A cat called Lola

I am allergic to cats but Lola has won my heart despite my constant sneezing in her presence and my  painfully red, swollen eyes! I have photographed her for Stuart Pilkington's The Swap Project  (while my friend Wojtek, Lola's owner took a picture of me with one of my illustrations!) and decided to paint her as a Christmas gift for Wojtek.

Here is how she came out on a slightly golden background:

Mouse

I have never illustrated anything for children before so when I decided to do this little painting for a private client, I was a bit out of my depth, especially that it was all hand painted with water based temperas (Plakkaatverf Gouaches from Talens are my favourite but difficult to obtain in Scotland so I am cherishing my old box full of these jars!) not to mention the subject matter.

I am really enjoying the responsibility that this kind of painting involves, I like that almost meditative process and inability of ctrl+Z, it really sends tingles down my spine when I am working on these little paintings (and yes, there are several others still to come!).

So the mouse has a new home now and has been even christened Jerry!