Kurt, colored

Kurt the cat

Kurt has been watercolored and sent to his new home.  As befitting his fat and surly personality, it took him five days to arrive, even though posted with priority mail.  I think I got the eyes squinty enough to indicate his peevishness.  The fatness is not so apparent since he is laying down, but I bet he parks himself in that chair for extended periods of time.

The client was pleased and says he has one more cat for me to do.  I’ll have to wait for his pictures though, as Digi is said to be photo-phobic.

Kurt the cat

Pencil-up of Kurt

Kurt, inked

After I sent Peiper the dog, the owners came back and wanted a portrait of Kurt the cat. Evidently, Kurt the cat is fat and surly, so I will have to try and capture that. It’s all in the eyes, I think.  They need to be a bit squinty.  After our own crabby cat Perkins, I know that look of perpetual irritation quite well.  LOL

This is also a bit different in that I will have some background in it.  Rather than just a head shot, I will be adding the chair that Kurt is sitting in in order to imply his fatness.  So far, so good.

Gizmo done

Gizmo

I finished Gizmo’s watercolor portrait, and I must say, I like it much better than the acrylic one.  I was able to be much more delicate in depicting him – and he was a very delicate little guy.  I think for portraiture (both pet and architectural) that pen and ink with the watercolor or pastel overlay is much more suited to my style.  I really need to take an acrylic class and get a better idea of technique.

Redoing Gizmo’s portrait

Pencil up

I wasn’t ever really happy with the acrylic portrait of Gizmo the cat, so I decided to try it again with the pen and watercolors.  Here are the pencil drawing and the inked sketch.

So far, I am pleased.  I feel I have so much more control with the pen and watercolors.  Maybe it is the lazy way out, but I haven’t done a pet portrait since the two of my friend’s horses last summer and I wanted to try something again.  I’ll wait to finish the inking if I need to until after the watercolors.  I don’t want it to get too dark as he was a lighter orange tabby.

Inked

Gizmo 2

Ginger cat

This is much better, isn’t it.  As my daughter’s cat, I am very familiar with him and, in some ways, that makes it harder.  I want to see the cat I know emerge from the canvas.  His expression is much more defined now and some personality is starting to come through.  He basically is a happy little guy, though somewhat the chicken where bravery is concerned.  Hence the slightly worried face.

I wasn’t concerned about the preliminary being over bright.  I softened the orange, added the brown stripes and highlights, and  textured the fur.

There will be a few more changes after I let it sit for a bit.  I need to tone down the orange in the left side of his face, add shadows and a few whiskers, and deepen the colors in  his eyes.  I am pleased so far.