Ari Cat Life Sketches

Ari cat sketches from life 3" x 5"

Winsor & Newton Watercolour Markers

Pocket Moleskine accordion fold journal

I almost didn't even draw today, the cold came back and I felt completely drug out. But my beautiful fluffy muse came and posed right in front of me in compact folded position, all but one foot tucked neatly under him. I had to sketch my beautiful Ari. He moved into the top position twice, which was very good for getting his chest and one visible paw.

Love my Ari cat. The markers are as good as any brush tip pen for capturing his gestures and I do love how it looks when I break the line to give his fur texture. Also always loved the way his knees puff when he lays down like that, sometimes sticking up higher than the middle of his back.

Day 18 in 30 in 30 Bobcat Looking Up

Bobcat Looking Up 9" x 12"

Pastel on paper

Photo reference by stalksthedawn on WetCanvas.com, my favorite source for photo references with permission. Stalksthedawn has done many wonderful big cat photos and must have lived at the zoo for a while to get them, great photos. 

This is the latest in my 2015 Cat Study Project. I'm looking to do more cats, better anatomy, more active poses, putting cats into their environment whether that's my bed or the great wilderness. I have a nice little pen sketch of Ari done from life to post later but might fill those pages in my pocket Moleskine before taking a photo and posting. How I warmed up this morning was stare at the cat and draw him, then proceed to a much wilder cat.

Second art of the day, sketches, not sure if this counts to make up 30 paintings in 30 days but they are fun sketches from life! Double page spread of little Ari!

Life sketches of my cat in pen

Bit of a breakthrough because I don't usually do double page spreads in my journals. I just don't, but this time it happened with the first sketch. I didn't want to vignette him at the hip so I kept going and put in the whole cat. From there it was just laying out to use the rest of the space well. He had a lazy easy day. That's a big part of his job, laying around being drawn because he's beautiful.