plate no. 5151
Blue Cat
Louis Wain, 1932
some experience helpful
Recreating this painting will help students practice layering colors to create depth and texture, as well as capturing the likeness of an animal subject. It will also give practice in creating soft edges and blending colors.
technical profile
palette complexity
3
brushwork visibility
4
value contrast
3
compositional simplicity
4
study guide
est. 8 hrsapproach — 8 steps
- step 01
Lightly sketch the basic shapes of the cat's head, ears, and facial features.
- step 02
Apply a thin wash of light yellow-green to the background.
- step 03
Block in the main areas of blue on the cat's fur, using a lighter shade for highlights and a darker shade for shadows.
- step 04
Begin layering different shades of blue and gray to create the texture of the fur, using short, directional strokes.
- step 05
Paint the eyes with a base of yellow, adding darker tones for the pupils and lighter tones for highlights.
- step 06
Refine the details of the face, including the nose, mouth, and whiskers.
- step 07
Add final touches to the fur, such as individual strands and subtle color variations.
- step 08
Adjust values and colors as needed to achieve the desired effect.
color palette
primary · Prussian Blue · Yellow Ochre · Titanium White
secondary · Payne's Gray · Sap Green
Mix Prussian Blue with Titanium White for lighter fur tones. Use Yellow Ochre and Prussian Blue to achieve the background color. Add Payne's Gray to Prussian Blue for darker shadows.
techniques
- ·Dry brushing
- ·Layering
- ·Blending
- ·Scumbling
- ·Color Mixing
common pitfalls
- →Overworking the fur and losing the soft texture.
- →Using too much paint and creating a muddy effect.
- →Failing to capture the correct proportions of the cat's face.
- →Ignoring the subtle color variations in the fur.
materials
surface · Stretched canvas
required
- ·Stretched canvas (12x16 inches)
- ·Acrylic paints (Prussian Blue, Yellow Ochre, Titanium White, Payne's Gray, Sap Green)
- ·Round brushes (sizes 2, 4, 6)
- ·Flat brush (size 8)
- ·Palette
- ·Water container
- ·Paper towels
optional
- ·Palette knife
- ·Retarder medium
- ·Easel
Use high-quality acrylic paints for best results. A canvas with a smooth surface will be easier to work with.
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