I admit it – I am a cat person. I was brought up with multiple cats and I have been owned by cats most of my life. I’m also a portrait artist, but as I look back over my work, I realise that I have painted more cat portraits plus a few dog ones than all my people portraits. I am pleased to present here a walk-through of all the cats I have painted.
Mandy
Mandy was the beloved cat of my mother-in-law in England (I also married into a cat family). I painted this portrait in oils from a photograph as a birthday surprise for her. This caused my sister-in-law some consternation as someone else had commissioned a cat portrait for her mother at the same time. Luckily, that portrait turned out to be of her other cat. Although both were painted over 35 years ago, they are still hanging in pride of place on my mother-in-law’s living room wall.
Cat In An English Garden
This is not strictly a portrait, but rather a depiction of a garden with a cat in it. The photo was taken at the home of my ex-husband, when I was going through a pastel drawing phase and when we were still talking to each other. I recently retouched the work when I had to replace the cracked glass.
Peggy
Peggy was my mother’s cat who lived to a great age before wandering off somewhere to die. Again rendered with chalk pastels, and fixed up a few times as the chalk keeps flaking off, the picture is displayed next to my mother’s bed as a comfort to her. This portrait was created live when the cat was immobile on the ironing board with that bright covering.
Peeping I and II
These are whimsical portrayals of my cat, Po, who always liked to peep at me around corners or over the tops of chairs, etc. Unfortunately, these acrylic pieces got sold at a show when I really wanted to keep them.
Stir Fry and Cleo
My sister asked me to paint these acrylic portraits onto small wooden containers as stocking-fillers for her son and his partner one Christmas. Sadly, Stir Fry (what a name!) passed away not long afterwards, but Cleo is still much alive.
Felix and Molly
This husband and wife pair were Christmas gifts to my sister, painted in acrylics over a span of about two years. They feature her two adored cats who are now quite old but forever present on her wall.
