A new year is the perfect time to paint more cats!
I have a few art goals this year, including figuring out negative space (aka, white areas in the figure) and playing more with edge types. I think the edges are an improvement on this piece, but I definitely have a lot more work to do with negative space haha.
Do you have any creative goals this year?
Learn to paint like this through my Skillshare classes.
First Kitty of 2025 Read More »
Here’s my latest portrait of my oldest pup, Maulkin.
This painting is my annual gift to my cat/dog vet. We recently started Maulkin on acupuncture, which has made a huge difference for him, and this is a little commemorative piece. Because he’s so fluffy, the only needle visible on Maulkin is the one on his head button, and I always find that really funny.
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Let’s wrap up the year with another cat portrait! This is another take on my youngest cat, Sparc.
I’m really trying to make the purple-blue-green colour scheme work, but I think I keep picking the wrong reference photos for these pieces. Either way, I think this is more successful than my last attempt, and it definitely looks like Sparc!
Last Sparc of 2024 Read More »
Ball pythons are probably my favourite snake. Every one I’ve met has been super charismatic, and their patterns are so stunning.
I love painting reptiles because of the challenge of their scales. How many scales should be rendered so a snake doesn’t seem like a fleshy sausage or overworked and fake? It’s a tricky balance to strike, and I don’t think I nailed it here, but I think the snake turned out really cute anyway.
Learn to paint like this through my Skillshare classes.
Ball Python on Wood Read More »
Pet rock sticker pack!! It’s been a while since I’ve created a new sticker pack, but I could not resist these little guys! I had a ton of fun painting them and playing with all the textures. They gave me a chance to use my granulating watercolours, which I usually avoid. Which rock friend do you like best?
These crunchy friends are available on Etsy and in the Shop!
New Sticker Pack – Pet Rocks! Read More »
I painted this beautiful little lady as a memorial piece.
I love when commissioners choose poses that show off their pet’s personality rather than going for the classic, straight on portrait. There’s a lot to be said for classic portraits, but these pieces with unique poses and compositions feel extra special to me.
Learn to paint like this through my Skillshare classes: https://www.skillshare.com/en/user/squidtarts
Memorial Portrait – Sean Read More »
A new month means a new sticker design! This month we’re celebrating the most “doing her best” mom in urban nature, the hard-working pigeon. So what if her nest is two sticks and a burger wrapper and she feeds her kids nothing but stale popcorn and french fries?? At least she’s trying!
I had so much fun working on this. Pigeons are just too cute! I’d love to do a full sticker pack of rainbow pigeons and really explore their different colour patterns some day.
This sticker is available on my website and Etsy!
New Sticker! Good Mom Pigeon Read More »
This illustration started as a joke between my husband and I. When we go hiking off leash, Nonoha likes to run through the forest collecting tons of horse flies. She’s too fast for them to bite, but they love transferring to the slow bipeds and senior dog. We were joking that she needs to carry a frog to eat all her horse fly friends so they leave us alone.
This illustration was pretty experimental for me. I don’t usually do illustrations, especially with background (even simple ones like this). I used coloured pencils for the line work to make it quicker and easier. I’m considering illustrating a book in this style, but it’s a huge project, and I’m still noodling if it’s feasible with my health. Either way, this was a fun piece to paint!
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Frog Hat Illustration Read More »
It’s been a while since I’ve painted my beautiful, sassy boy, Scuzzy cat. Here he is in my favourite colour scheme! Warm colours feel extra bright against natural wood, and this piece really glows in person.
I’m still experimenting with backgrounds and trying to figure out what I like. These little splashes were a lot of fun! I like how they’re more controlled than splatters and more saturated than a faded wet-in-wet wash.
Support my work here:
Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/squidtartsart
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SquidTartsArt
Etsy: https://squidtartsart.etsy.com
Learn to paint like this through my Skillshare classes: https://www.skillshare.com/en/user/squidtarts
Scuzzy in Pink and Yellow Read More »
A new month means a new jumbo sticker! I’m not sure why I wanted to paint an axolotl (besides them being adorable), but I’m glad I did. This little cutie was really fun to draw and paint. Her goofy little feet are just too good!
This month’s sticker is extra special, because the exclusive sticker is holographic! This axolotl friend is covered in holographic bubbles that sparkle in the light and really complement her rainbow colours.
Jumbo, holographic axolotls are available through my Ko-fi and Patreon pages, or you can buy one directly through Etsy.
Standard 2.5” vinyl versions are available through Etsy and my website.
August Exclusive JUMBO Sticker – Axolotl! Read More »