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Thursday, June 24, 2010

The Sepia Cat



I can't seem to stop playing in the paint lately! I've been using up leftover paint and bits and pieces of w/c paper lying around. This is another of my attempts to paint a cat without benefit of a prior pencil sketch or reference. I did rough in the right eye(viewer's right) but the rest is all done freehand. I mixed up some warm sepia with DS Undersea green and just winged it. I ran out of room on the paper so sadly this poor cat has no ears. I recently ordered some gouache and a fine line Sumi drawing brush from DS. I love this brush! The gouache came in handy for the whiskers, too.

6 comments:

perugina said...

Billie, love the sepia cat, how brilliant are you not having sketched this in.
I have only worked a few times in this way, and although it did not produce a result as wonderful as yours here, i do enjoy the freedom of painting/playing around in this manner.
Bravissima!

Billie Crain said...

In all fairness, I had a leg up with the cat, Perugina. Cats are my 'thing'. We'll see how well I do with other subjects.;) I took a cue from Jean Haines. Her freehand work, especially with animals, seems to have so much depth and personality. Working from the mind's eye is a special talent but I also believe it can be developed.

Jeanette Jobson said...

I love your 'end of palette' pieces Billie.

This cat has such a soulful expression, its wonderful. I like the close crop, it adds to the expression. Great work.

Billie Crain said...

Thank you, Jeanette.:) I seem to do my best work when there's no pressure whatsoever and no obvious goal. I wondered for years if I could've made it as a graphic artist with the right schooling. Honestly, I highly doubt it.

JANE MINTER said...

he's wonderful

Billie Crain said...

Thanks, Jane.:)