Feline Art - Resources for Artists
This lens is about feline art
Learn how to draw a cat and about other resources for feline artists.
This site shares information about:
- feline art
- feline artists - past and present,
- feline art societies,
- feline art bloggers,
- collections of feline art
- books about feline art
Plus other resources which support the stimulation and development of feline art.
Cats in Art History - Who knew so many famous artists painted cats?
There's a very long tradition of painting cats and many of the most famous artists in the world have drawn and painted cats.
Who painted cats?
In western art, the range of artists producing paintings of cats varies from:
- artists in ancient Egypt, Greece, China and Japan
- old masters artists such as Van Eyck, Raphael, Leonardo, Bruegel, Rembrandt, Chardin, Gainsborough, Fragonard, Manet, Renoir, Bonnard, Gauguin
- to Modern Masters e.g. Matisse, Balthus, Picasso and Warhol.
Maybe you'd like to join the illustrious list of artists who have painted cats?
The Cat in Art
"The Cat in Art" includes 170 great art masterpieces from the ancient world to the present.
It includes paintings by many of the great old masters, Impressionists and Post Impressionists and more Modern Painters.
It rates an Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 25 customer reviews
This is the first book I bought about cats - produced by a museum.
The British Museum focuses on the timeline of different cultures around the world through history and it's unsurprising that in this book it explores the place of the cat in cultures around the world, from ancient times to the present.
Cats in the Louvre
Treat yourself to this book about cats in artwork in The Louvre in Paris.
Each cat is shown in detail and in the painting in its entirely - with an accompanying commentary.
This is a book about fine art felines from the collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
This is a book I intend to buy as my experience is that books about paintings of cats produced by the better museums of art are often much better than those produced by others. In part this is because they own the paintings or can collaborate much more easily with other museums who also have paintings of cats!
How to draw and paint a cat
How to sketch a cat - in 30 SECONDS! - DOWNLOAD this "Making A Mark Guide" FREE!
Who is this guide for?
This guide is for people who want to learn how to:
- sketch their cat
- create better drawings of their cat
- draw from life rather than from photos
- develop observational skills
- develop skills in sketching quickly
- develop drawing skills generally
What the guide covers
4 key points explain how to sketch you cat in 30 seconds
- why the location of your sketchbook matters
- what to do if the cat moves
- advice on how to use your time and what to look for
- 5 great tips for how to look and how draw a cat in 30 seconds* what you need to do next
This publication is available as a pdf file and can be downloaded for free for personal educational use only
My Feline Art
Feline Art: Artists, Art Societies & Art Exhibitions
Exhibitions and art societies for feline artists
In the UK, the Society of Feline Artists supports the development and display of cat paintings and cat portraits and the promotion of art by feline artists. For those looking to make a career as a feline artist, joining and exhibiting with SOFA can be a very good way of building a fan base for your art.
Fans of feline art are also very keen collectors and the exhibitions of cat art often generate very respectable sales for the participating artists
The USA does not seem to have an equivalent art society which I find somewhat surprising. However what has happened in the USA is that individuals have created exhibitions about cat art - for invited artists.
One such exhibition took place in Los Angeles in the summer of 2014 and was covered by Time Magazine. Maybe not surprising given the popularity of photographs of cats online.
Blogging about the annual exhibition of the Society of Feline Artists
Below you can see links to the slideshows and webpages of images of feline art which has been selected for annual exhibitions
Plus blog posts about the show
Artists who draw and paint cats
Admire the art of established feline artists - and the variety of ways in which cats can be depicted
While realism is often a preferred style of cat artists, individual artists display a wide range of styles in delivering cat art.
It's often said that the best way to develop your art is to look at the old masters and the work of current contemporary artists. The same method works very well for the budding cat artist. Looking at the art on the websites of existing cats artists shows you the very many and varied ways that cats can be portrayed both in terms of subject matter and style of artwork.
