Shifting my mindset in my style of painting

 I’ve been shifting the way I normally paint. These past couple of years of painting on the iPad Pro using procreate has elevated my sense of creativity. I do notice my improvement and am simply thrilled when I’ve completed a final pet piece! When I find a photo of a cat or a dog that is a pleasing composition I never plan right. I never sort through a color palette or think of cropping or pick the perfect medium. I just wing it. And it always seemed rushed but acceptable. But here’s the thing-I need a sense of wonder. I need the piece to speak to me. And each stroke needs to be intentional. The piece has to be somewhat compelling to look at? 

I discovered an artist on YouTube because naturally I travel through its clickbait algorithms and after watching multiple pet painted portrait videos-I stumble on to a terrific German painter named Alpay Efy . His portrait painting presentations are simply delightful and straightforward. He explains that starting with painting the details in the eyes, the nose and then the mouth are the most important to begin with. So I took his advice and painted my photo of a hairless kitty cat also known as a Sphinx. It was the eyes! I may have elevated my art finally. I do plan to paint traditional pets in oil one day. But for now I’m very satisfied with my piece I created in 2 hours tonight. The background I struggled with a wee bit but hey. I’m on a better track now!!

Ginger kitty cat Milo

Razzy relaxes in the cat window

Layers of acrylic paint on repurposed 16 x 20” canvas

Blocking out the values always begins to look like crap

Milo the ginger orange tabby kitty cat

Milo the adopted ginger kitty cat has been on my mind to paint digitally and traditionally. I have done both and can appreciate each form of painting! With traditional you have the planning and prepping and purchasing and gathering and focusing just right in the just right space with the mixing of the just right now paints. Touching and blobbing and scraping and wetting the colors are a fantastic way to mentally free your mind-creating something tangible that includes sweet textures and interest is deeply satisfying. 

Procreate oil painting of Milo

Traditional painting for me has always been using acrylics-however this digital painting I created in procreate on my 11” iPad Pro using my Apple Pencil was painted using the oil paints which has a lovely feel about them-the pressure and colors and textures can result in something quite unique-I get in a comfy spot on my sofa and spend about and hour - no layers - no blending - dark to light - patchwork method - random texture to maintain the abstraction! This is key! So I love them both. Ginger cats are sweet and silly. So I’m obsessed.