Welcome! In this course, you will learn how to paint this calico cat in watercolor.

I invite you to pick and choose lessons that you would like to focus upon, or join me as we progress through the entire painting. I hope you will find it helpful and enjoyable.

Challenges and Troubleshooting

You never know what to expect in a painting – sometimes things run smoothly and at other times there are unexpected glitches. Problem solving is a natural part of any painting. In this painting, I encountered some challenges, which I will share with you, along with solutions. It’s a great example of how to troubleshoot if you just aren’t happy with the way things are going.

• Towards the end of the course, I moved away from the reference photo because I wasn't happy with what I was seeing in the painting. I hope the experiences I encountered, along with the solutions will be helpful to you.
• As you move through the course, I will let you know when I veer off track and offer suggestions – choices that you can make.
• Throughout this course, I encourage you to make decisions based on your vision for your painting. Use as much or as little of the lessons and drawing as you need. If you lose focus, take a break. You will return with fresh eyes!
• Creating a detailed and realistic painting like this does take time, but when you enjoy the process it's inspiring and a lot of fun. Allow yourself the freedom to experiment and learn from your experiences, because that's how we grow.

I’d love to hear how it goes and invite you to your painting along with challenges, solutions, and suggestions.

• Take a photo and share in the Community.
• Share your painting in our Facebook Group, Realistic Animals in Watercolor.
• In addition, upload your painting to your Facebook page, Instagram, Twitter - all of your favorite places with the hashtag #rebeccarhodesart. By sharing, you are inspiring others to get started!

OVERVIEW OF LESSONS

Lessons 1, 2, 3: Create the Eyes, Nose, and Mouth

Lessons 4, 5: Foundational Colors in Head, Ears

Establish the lightest values. In the head and ears, we will use pale Burnt Umber to create the first layer of what will be black and brown. In the white shapes, we will apply pale brownish-gray. Sometimes, we will create a pale map of tan fur, at other times applying thin layers of color. Break the head down into smaller parts, using the photo as a guide in the curve and length of the fur. These are the lightest values, and layer by layer, things will go darker. By the end of this step, things may appear sloppy, rough, and disjointed, but persevere! Smoothing and softening is coming!

Lesson 6: Finish establishing the foundational colors - the lightest values in the rest of the cat. It will appear sloppy, but smoothing is coming soon. During this process, it is helpful to take a photo and see how the painting appears inside the mat.

Lessons 7, 8: Refine Lighter Values

Refine color and value in the lighter parts of the head and body. When these are in place, we'll move into the darker tans, browns, and blacks. Overall, these colors are pale. Use thin consistencies (tea to thin milk,) even in the darkest parts. Focus on one shape at a time. Things are appearing rough, but persevere! It will come together!

Lessons 9, 10, 11, 12: Black Fur, Layer by Layer, Refine Ears

Layer by layer, create the black fur. When the black fur is in place, it will help us to discern how to refine the lighter values. Building the black fur will take multiple, thin applications. With each layer, we will use a slightly thicker consistency until eventually the result will be a rich black.

• Lesson 9: First layer of black in the upper head and ears.
• Lesson 10, First layer of black in lower body, second layer in the upper head/ears.
• Lesson 11: Second layer of black to the right ear. Return to the left ear to refine color and value - I will work around what will be white hairs in the ears. At the end of the painting, I will refine the white hairs with white gouache or Dr. Ph. Martin's Bleed Proof White.
• Lesson 12: Establish the black fur in the lower body, then return to the head to make refinements in color and value.

Lesson 13: Refine Lighter Parts: Note: This is when I begin to think about breaking away from the reference photo.

Video 1: Now that the black fur has been established, some of the lighter values might appear a bit too pale. In this lesson, we will return to the lighter parts of the face and body, refining color, value, and transitions.

Lesson 14: Refine White Fur, Create Shadows

Refine the white fur and create shadows using pale gray. In addition, we will refine color and value (optional) in the lower right tan shape. Keep consistencies thin, like water to tea, to avoid going in too dark. Things may appear rough, but we will smooth with water.

Lesson 15: Refinements

We are nearing the end of this painting. Colors, values, textures, and shadow are in place everywhere, except for the left side. Visit lesson 16 to see how I solved the challenge of the left side of the cat. In this lesson, I will take you through the refinements in this painting.

Lesson 16: Left Side - Decisions

In this video, you will see the refinements I made to the left side before deciding to create black fur. First, I created gray fur, following the reference photo. Then, I decide that I’m not happy with it, and will lift the color. In the actual painting process, I refined the left side, moved somewhere else in the painting, and kept returning to refine further.

Lesson 17: Create Black Fur (two videos)

These two videos demonstrate optional steps for creating black fur on the left side of the cat. I'm experimenting, breaking away from the reference photo. Make decisions based on your vision for your painting.

Lesson 18: Create whiskers and refine white hairs - finish the painting!

I hope you will find this course helpful in creating your own portrait of this or a similar subject!