Day 9 - Tessa

[vilakins]

Today's entry for the naarmamo National Art Making Month challenge is Tessa, who else? I used an old photo of her and worked from that, with her on my lap the whole time. It's all done on the graphics tablet so I could draw with one hand and hold her and cuddle her with the other. This shows her lovely golden eyes, though I know one will never be quite the same again. She'll always be beautiful though.

Tessa



In the photo, she was sitting in the window, but I simplified the background.

[Edit] She's not cross. Visitors sometimes think she is, but it's the shape of her eyes and the intensity of colour, I think. She's a cat of great sweetness and gentleness. I don't have the photo I used on line, but here's a similar one with the same expression. :-)

[Another edit] These colours are a bit muted, but she's more this brown than the gingery one in that linked photo which has a yellow cast. The photo I used was more accurate. She's actually a rich dark chocolate brown.

My NaArMaMo 2007 Gallery is here.

Comments

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

beautiful

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

She is! Strangers think she has a haughty look, but she's an affectionate, sweet-natured, gentle little girl.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

She's looking a bit annoyed there, the stop pointing that at me look cats often have in photos. She is beautiful and so is Claudia.

[trixieleitz]

Lovely! The highlighting is really effective.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

She's not annoyed; she's one of the sweetest cats I've ever known. I think it's a combination of the "Burmese pout", the slant of her eyes, and the contrast of the gold with her dark fur. Here's another photo with a very similar look (http://pics.livejournal.com/vilakins/pic/000qe7p1), but this one is quite different (http://pics.livejournal.com/vilakins/pic/000h9cak) where she's not looking at the camera. :-) Visitors sometimes say she looks cross, but she never is. She's a soft, cuddly darling.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I think I was most pleased with making her eyes look real.

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

She doesn't look cross. She looks lovely!

[quarryquest.livejournal.com]

I had a look at the photo and I would say that is nosiness. She looks very interested in what you were doing there - sounds like a very bright cat.

When I was walking up the Thames yesterday I met three cats and photographed one. I shall post it in a while for you to have a look at once I am washed and unpacked. All this holiday stuff and being very mobile is stressful!

[kalinda001.livejournal.com]

I'm always drawn to eyes and Tessa's seem to say that, there's a lot more to me than you will ever know...

[san-valentine.livejournal.com]

That's a nice picture but it's a shame that the colours can't reproduce the wonderful gingerbread sheen of her coat.

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

She looks beautiful and very intent.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

She has a direct and curious look! :-)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

The colours aren't very accurate in that photo: too warm. This icon shows her colouring: very dark chocolate brown.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

You're right! She's a very curious, bright, and playful cat.

I'll look forward to seeing them!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Yes, and it's true of every cat! They look so wise and mysterious--unless their little tongues are out. :-P

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

She is both! :-)

[kalinda001.livejournal.com]

unless their little tongues are out

That would be funny...do you have a drawing of that?

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

No, but they turn into complete wallies!

[jomacmouse.livejournal.com]

It is a bit 'what are you up to?' Lovely work again, vilakins.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Tessa is always fascinated by the odd things we do. :-)

[labingi.livejournal.com]

What a lovely picture!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I might iconise it later

[daiseechain.livejournal.com]

I missed this when you posted it. I just saw it now at your gallery. Lovely picture. She looks to me like she's about to spring over to you for a cuddle.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Very in character! Earlier this evening she was sitting on the floor looking up at me expectantly. I had Claudia on my lap but when I saw her, I picked her up and gave her a long cuddle. :-)