SKYLAR the Siberian Cat
12” x 12” oil on board
Before I start I always think ‘What’s important to this picture’?
Is it: softness and subtlety, intensity, drama, playful, ridiculous, relaxed, pretty, bold, inquiring. Is it about the silhouette, the light and shade, the focal point, the frame within a frame, the background.
It is my job, as the artist, to make that feeling come across to the viewer- so it needs careful consideration before I begin. The colour of the underpainting and the choice of brush shape and how free the marks are all play a part in portraying these characteristics.
With this one I felt that I had to establish the light and shade early on- I needed to make this painting soft yet intense - to make you think - ‘I wonder what she’s looking at?’ I started with this lovely two tone ‘taupe’ colour for the underpainting so that I kept the idea of the light and the shade. I really love the semi-circular arc of the whiskers. If you would like to see the whiskers being painted in; watch here…https://youtu.be/BmL87mn4MKY.