Daily Sketch: Blue Purple Cats
I might come up with a better name for this if I took some time, but the blue highlights and purple shadows were what inspired me about Giuseppe and Mewsette atop the wardrobe by the window, though after the sun had moved away and the light was only reflected, mostly off the sky, and very cool. They were bathing, lazily, sometimes licking themselves and sometimes each other. Giuseppe’s paw above Mewsette’s head looks a little confusing, but it was kind of confusing to me!
I did the watercolor sketch first, just the lightest blue as a wash that laid out the two shapes together. When that was still damp but had no puddles, I added a light wash of purple in the darker areas. I let that dry completely, then added a heavier layer of richer, less dilute purple in the deepest shadows. Then I added the ink outlines, this time using one of my felt-tip drawing pens.
Of course, they had moved after the first quick blue wash but not so much that I couldn’t see my original visual in their postures, and I had my reference photo. Poor Mewsette’s lovely long, thick tail literally got short shrift when I couldn’t fit the whole thing in the sketch—it’s nearly touching the bottom edge of the paper.
What was I sketching a year ago today?
Jelly Bean and Mr. Sunshine were taking turns bathing each other…see the original post and read more about this sketch, another personal favorite.
Click here to see other daily sketches.
For a gallery of the ones available for sale, visit my Etsy shop in the “Cat Art and Prints” section.
Read about the reason for the daily sketches in One Year of Daily Sketches.
Browse some rescued cats and kittens!
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Beautiful as usual, Bernadette! I guess you know I’m crazy about this style. Don’t ever stop.
Thanks, Paulette! I hope to come up with a number of products to use for these!
I’ll look forward to them! Would it work on a flag?
The are a little small for flags but what I’m really not sure about is the white background. White fabric can sometimes come to look dingy when it’s outdoors, so I have a test outside now. People have also asked for the “Warhol cats” so I’m trying to be especially sure!
We always think that cat fur should normally come in purrple! This is one of our favorites now! Purrs and hugs from the kitties at The Cat on My Head, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Josette
Purrrple is purrrfect! Not only do they have these blue and purple highlights and shadows, but now that all my cats are black I can suddenly make them whatever color I want!
Love this!
Of course! It’s your style! I even think it’s your colors, Denise.
Yes, it absolutely is my style, and my favourite colours! And I so much want to ask you if I can have it?
Denise, it’s yours! I’ll be in touch–catching up finally on our three-day weekend for Memorial Day!
“Blurple” is one of my favorite colors!
I always think of you, Chris!