Your paintings of cats are so full of life and personality. What first drew you to them as a subject?
I am an expat, and since I left my family and home, my house was filled with the company of a cat. When my cat Kriska passed away, I couldn’t live without the love of a cat, so we adopted Toby. He was, and still is, the most beautiful cat I have ever met. He is so sweet and special, and he is also a cancer survivor, a real warrior!
He is the reason I started painting cats. I have no doubt he is my muse.
What aspects of feline nature or personality do you find most compelling to capture in your art?
Their greatness. Their unapologetic character. Loving you not the way you expect, but the way they are, never trying to change just to please society. Simply being themselves.Of course… sometimes they do change, but only to become extra adorable and score more snacks.I believe they are magnificent creatures. But only when you treat them with love and that reverent respect will they reveal the amazing beings they truly are.Otherwise? Well… let’s just say, they will doom you! 😼
What’s your favourite cat you’ve painted (and why)?
That is a difficult question! I love the paintings I made of my cats, Calypso and Toby, simply because it’s them. But I also really love a painting I did of a cat called Joules and a cat call Mia, the photograph was very well done, and when the reference photo is good, the outcome is usually amazing!
I also adore my painting Mischievous Cats because there is so much humor in it!
But maybe my favorite is the one I haven’t painted yet.
How has your artistic style evolved over time, and what role have cats played in that evolution?
I have improved exponentially over time, and it’s because I’ve dared to try things I wasn’t good at yet. With cats, I’ve learned that painting fur requires many layers and a lot of persistence. I don’t try to paint every single hair because I want to keep the fur wild and free, just like a cat’s spirit. My style has become more chaotic and natural as a result. I especially love painting their eyes, which are so full of emotion and curiosity.
Do you have cats or other pets yourself?
We are a lucky family of four: my husband and I, and our two amazing cats. Toby was adopted from Spain. He wouldn’t hurt a fly, he welcomes you home, and he loves visitors. Then we have our princess, Calypso, who comes from Ukraine. She was rescued from the streets many years ago by a wonderful lady, and she came to the Netherlands with her sister and twenty other rescued cats when the war began.
Calypso arrived with many small health issues, but after Toby’s successful chemo treatment, we knew we could also take good care of her. Calypso is beautiful, but to me, she’s more of a comedian super funny and so sweet! She sleeps on my chest, and sometimes Toby joins at night too. They are truly our kids.
How do you approach capturing the texture of fur, the glint in an eye, or the subtle nuances of a cat’s expression?
For me, it is important to achieve a natural color. Even when I want vibrancy, it still needs to look natural. You achieve that by adding a touch of the complementary color, it reduces saturation and brings it closer to the colors found in nature.
For fur, it’s all about persistence. Most people stop too early, sometimes i do that mistake as well, but fur requires many layers. And although nature is perfect, to me it is also chaotic. I like to keep the fur chaotic too, I don’t paint every single hair, because that’s not how I see it. It’s wild and free.
I especially love painting cat eyes, but also the nose and the little chin…it’s so small and cute. I also love paws. Toby has magnificent paws, but honestly, I don’t know if any painting or even picture could ever capture the beauty of the real model, so I rarely dare to paint them (the paws).
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received as an artist?
To keep going!
Society Of Feline Artists 