My pet portraiture has begun an evolution. Dogs and cats are, without question, my very favorite subjects to paint. But I am less and less inclined to spend a week or more painstakingly rendering every single strand of fur in a detailed colored pencil pet portrait, although I can be persuaded to do so if the reference photo lends itself to that. Rather, I am increasingly drawn to the essence of the dog or cat spirit as it is embedded in a scene. I want to create portraits where the dog or cat is an element of a larger story. A face or paw sticking out from a patterned blanket or an alert silhouette backlit against a window.
A friend and former client posted a striking photo to social media that caught my eye, as photos often do. The image immediately spoke to me, and I took a chance. My mind began to envision the painting I would create from this photographic inspiration and knew that I ultimately would have to paint what I imagined. The most regal and aloof black and white cat stood, as cats often do, alert and completely still, partially hidden in a patch of garden flowers, emerging as if he grew there with the Stokes Aster cornflowers. The bright flowers emerged from the dull dark background creating the effect of a woven floral tapestry. Here is the reference photo for Tuxedo Cat in the Garden:
My idea was to begin with an acrylic underpainting in dark and varied shades. This was a fun part to develop. It could be loose and free since additional layers of paint would be placed on top. Here is that underpainting stage:
In the next two photos, you can see the marks I made with an oil pastel working out the placement of blooms in a pleasing composition. At this stage the blooms are loosely painted in fast-drying acrylic only as a foundation. It is still possible to make adjustments at this point when the final flowers and shadowed areas are painted in oil. I am trying out the composition knowing I can still adjust it as I go.
Strokes of oil paint against the dark create this stylized and whimsical portrait of Corney, the tuxedo cat in the garden. I love how it turned out and that it is exactly what I envisioned when I began. My chance paid off and when Corney’s mom saw it, she had to have it. I love it when that happens! Here is Corney and his forever depiction on canvas.