- S.O.F.A. The Society of Feline Artists Gallery - Cat Paintings and Portraits
The Society of Feline Artists. SOFA - Gallery of member artists (each of the artists also has their own page) - Artist gallery limited edition prints of cats, dogs, English Landscapes and birds
Derold Page gallery of original paintings linked to his agent Bridgeman Art Library. Selling limited edition prints of cats, landscapes, birds, dogs, flowers - Directors Choice Feline Pictures at Llewellyn Alexander
Directors Choice Feline Pictures at the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery - home of the Annual London Exhibition of the Society of Feline Artists - SUSAN HERBERT - original artwork for sale | Chris Beetles
Susan Herbert is one of the most distinctive of contemporary cat artists, who produces consistently crafted watercolours that respond with wit and affection to - Martin Dexter - Cats Gallery
Martin Dexter's cats have a very distinctive style - The Painted Cat - Prints, Paintings and Portraits for Cat Lovers
Fabulous, fascinating felines! Fine Art for Cat Lovers. Paintings and prints of cats and dogs from Denise Laurent, a UK based, animal artist. - Gayle Mason Fine Art - Cats, Cats and More Cats
Gayle Mason draws cats in pastel and coloured pencil. Galleries of different breeds of cats. Commissions, original art, limited edition giclee prints and fine art cards - Pastels and Pencils - Feline Art by Katherine Tyrrell
Gallery includes pieces exhibited at the Annual Exhibition of the Society of Feline Artists (SOFA) - Dessins de chats aux crayons de couleur
Nicole Jahan : paintings and drawings of cats - The Cat Art Gallery | Denise Laurent Fine Art
Beautiful and lifelike paintings of cats from Denise Laurent, a UK based, London artist. - Sara Butt - Wildlife, Equine and Feline Art
Sara is a member of the Society of Feline Artists - Mew Gallery: Cats by Thora Clyne
Mew Gallery: Cats - Paintings and drawings of cats. Commissions welcome. - Paul Dyson Wildlife & Wilderness Art: Domestic Cat Prints
Member of The Society of Feline Artists. - Cat Art Ditz on Pinterest | 87 Pins
A collection of paintings by the author of A Collection of Cats Tales - A Cat Lover's Anthology
Pictures of past SOFA Shows
- The London Show 2014
A slideshow of photographs of the works selected for the 2014 SOFA Annual Exhibition as displayed in the Llewellyn Alexander Gallery in London - Show Photos – S.O.F.A. 2012 London Exhibition | Society Of Feline Artists
The 2012 Society show is on now at the Llewellyn Alexander gallery in Waterloo, London and your S.O.F.A. slaves have been hard at work taking photos of the show and here they are! We tried to get everyone but as usual there are areas of the gallery,
Blogs by Feline Artists
This includes links on non art blogs to posts about feline artists working in a variety of styles
- The Painted Cat - Cats On The Easel
Cats On The Easel is Denise Laurent's blog. It's the space for sketches, paintings in progress, news and events about painting cats. - Society Of Feline Artists - Blog
The official blog of The Society of Feline Artists (S.O.F.A. to its friends) - Fur in the Paint
Gayle Mason's art Journal reflecting on the struggle to produce animal art, which is both 'up close and personal' and captures the essence of each animal portrayed. It highlights and discusses the development of new work in pencil, pastel and acrylic - Making A Mark - feline art
This is the link to all blog posts labelled Feline Art on "Making A Mark" - bigcatheads ~ the blog
Bruce Andrew Mckay aka BAM creates big bright fun paintings of cats - and writes about his paintings on his blog. - ARTiculations by C.S. Poppenga
Includes a lot of artwork about cats - Peter Robinson's Cat Paintings
For the past fifteen years, Peter has created his distinctive paintings, many of them of his own cats, Ozone and Jasmine. - Moggy Blog | Cat paintings by Peter Robinson
intricate cat paintings by gordon stewart - Lucky Cat Paintings
My lucky cats are mostly painted in impossible colors.
The History of Cat Art
Many painters have painted cats over the years and some painters have even gone on to paint cats into famous paintings.....
BOOK: The Cat: 3500 Years of the Cat in Art
Amazon reviews: 5.0 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews) | Like (4)This illustrated book examines the relationship between cats and humans from ancient times to the present, offering fascinating insights into the prominence of the cat in art in cultures worldwide. Thematic chapters explore in detail a rich and rewarding collection of paintings, prints, drawings and sculptures, creating a book that will have enduring appeal among art lovers and cat lovers alike.
BOOKS - Feline Art in History - books on Amazon
Below you can find some serious - and some not so serious - books about the cat in feline art history.
Famous Feline Artists - Louis Wain - Cat artist extraordinaire
- Louis Wain - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Louis Wain (1860-1939) was an English artist best known for his drawings, which consistently featured anthropomorphised large-eyed cats and kittens. ... - LOUIS WAIN - original artwork for sale | Chris Beetles
Large range of images from the Chris Beetles Gallery - Neuroscience Art Gallery: Art by Psychotics. Louis Wain
They have been painted by Louis Wain, a European artist in the beginning of this century. Since Wain was young, he used to draw and paint cats for ... - Mind Hacks: The false progression of Louis Wain
The five pictures are by Victorian artist Louis Wain who painted cats through the whole of his life and continued through periods of intense psychosis. ... - Louis Wain Kitten Book
Louis Wain Kitten Book. by Louis Wain n.a.. Rosetta Museum Store! ... her wonderful translation of "Louis Wain Kitten Book" into Italian. ...
