Catnip 

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This pen and watercolour piece captures Biryani asleep in a patch of Nepeta or Catnip- inspired by a gorgeous photograph of Biryani, Margot's mother, as she sleeps peacefully, stup efied by the scent of the plant. The lush colours of the blue/ violet/ purple flowers and their strong green leaves create a striking backdrop to the tabby cat, her stripes and her crazy furry tail! This composition is much more traditional than my others, with realistic colour and tone - I purposely left a white corner to draw the eye to the sleeping cat and keep the viewers focus on the subject. The simple black wooden frame lends the artwork a cosy, cottagy feel and harks back subtly to the Victorian love of sentimentality in animal portraiture. My process starts with a pencil sketch, followed by layers of pen work using fade-proof inks and varied nib sizes for both bold shading and delicate textures; I mix black, grey, and touches of sepia for depth. Finally, I add translucent watercolour washes, building up tonal contrasts from light to dark, to bring the whole scene to life with a gentle radiance. Show more