White fur, always challenging!

I decided today to move away from the face and get the body done, so I can then work out the final tonal values. He's got a white bib, and you know its gorgeously soft to stroke. This is very hard effect to achieve when its white fur, you have to use very subtle tones to stop it looking coarse. I've begun to consider these tonal values and colours in the white, however I'm not getting much help from my reference photo as the chest is very over exposed. I have tried to play on the computer to enhance it with limited success. My latest plan is to get a photo of my cat, but I doubt she'll oblige to pose!

I thought I should post the reference photo so you can make your mind up if my painting resembles the cat.

Getting tabby!

I've been getting stuck into the tabby pattern today, he's a beautiful cat, but he's very labour intensive! I've applied a basic base of gouache paint to achieve some basic colour and tone, now I'm working into them layer by layer to get the texture of the cat's fur. He still needs more richness to the colour of his coat, I've yet to start his body! As usual I'm struggling to find the time I'd like for my art, I've only got two days left before half-term school hols so I know my time next week will be zero! On the positive side of this of course I get to spend a week with my boys, also we're off to the Lake District for a few days. I'm hoping to get some piccies whilst I'm there. Anyway as usual I will plod on!

Wip day 3

Looking back at this the nose needs a tweak! Lots to do on this, as usual my work consists of an hour here and an hour there. I'm beginning to work some form into the basic colour blocks I put down yesterday. I need to have a go at the shape of his nose tomorrow.

Tabby commission day 2

I had a little time today to block in some very basic colours. He's not looking much like a tabby yet, but I need to get the undercoat tones first. The lady who's commissioning this painting has asked that I keep the background fairly neutral. The cat is on a textured carpet so I want to include some of that. The wall behind him has a cool tone so I am going to have a little blue in the beige to help bring out the warm tones in the cats fur.