Cat's Eye Demo Completed

I've been working on the cat's eye demonstration today, I have a few tweaks to make on the demo and then I can show you.

Here is the completed eye.

Tabby Cat Eye Study Number 3

To bid click here

The third ACEO tabby cat eye study.

The birds are back in town, at least they're back in the garden. After a quiet summer the feeders are starting to get busy.
While sitting at my drawing board this morning I twice looked up and saw a Heron looking back. It was on the edge of the small pond looking for breakfast I imagine. We have a couple of large golden orf in that pond but fortunately there are still plenty of water lilly leaves to hide under. After the heron left there was a pheasant wandering about which sparked a barking frenzy in the dogs, (they had decided the heron looked to big to mess with). Then a flock of long tailed tits passed through.

Sleeping Tabby on Fisher Paper

Another ACEO on Fisher paper, this time a sleeping cat.

Book of the Blog

Just over two weeks ago I mentioned I had used blog2print to create a book of my posts from January 2008 to date (06/10/09). The book arrived today and the quality is excellent.

The book is properly bound, the paper quality is excellent and my images have reproduced really well considering they are only uploaded at 72dpi.

The title is printed on the spine and there is a picture on the back cover.

Delivery was almost 2 weeks faster than the estimate and the book was really well packaged.

I need to add that I have absolutely no affiliation with blog2print, I am just a very satisfied customer. I am going to plan future posts with the aim of having a book printed each year, and I am going to have my earlier posts printed so that I have a permanent record of my blog to show people who wouldn't see it on the internet.

link : blog2print

I would also add please make sure you read the small print if you are thinking of using the site.

Second Tabby cat eye on Fisher Paper

To bid click here.

My first tabby cat eye was successful so I decided to do another one. his is also 2.5 x 3.5 on Fisher paper.

Another Tabby Cat on Fisher paper: Finished

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I was going to paint a background but then decided that the colour of the paper complimented him quite nicely.
Final size 6 x 8, I added watercolour as an under painting in places, and acrylic as highlights in places. For the short fur I let the paper show through as it ties it all together.

I am finding the Fisher paper very versatile, it takes watercolour with no problems even

wet(ish) in wet.

Larger Tabby Cat on Fisher Paper

Coloured Pencil and watercolour on Fisher paper, 5 x 7. The watercolour worked really well on the paper, probably better than acrylic.

Another Tabby cat study on Fisher Paper

This is another aceo but I think I'm ready to go back to larger pieces now.

Study of a Tabby Cat's Eye on Fisher Paper

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Another ACEO, this time I used Fisher paper and was really happy with the result, especially as I found I was able to get my usual effect with far less layers.
I decided to make the highlight into a bird and call it 'I Spy a Bird'

Creating a Book of my Blog

'Sunny Spot'

I created another ACEO today, coloured pencil and acrylic on Arches.

The process was continually interrupted as I made frequent trips into the very wet garden with Cody. Why is it that on nice dry days she knows why she has gone out, yet when it is pouring down she pretends that I've taken her out to look in the ponds, visit the bird feeders, have a stroll on the patio etc. As soon as I suggest we go back inside she assumes the pained expression of a puppy desperate to go.

One of my cyber friends pointed me in the direction of a website where you can transform your blog into a book.

It's as easy as making a couple of clicks. I was very impressed when I had a go, so impressed I've ordered the book I created. I decided to include posts from 01/01/2008 to date. I thought it would be something to show people when they ask me how I work. The actual book will take up to a month to arrive, but I'll let you know what the quality is like when I actually see it.

Have a go, there is no committment to buy:-

www.blog2print.com

Cougar, Puma ACEO

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Another small one, this time a Puma, coloured pencil and watercolour on Arches.

This is the reason for time spent on art being a little restricted at present, meet Cody.

Cat on Ampersand Pastelbord

This is one of our friends Norwegian Forest Cats.

I took the photograph a couple of years ago and have been meaning to paint him ever since.

