Cat painting # 8, The Eyeball

This painting features Nikko with one of the cutest toys I've ever seen - a catnip eyeball I bought from an Etsy seller. The cats love this toy, and here Nikko is standing over her eyeball, looking up as if to say "Wow...look what I found! A real eyeball!" She always picks it up in her mouth and runs off with it after playing with it. I guess that would make her an eyeball hog. :)

The Eyeball, oil pastel on board, size 8x10" $100

Cat painting # 8 in progress

Today I'm painting Nikko with a favorite toy - a catnip eyeball I purchased on Etsy. Still have a way to go on this painting...I hope I can get it done today!

Cat Painting #6, Who Needs Toys?

Really...who needs toys when you can play with your own tail? :) This painting is based on a photo of Nikko. We'd brought her in on a rainy night and she was wet and cold, so we wrapped her in a towel and dried her off. Soon she wiggled out of the towel, and feeling all nice and toasty warm again, she got a little frisky and started playing with her own tail.

This painting is sold.


Below is the original snapshot this painting was based on. Not a great photo at all, so my challenge was to take it from not great to fabulous in a painting. I also didn't like the green carpet flooring, so I did a hardwood flooring in the painting, and I didn't like the color of the towel peeking out from under her (green and white) so I changed it to purple and white.

If you are interested in having a custom 8x10" painting of your pet (doesn't have to be a cat!), please visit this link - I'm offering special pricing on custom paintings!

Cat painting #6 in progress

Finally getting going on painting #6 in my series of 365 Cat Paintings. I had a little issue with my support. I was using watercolor canvas boards...which worked wonderful with the oil pastels. When I went to Hobby Lobby to pick up more of the 8x10" size, I discovered they are no longer carrying the Fredrix Watercolor Canvas! Go figure. As soon as I get started using something, they stop carrying it. (Yes, I fussed at them about it.) I tried regular canvas boards, but they are way too rough and I cannot get the detail I want for my portraits, especially in this 8x10" size.

So, after returning the regular canvas boards and inspecting all the other supplies, I finally decided on having mat board cut to my specifications. Mat board is something I know they'll always have in stock. Problem solved! Not to mention, the oil pastels actually perform better on the mat board due to the smoother surface. And an added benefit is mat board can be framed in virtually ANY frame, while canvas boards are too thick for regular frames and have to be framed in open back (i.e. much more expensive) frames. The mat board can be framed in regular *and* open back frames...so buyers of my paintings will have a variety of frame options for any budget!

This is painting #6, in progress. I'm working from an absolutely horrible snapshot taken of Nikko after she got doused in the rain. We'd brought her in to dry her off and after rolling in the towel, she started playing with her tail. It's an extremely cute pose, but the original photo stinks, so I'm hoping to do the scene justice in my painting. :)

Tennis My Way

Nikko has a certain way she likes to play tennis. She will chase the ball, and then she'll pounce on it. But after that, it's hit the ground and hold it. Then it's up to you to come get the ball. The other cats...they'll run and bat at the ball and make it move. But Nikko...no way. That would be too much work. Laying down with it is as far as she goes!

This is her original painting, titled "Tennis My Way". Painting is oil pastel on board, size 8x10". See more photos and purchase this painting here. This is the second painting in my new series, 365 Cat Paintings.

New oil pastel painting in progress - Nikko

Today I'm working on another oil pastel on canvas board...this is a painting of Nikko, holding a tennis ball. Nikko is so much like a dog...she brings things all the time, and she plays with tennis balls like a dog. Of course, the kittens grew up around tennis balls as that's our dog's favorite thing. This is an in progress photo of what I've got done so far on Nikko's painting.