Cats Are Cool & So Are Irises:

katsarecool · #1 03-20-2007, 12:19 PM

Here is a kitten I did a few weeks ago. It was done on Strathmore watercolor paper 140lb with Derwent watercolor pencils wetted down and painted. A bit of Derwent Inktense in here as well. And darn it that yellowish color furr is real but the painting doesn't look so yellow in person. Darn. I hope you like it! I had fun doing it. Lately I have been painting cats and irises; watercolors only. Two of my favorite subjects. I will add the irises as soon as I get them unbuckled and scanned. LOL

Ceci · #2 03-20-2007, 03:56 PM

I like it, mucho, mucho, mucho !!!
Ceci

**painterbear** · #3 03-20-2007, 04:24 PM

This is terrific. I like the way he is staring right at the view with those liquid yellow-green eyes. I also like how you've blended his dark belly fur with the top of the surface he is sitting on.

I admire anyone who can get this kind of effect from using watercolor pencils. I've tried a couple of times, but it just didn't work out for me.

Sylvia

The Art Corner · #4 03-20-2007, 06:55 PM

Here Kitty Kitty. Looks so cute & fluffy. I like the invisible irises too. LOL

FriendCarol · #5 03-20-2007, 07:10 PM

Love it -- admire the way you get a cat to sit still for you, too!

When I had cats, if I looked at them they always came over to sit on me.

Hmm... I was going to do that Merit thing, but this subforum doesn't have the buttons yet. Would have been my first ever try with the Merit thing, too. Oh, well, another time. If we can get together again, bring your w/c pencils (and the Inktense), and I'll show you mine. Glad you've started working on w/c paper -- makes a big difference, doesn't it?

mgthorvaldsen · #6 03-20-2007, 08:00 PM

Hi! nancy, Nicely done and such body to the rich color on your tabby, wintercoat for sure. Look foward to seeing the irises.

laudesan · #7 03-20-2007, 08:08 PM

I love cats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yep they are cool

Your painting is absolutely beautiful!!!

katsarecool · #8 03-20-2007, 08:46 PM

Thank you all so much! I feel like I have improved as an artist greatly since joining WC. The Learning Zone and all the WIPs have been marvelous along with the advice about what supplies to buy. Yes, Carol this watercolor paper is awesome. I hope we can get together before too much longer for some RT painting sessions; which would be a first for me.

About that kitten; the reference was taken from a calendar. So I can't post it.

Irises coming soon I promise. But in the meantime, I found a delightful cabin I am working on; the reference came from the library here. It is mostly Van Gogh watercolors but in order to post it in the WC Plus I added some Inktense. I just love these watercolor pencils!

Oh and Carol thanks for wanting to give me Merit. I appreciate the thought!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

**pasta** · #9 03-20-2007, 09:40 PM

Nancy,
This is wonderful -- Linda in Texas just sent me a bunch of watercolor pencils and looking at this makes me understand what they can do. Beautiful!
Tina

katsarecool · #10 03-20-2007, 09:52 PM

Thank you Tina! I can hardly wait to see what you do with them. Where is Linda? I have not seen her on her in a long time. Please tell her hello for me!

katsarecool · #11 03-20-2007, 10:05 PM

I used the Strathmore 140lb paper 9x11 and cut them in half for each of the iris watercolors. Van Gogh wc with a dash of Inktense tossed in for good measure. I love doing the spattering technique. Perhaps I got carried away. The reference photos came from an iris catalogue; an old one I had around here. When my iries bloom I can photograph them and use my own stuff.

ntali · #12 03-22-2007, 07:15 AM

Your painting of the kitten is just wonderful.Your irises are great too.In the first one the colorful background is a bit distracting,should be more subdued IMO.

"Kats are people too and Black Cats rule!" Amen to that!
Our black girl is the most adored among the four.

Paulafv · #13 03-22-2007, 09:22 AM

Good cat painting. Like the eyes and comp.

FriendCarol · #14 03-22-2007, 09:43 AM

Hmmm. Not sure if the second or third iris painting is my favorite.

I love the analogous palette and delicacy of the detail in the second; the third seems not quite finished. Perhaps a few light gray shadows at the ruffly edges of all that white would make the white more 'precious.' (Have you read "Ruskin's Last Words?"

)

katsarecool · #15 03-22-2007, 11:06 AM

Thank you for the compliments and the tips. I agree! Ntali, so you have a black cat too! Attitude, it is all in their attitudes. LOL

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