Falling in Love with Smooth Paper Again: Creating a Realistic Tabby Cat Portrait

Hello there,

I hope you’re well and enjoying these early spring days. 🌸

I recently had the pleasure of drawing a very beautiful tabby cat, and the experience inspired me to write this blog because I’ve fallen in love with smooth paper all over again.

At the beginning of every portrait, I spend time carefully considering which paper will produce the best results for that specific subject. This decision largely depends on the animal in question and the unique characteristics of their fur that I will be rendering in coloured pencil. It’s also important to think about the techniques I’ll be using to create fine detail, as each type of paper responds differently. A more textured paper with a pronounced tooth allows you to build up many layers of pigment, whereas a smooth surface will reach saturation more quickly.

Having drawn several cats in the past, I knew this portrait would require a great deal of fine fur detail to capture the intricate markings of the tabby coat. For that reason, I chose to work on the Strathmore 500 Bristol Plate Surface. One technique I planned to use was a ceramic blade to gently remove layers of pigment in short, controlled strokes to create fine hair details. I’ve found that smooth paper enables you to scratch away pigment cleanly, producing beautifully delicate lines.

As you can see in the photos below, many of the markings in the fur were created by lifting colour in fine, hair-like strokes. A critical part of achieving this effect is taking the time to build up base layers in the correct lighter colours first. When the darker layers are applied on top and then carefully removed, the lighter pigment beneath is revealed. Without sufficient layers of coloured pencil on the paper, it simply isn’t possible to create these markings effectively with a ceramic blade.

For building those base layers, I find that Caran d’Ache Luminance coloured pencils are fantastic. They are wonderfully smooth and buttery, and they lay down beautifully on a smooth surface. In this piece, I used a combination of Faber-Castell Polychromos, Caran d’Ache Pablo, and Caran d’Ache Luminance pencils to render the fur colours and patterns, all of which blend together seamlessly.

I found this portrait incredibly enjoyable to work on. Accurately replicating the patterns in the cat’s fur was certainly challenging, but the process of layering pigment and then defining the individual hairs with the ceramic blade was immensely satisfying. Working on the Strathmore Bristol Plate Surface has truly reignited my enthusiasm for using smooth paper in my pet portrait commissions.

Inspiration often comes from the simplest rediscoveries, and this portrait has reminded me just how important it is to stay curious and open to revisiting materials and techniques we may have set aside. Each piece I create teaches me something new, and that sense of learning and enjoyment is what keeps my work fresh and exciting. I’m already looking forward to the next opportunity to explore smooth paper again and see what new details and textures it will help me bring to life.

Take care and enjoy this beautiful season x