Things You'll Need:
- Photos of the cat
- Pencil
- Oil, acrylic or watercolor paints
- Canvas (for oils or acrylics)
- Paper (for watercolors)
- Paintbrushes
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Step 1
Take a photo or two of the cat. It is much easier to work from a picture than from life, since cats are unlikely to sit still long enough for a portrait.
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Step 2
Sketch the main shapes of the cat and the background onto your canvas or paper. Use simple ovals for the cat's eyes and head and triangle for its ears. Draw smooth curves for its chest, back and tail.
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Step 3
Start by painting the background and whatever surface the cat is sitting on. Use colors that complement the cat's coloring, a dark background for a pale cat or a pale background for a dark cat.
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Step 4
Paint in some of the details and the light and dark areas of the cat's body. Add shadows by painting small areas of black where the shadows would naturally fall.
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Step 5
Use a finer brush to add highlights. Place light tones and whites in the areas where the light falls, usually these are opposite to the places you painted the shadows.
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Step 6
Frame the portrait and hang it on the wall, or wrap it to give as a gift.
