnie, will be missed. She was fortunate to have had such love surrounding her. Stephen Jones
- Winnie, you will be missed. You never failed to drag your furry chub pouch all over my charcoal drawing until you found the perfect square to lay in on my beautifully snapped grid. I hope you have all the brown paper balls in heaven. Jennifer Rose L. Cole
So sad to see this, I’m really glad I got to meet her Victoria Hood
At the end of summer scene painting, my whole family came to pick me up because we were continuing on to vacation. I was so excited to show them the house and the studio, but Winnie was the real star of the show. She will be missed. Emily Russoniello
Such a wonderful supervisor in the shop—she will be fondly remembered! Such a huge part of so many Cobalt experiences! Ashley Bellet
Sorry to hear, we’ll miss you Winnie. Kris Reifer
Hugs to everyone at Cobalt Studios Lori Koeller-Sapp
Oh no, how she will be missed! Leslie Shank
Winnie Sabrina Reed
R.I.P Winnie Jessica Le
We will miss you Winifred! Lori Koeller-Sapp
Sorry for your loss. Sai Thaan
Today we said goodbye to Winnie. Rest in peace, my friend. Love you with all my heart. #bestshopcatever Kendall Davila
Winnie and I had an understanding; she could claim any sweatshirt I left around the studio as a bed as long as she joined me every so often for a little cuddle My Winster, my Winter Garden, this year at Cobalt won’t quite be the same without you. @ Cobalt Studios, Inc. Shiloah Grace Frederick
Goodnight sweet girl. Thanks for being our surrogate kitty while we were at Cobalt. Sam Bodnar
Rest easy, Sweet girl We love you so much. Danika Yacik
Today our most wonderful shop cat Winnie passed away.You were so loved and will be so missed. Hollace Francy
Goodbye, Winnie, great comforter of scenics! You’ll always be in our hearts. Emily Barnhill
Thinking of our sweet Winnie today. Living and learning @cobaltstudiosbackdrops is hard work but Win did her best every day to calm our nerves, guard our hoodies, and keep us laughing with her antics. She might be the best employee they’ve ever hand and will be terribly missed. RIP Winnifred. Terra Writz
Oh, she was the best!! I can’t imagine that place without her! Melissa Nalbach