I'm using the sand coloured Ampersand Pastelbord, 11 x 14.

The background has an underlayer of Caran D'Ache Neocolor ll, it is indigo blue rather than black, the scan is not quite correct colour wise.

Tiger ACEO

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I seem to be stuck in the small mode at present, it has a lot to do with the newest member of the family, Cody.

Cody is a huge character in a smal body with plenty of energy and sharp puppy teeth. I'm sure Roxie was trying to work out how to put her in her sleeping cage and fasten the lock today.

This is my latest ACEO, with the original title of 'Tiger'

More Graphite Cat

Progress is slow but I'm slowly building up the layers. You'll notice the ear is still causing me problems, I know how I want to draw it, but my pencils refuse to behave.

Black Cat ACEO

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Another small one, again ACE size 2.5 x 3.5 on black paper.

This is a study for a larger cat I want to do using this technique.

ACEO Cat on Blue Pastel Paper

'Wish Upon a Star'

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I've done almost no art this last week due to a four footed addition to the family, I'll share some photographs soon.

I did have time to do this ACEO, 2.5 x 3.5, coloured pencil and watercolour on blue pastel paper.

Another Mixed Media Cat

I'm using this tabby cat to do another demo on painting cats eyes. I decided to put some fur in first round the eye to give it a setting.

As usual watercolour and colour pencil on hot press watercolour paper.

Book review: Natural History Painting with the Eden Project

I already own the two Botanical art books based round the Eden Project and am impressed with them, so when I spotted this new title I couldn't resist buying it.

Book Details

Natural History Painting with the Eden Project by Rosie Martin and Merial Thurstan

Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: Batsford (3 Aug 2009)

One of the things I liked about the other books was the quality of the illustrations and again in this book they were very nice.

The emphasis is on pencil drawing and watercolour and the book covers each part of the painting process.

The book is divided into 15 chapters including 'Setting Up' which discusses materials and includes an exercise in drawing scales accompanied by some excellent drawings.

There is a chapter on colour theory which highlights colour mixing and has some examples of what can be achieved using limited colours.

As well as chapters on 'Bugs', 'Birds' and 'Sea Life'there are more unusual chapters on'Bones', Íridescence' and "Display and Mimicry'

I was a little disappointed there is very little on mammals but the rest of the content makes up for it.

I think the book will appeal to both beginners and more advanced artists as it is sufficiently different from anything else available at present.

The 2009 Exhibition of the Society of Feline Artists

'Moody Blue'

On Tuesday I travelled to London to attend the 2009 Society of Feline Artists Exhibition held at the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery.

I had met up with my friend, fellow artist Katherine Tyrrell. Katherine has written an exhibition review on her blog 'Making a Mark'

My paintings were in the window and the first thing that I noticed was that 'Moody Blue' had already sold, in advance of the official opening.

The opening was exceedingly well attended and as in past years opened by the patron of the Society, David Grant, well known celebrity Vet.

As always the standard was high and the work diverse. You can see lots of photographs of the event on the Society Blog. These can be viewed as a slide show or photo album.

My personal favourite was 'Geoffrey's Cat' by Natalie Mascall, not surprisingly it was already sold.

For anyone interested in feline art the exhibition is well worth a visit, it runs until 18/09/09 and the gallery is open until 7.30pm Monday to Saturday.

I also discovered that The Cat magazine had used an image of 'Moody Blue' to promote the exhibition. The Cat magazine is the official supporter magazine of Cats Protection. That was the finishing touch to a very pleasant afternoon.

Tabby Cat in Graphite

Although I took a small set of watercolours to Canada I spent most of my time glued to my camera. By the time we got back to the room in the evenings I was ready for my art fix so I started a tabby cat in graphite.

This is about12 x 10 on Arches HP watercolour paper.

I'm going to the Private View for the SOFA Exhibition at the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery tomorrow. If any of you are going to be there please come and say hello.