Tiggy

• Subject: Tabby Cat
• Medium:Pastel
• Completion Date: March 16, 2003
• Completion Time: 60 hours
• Dimensions: 21'' X 13''
• Background: Foliage

The portrait of Tiggy was a Mother’s day present for my mum as she had sadly lost him to old age.  I was in my late teens when my father brought him home, he was a tiny ferocious kitten who constantly attached himself to your legs!

He developed a very aristocratic appearance as I was drawn to pushing his nose upwards when I stroked him, I hasten to add he never complained.  Tiggy matured into a beautiful cat who had such a gentle and loving nature far removed from the feisty bundle of fluff that first arrived!

Initially I sketched out a preliminary drawing and transferred the image onto a gold ocre coloured pastel board.  Base colours were blocked out using hard pastel sticks, gradually building up the layers then graduating to pastel pencils for the bulk of the portrait.   Final highlights were added by using soft pastel sticks.