Monochrome Cat

I've decided to try and be early completing my images for this years Society of Feline Artists exhibition.
I'm drawing this one using a Van Dyck Brown polychromos coloured pencil which is slightly warmer than sepia.
The image will be 16 x 12 and I'm using an Arches board which I'm finding good to work on.

Next week I'll have a stand at Harrogate Spring Flower Show so keep your fingers crossed that the weather is better than it was last year.

Work in Progress A Red Maine Coon - Stage 1

I've decided to do a work in progress in a bit more detail, highlighting some of the stages I go through to create a portrait. This will be a fairly large mixed media work. There will be no background other than a shadow to ground the cat so once I've drawn the outline and main fur clumps on my paper I start to select the colours.
I'm working on Arches hot pressed watercolour paper.

1. Selecting the Colours
I make a fairly quick initial selection of pencil colours I think I can see in the cat and draw a small square of each on the edge of my paper. I remove this edge from the finished portrait but it helps me to see how the colours work on my support.

2. I compare my selected colours with the reference and discard any that don't work.
Tip - For a red cat I discard any pencils that tend to look yellowish as they end up giving the orange/red fur a greenish tint.

3. I select the colours for the eye and  complete it before moving onto the surrounding areas of fur.

4. If you look at the tail you can see I'm putting down a base of watercolour before adding the coloured pencil.

Two New Cat Images

'Family Portrait'
Mixed Media on Board, 11.5 x 14 inches

'Playtime'
Mixed media on colourfix paper, 11 x 17 inches

I've managed to complete my first two cat images for 2012. Both are painted using mixed media, Playtime is coloured pencil and acrylic, Family Portrait is coloured pencil and pastel, with a pan pastel background.

Blue Point Siamese in Coloured Pencil and Pan Pastel

The last image is now completed and ready for me to print in the morning so that it will be available at the Supreme.
The image size is 6 x 8 and it will be mounted/matted in white, the mounted/matted size will be 10 x 12.
The prints will be giclee, signed by me in pencil and limited to 350 worldwide.
Anyone interested in a print but not going to the Supreme can email me for details. The print will be available from my website once I have time to add it.

Siamese Cat - Part 3

I've added some blue pan pastel to the background but it still needs more work.

As for the cat I'm getting to the end, one more leg and foot then some little touches and hopefully it will be finished.

Poppy the Tabby Cat

'Poppy'
5 x 7 inches, to bid click here

This is the original drawing of Poppy that I used when creating my guide to drawing a tabby cat in coloured pencil. The drawing is coloured pencil on watercolour paper and is mounted/matted in white and backed.

Siamese Cat Continued

I've continued to work on the siamese. For the white in the fur I've started with an under layer of neocolor II in white using a damp brush and blending it into the paper. I can then add the coloured pencil on top.

Maine Coon Cat in Mixed Media

'Black and Gold'
9 x 7 inches, mixed media on black pastel paper
To bid click here.

The birds have slowly been returning to the garden feeders since we arrived back from holiday. There are more coal tits about than usual and they are one of my favourite birds so I'm spending a lot of time looking out of the patio doors.

This little hedgehog has also been a regular visitor over the last few days. I just hope it will have enough fat reserves to hibernate, it is really small for this time of year.

Blue Point Siamese

This is a blue point siamese. coloured pencil on a buff coloured stonehenge paper.
I need to darken the ear quite a lot yet to contrast with the body fur.

Almost finished, just a few tweaks needed.

I have lost a little around the edges by adjusting to lose the background tone in photoshop, I'll post a corrected image tomorrow.

Step by Step Guide to Drawing a Tabby Cat Available Now

Sample Page

My step-by-step guide is now available, I will be adding a buy it now button on the sidebar and it will be available from my website.
The booklet consists of 16 A5 pages (approx 5.75 x 8.25 inches) printed on a heavy bright white printer paper.
For the colours used I have included a pencil comparison chart for Polychromos and Prismacolor pencils. I have not always found an exact colour match but have suggested a similar colour.
Anyone who purchases the guide can email me for help if they get stuck.
I will also be offering prints of Poppy at a reduced price for anyone buying the guide.
The cost of the booklet will be £5.00 plus £1.50 post and packing.

I'm ready to start drawing my next subject. I'm thinking it will be a tri colour Rough Collie dog. That will include canine features and black, tan and white long hair so will be quite different to the tabby cat.

Poppy the Cat Continued

This is where I'm up to with Poppy the cat, just about to start on the ears.

Step-by-Step Continued

Here's a sneak peak of a page from my forthcoming step-by-step.
I'm drawing Poppy the cat using Polychromos pencils but I will supply a list of Prismacolor pencil colours that can be used instead for people who prefer to use that brand.

Tuxedo Cat in Coloured Pencil and Acrylic

ACEO size 2.5 x 3.5

To bid click here.

A small one today done in coloured pencil and acrylic on Stonehenge paper. I really enjoyed working on something small and uncomplicated for a change.

Cat on Drafting Film

'In Deep'

Acrylic and Coloured Pencil on drafting film, approx 7.75 x 6 inches

The new tiger is making slow progress because I'm having trouble with my shoulder. This makes standing at my easel for long periods with my arm raised rather painful.
So I revisited drafting film and used coloured pencil and acrylic. I haven't used drafting film for a while and found the process enjoyable.
But tomorrow I need to get back to the tiger.

Another Tabby Cat in Coloured Pencil

SOLD

Another small tabby cat. This one is 5 x 4 coloured pencil and acrylic on stonehenge paper.
I've started a large acrylic and these small pictures give me a break from the intense concentration. I like the lighting on this one so I'm thinking of doing a larger version.

Black Cat ACEO

'Colours of Black'

To bid click here.

I decided it was about time I created another ACEO.

I had fun with this one using various pink, blue and purple coloured pencils to create the black fur.

Ragdoll Cat in Coloured Pencil Continued

I've started adding the dark background which makes the pale fur really stand out.

I've spent time over the last couple of days getting my garden in shape and I can tell you it's been fighting back. The weeds resist all attempts to remove them while the plants leap out if you look at them and then lie gasping on the surface.
I cleaned the small pond and found I have gained two fish which I've never seen before and have no idea what they are. They are the shape of an orf but black with a little white on the head and slightly barred across the back, about 3 inches long. The only fish I've ever put in that pond are Blue and Golden Orf, Goldfish, Sarasa Comets and long ago I had a couple of Dace.
I think Rob has lost his Sturgeon which lived in the big pond to the Heron, I haven't seen it for a few days and I have seen the Heron visiting in the early mornings.

I'll try to photograph my mystery fish and maybe someone can enlighten me as to what they are. They are much more timid than the other fish though.

Progress is Slow

I am still printing so drawing has been almost non existent, however I am slowly going in the right direction with the tiger.
I wanted an image to put on my 'About Me' brochure for Patchings so I got my son to take a hand rather than a head shot.

I've also been doing a stock take today and have decided to offer a couple of my original cats for sale.
'Black and Gold', to bid click here.

9 x 7 inches coloured pencil on black colourfix paper.

Shades of Black

'Shades of Black'

To bid click here.

You might remember I created an ACEO using this image a few months ago. I always had the intention of doing it larger.
This is coloured pencil on black Stonehenge paper, 10 x 8.
I enjoyed working an black as I work much faster, less layering and a much looser finish. The scan doesn't really show it but I used several blues, pinks and purple to create the black.