BOOK: Louis Wain's Cats - by Chris Beetles
Amazon reviews: 5.0 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
This significant new biography by Chris Beetles, published by Worth Press, contains over 330 colour images.
It became an instant bestseller in the genre, propelling Louis Wain to the premier position amongst cat artists over the last 100 years.
BOOK: Movie Cats - by Susan Herbert
Amazon reviews: 5.0 out of 5 stars (6 customer reviews)
Susan Herbert has won a lot of fans for her feline art portraying cats as humans - this time she covers the movies.
BOOK: The Cats History of Western Art - By Susan Herbert
Amazon reviews: 5.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
Thirty-two cat paintings--based on masterpieces by Michelangelo, Whistler, Sargent, Van Gogh, and many others
Susan Herbert takes a humorous look at the history of art.
BOOK: Pre-Raphaelite Cats - by Susan Herbert
Amazon reviews: 5.0 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)
A collection of Susan Herbert's feline versions of famous Pre-Raphaelite paintings.
Paintings by artists such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Edward Burne-Jones and William Holman Hunt can be viewed in a new way when their protagonists are cats.
BOOKS Feline Art - books on Amazon
Articles about Feline Art
- The Guardian - Review: The Cat in Art by Stefano Zuffi | By genre | guardian.co.uk Books
The lion's sneezeStefano Zuffi's The Cat in Art looks at how depicting the feline has engrossed artists for millennia. Hooray, says Richard Cork
Famous Feline Artists - Steinlen
- Thophile Steinlen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Born in Lausanne, Steinlen studied at the local University before taking a job as a designer trainee at a textile mill in Mulhouse in eastern France. ... - Two Cats, 1894 - Theophile Alexandre Steinlen - Bridgeman Art On ...
Two Cats, 1894 by Theophile Alexandre Steinlen. Fine Art Prints from Bridgeman Art On Demand. Bespoke. Affordable. Quality. - Theophile Alexandre Steinlen Online
Theophile Alexandre Steinlen [Swiss-born French Art Nouveau Painter and Printmaker, 1859-1923] Guide to pictures of works by Theophile Alexandre Steinlen in ... - Theophile Alexandre Steinlen
He was very found of animals, especially cats, and often included them in his posters. Steinlen's cats proved so popular, in fact, that they became a ... - Thophile Alexandre Steinlen (Swiss/French), 1859-1923: Featured ...
Thophile Alexandre Steinlen - Two Cats and Re-Study (Works on Paper (Drawings ... Steinlen loved cats. At the beginning of his career, he drew them, ...
Art History - Feline Artists
- Arthur Heyer prints & canvases - Bridgeman Art On Demand
White cats - Tate Collection | Young Woman Holding a Black Cat by Gwen John
Gwen John 1876-1939 Estate of Gwen John. All Rights Reserved, DACS 2002 Young Woman Holding a Black Cat, circa 1920-5. Oil on canvas - Gwen John - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gwen John painted many cats - includes a watercolour of a cat - Tate Collection | Cat by Gwen John
Gwen John 1876-1939 Estate of Gwen John. - Tate Collection | A Sleeping Cat by Joseph Mallord William Turner
Joseph Mallord William Turner - 1775-1851. A Sleeping Cat circa 1796-7Chalk and watercolour on paper - Tate Collection | Wild Cat by Dame Elisabeth Frink
Dame Elisabeth Frink 1930-1993 Frink EstateWild Cat 1970. Lithograph on paper, image: 519 x 660 mm on paper, print - Tate Collection | Girl and Cat by John Russell
John Russell 1744-1807 Girl and Cat 1791 Pastel on paper support: 587 x 445 mm on paper - Manet - 'Woman with a Cat ('La Femme au chat')'
The sitter is Suzanne Leenhoff, whom Manet married in 1863, but had known since 1849, when she started to give piano lessons to the Manet family. The family cat, Zizi, was drawn many times by the artist, and also appears in watercolour sketches in hi - National Gallery: Judith Leyster (1609 - 1660) - A Boy and a Girl with a Cat and an Eel
It has recently been suggested that this painting serves as a warning against foolish and mischievous behaviour. The boy has used the small eel to entice the cat into his grasp and then withholds the bait, while the girl teases the cat further by pul - National Gallery: PERRONNEAU, Jean-Baptiste (1715 - 1783) A Girl with a Kitten
The girl, who has not been identified, has been posed by the artist, and the kitten by the girl; the apparent naturalness of the portrait is dependent on artifice. A cat is sometimes included in portraits of children as a symbol of the wildness of na
Major Cat Organisations
These are very helpful if you are looking for tips on different breeds of cats and their particular highlighted features and what a cat ought to look like
Major national cat societies
- Welcome to the UK Cat Fancy
The UK Governing Council of the Cat Fancy founded in 1910. The GCCF is the primary governing body of the Cat Fancy in the United Kingdom- the feline equivalent of the Kennel Club. - The Cat Fanciers' Association - The World's Largest Registry for Pedigreed Cats
The world's largest registry of pedigree cats.An informative insight into the world of pedigreed cats - with breeder search, breed profiles, top cat photos, cat show schedule, health articles - Cats Protection
Cats Protection is the UK's leading cat welfare charity, rehoming and reuniting 55,500 cats and kittens every year, through our network of over 250 voluntary-run branches and 29 adoption centres. - Cats Protection - The Cat magazine : About The Cat
The Cat, the official supporter magazine of Cats Protection. Published quarterly, The Cat is packed with news, views and features for those who share our passion for all things feline.
