🎨 Behind the Brush — "Companions on the Stair"
I'm thrilled to share the beginning stages of a new 11x14 inch oil painting I'm working on, inspired by a charming moment between a man and his loyal feline friend. This piece, titled Companions on the Stair, captures the quiet connection and warmth we often find in everyday moments at home.
Right now, I'm in the prep phase—editing the reference photo by removing any distracting background elements and fine-tuning the colors so that the cat’s striking black and white fur pops with clarity. The focus will be on the cozy body language, the natural light, and that unspoken bond between the two.
Stay tuned as this portrait evolves from photo to painted memory!
A photograph often has items that are cut off or not clearly visible. When working from a photo, I always ask myself: Is this element necessary? Does it enhance the painting or distract from it? If it distracts, I take it out.
Next, I look for elements that could be enhanced. In the original photo, the man is wearing a dark top that blends a bit too much with the cat’s black fur. By slightly lightening his clothing in the reference image, the cat’s figure becomes more defined, giving it a stronger presence and helping to separate the two subjects visually.
I also adjusted the overall composition to open up the layout. This allows the viewer’s eye to focus on the man and cat—and then rest in the surrounding negative space, which adds balance and calm to the piece.
One final little tweak was the cat’s tail. In the original photo, the tail disappears off the edge of the image, drawing attention to the cat tree in the foreground. By turning the tail inward, the space is broken up more gracefully, and an elegant S-curve is created. This S-curve leads the viewer’s eye back into the composition and gently guides it through the painting, creating movement and harmony.
Now it’s time to share the updated reference with my client and, once approved, begin the painting! I can’t wait to bring this heartfelt moment to life on canvas.
**** UPDATE
I have taken some liberties to make the image more interesting. The wall behind my client has texture, which balances the areas that are smoother. I also worked up the grain in the banister. A photo always looks flat, but an oil painting catches the light and bounces it off the surface. This creates highlights and shadows making the painting more interesting. I also added blue and brown tones to the cats fur. Black on black gives no definition of the shape underneath. By adding tiny touches of different colors and texture the form is brought out. I am now finished with the painting and will need to let the paint dry before adding the final varnish and getting the painting ready for shipping.
OilPaintingInProgress #PetPortraitArt #CatLovers #RealLifeMoments #HomeAndHeart #PainterAtWork #ArtInTheMaking #CatsOfInstagram #CompanionsOnTheStair
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