Some animals are just born regal, and Jeebus was one of them - a long-haired grey cat with the bearing of minor royalty, painted as a 40th birthday gift for his owner's partner.
Keeping the quirks
Here is the thing I love about Jeebus. He was regal and slightly ridiculous at the same time. His tongue poked out where he had lost a few teeth, and rather than tidy that away, I kept it. The quirks are the point. They are what make a portrait their cat, and not just a handsome grey cat. Long-haired cats are a joy to paint and a test of patience - all that flowing grey fur, each section catching the light a little differently. I keep it soft and let his faintly haughty expression do the talking.
That is true of every animal I paint. The freckle, the wonky ear, the tongue that never quite stays in - I want the details only their family would notice, because those are the ones that make people gasp when they see the finished piece.
“What a regal cat.”
A pet portrait makes a milestone-birthday gift that no one forgets. If someone you love has a cat with personality to spare, I would love to capture them.