Stimulating the eye - images of cats and kittens
When I'm looking for some stimulation for my feline art endeavours I look at photos of cats and kittens taken by other people. Sometimes they remind of similar ones I've got of my own cats. Sometimes they give me an indication of what other people really like.
- The Queen - Rate My Kitten
Rate My Kitten - check out which images of cats and kittens ones people like best and least. - Funny Cat Pictures
Funny Cat Pictures - with Daily Updates of the interwebs best funny cat pictures.
Information about Cats, Breeds and Cat Societies
Breed standards
- The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy
The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy sets the Standards of Points for different breeds
Major Cat Shows - Places to find your next subject, check out breeds or maybe exhibit
- Supreme Cat Show | The Supreme Show of the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy.
Supreme Cat Show. The GCCF Supreme Cat Show - the feline equivalent of Crufts. - National Cat Club
Mr. Harrison-Weir founded the National Cat Club 1887 and was its first President and Show Manager. Then came the very famous artist Louis Wain as President and Show Manager and Judge.
Cat Societies - by breeds
Wanting to check the breed points or to find some cats as models - check out the cat societies and their cat shows
- British Shorthair Cat Club
British Shorthair Cat Club website, members can list their kittens, studs,with a new 'wanted' page for the special requests. All adverts are free, in addition news of our annual Championship show. - The Club for all siamese cats
The Club was formed in 1901 and celebratedits centenary on 16th January 2001. There are now many Siamese cat clubs, this is the original one catering exclusively for siamese cats - Colourpointed British Shorthair Cat Club
Established in 1991, the Colourpointed British Shorthair Cat Club is a Breed Club representing the British Shorthair Colourpointed, Chocolate and Lilac Related Series Cat within the UK. - The Bengal Cat Club
The Bengal Cat Club is affiliated to The Governing Council of the Cat Fancy and promotes the welfare and well-being of Bengal Cats in the U.K. - Burmese Cat Club UK
The Burmese Cat Club was formed in 1955 and is one of the largest cat clubs in the UK with a national and international membership. We exist to safeguard the wellbeing and the purity of the breed, and to encourage a wider appreciation of the unique q - Welcome To Progressive Ragdoll Breed Cat Club
ragdoll kittens, ragdoll breeders, british ragdoll, ragdolls in the uk - Maine Coone Breed Society
We are a Club affiliated to the GCCF in the UK. We are dedicated to the standard of points and the welfare of all Maine Coons. Our membership is open to anyone who would like to take part in keeping this breed pure and promoting it to others - Maine Coon Cat Club
The Club holds various social functions, an annual "virtual" photographic cat show and is heavily involved in the frequent Maine Coon Breed Seminars organised by the GCCF Maine Coon Breed Advisory Committee. - BIRMAN CAT CLUB(United Kingdom)
Founded 1969 - The Norwegian Forest Cat Club UK
The Norwegian Forest Cat is truly a natural breed and really does originate from Norway. The exact origins of the Forest Cats will never be precisely established, but one thing is certain: NFCs can be found in Norwegian folklore, where it is said tha - Oriental Cat Association
Covering a variety of oriental short-hairs
Cat Humour - Sites which give you a reminder of all the reasons we love cats
The Internet abounds with sites about the funny things cats do and these can provide a stimulus for feline artwork which people respond to. Here are a few aites which can give you "paws for thought" when you get an artistic block!
- Guidelines for Cats
Guidelines for Cats - how to live with humans and in their houses - and what to do about doors, chairs, rugs etc - CatStuff: The Mapping of a Cat's Brain
CatStuff: thousands of domestic cat graphics for web sites, a huge library of information about cats, games, much more.
© 2006 Katherine Tyrrell