A sad story about an artist who painted cats. Cats in foreign art: contemporary animal artists American artist Joy Campbell

Cats are incredibly graceful and beautiful animals, so drawing them is a real pleasure. For beginning artists who have recently begun to master graphics, master classes on how to draw a cat with a pencil step by step are suitable.

Creating such cats does not require skill, talent or artistic taste. If a child asks to draw a cat, and time is short, then you can limit yourself to funny images.

Sleeping kitten

Anyone can easily draw such a sleeping miracle. All you need for this is an A4 sheet, soft and hard pencils, an eraser, a little patience and perseverance.

Stage 1: We start drawing a sleeping cat from the head. For this hard pencil draw a circle and mark thin auxiliary lines. The vertical divides the muzzle clearly in half, and the horizontal goes so that the upper part accounts for more than half of the circle.

Stage 2: Focusing on the auxiliary lines marked in the first stage, we outline the kitten’s eyes, nose and mouth.

Stage 3: Mark the outline of the head with a soft pencil. We draw the ears, protruding fur, and a funny “whirlwind”.

Stage 4: draw the body of the animal and draw the tail. Please note that the kitten is curled up into a ball, so the tail covers part of the muzzle.

Stage 5: At the last stage, the paws and whiskers are drawn. Use an eraser to carefully erase any excess lines and markings. The kitten is ready. If desired, you can color it with paints or colored pencils, or leave it as is.

Mischievous kitten

Any child will love this naughty baby. You need to start drawing a mischievous kitten from the head. Draw a circle, add triangular ears and draw a muzzle. Then comes the drawing of the torso and paws. Play with your kitten's emotions and show your child that... small parts The mood of the cat shown in the picture depends. Surprise can be conveyed through wide-open eyes; a protruding tongue will add mischief, and by moving the pupils slightly to the side, you can make a thoughtful or sad cat.

Kitten made of circles

Even a child can make this drawing of a cat from circles with a pencil, since it is one of the most simple ways for beginners. The animal is drawn from the back, so there is no need to draw features and maintain proportions.

First, two circles are drawn on the sheet so that they slightly intersect each other. In this case, the diameter of the lower one should be approximately twice as large as the upper one. Then the ears are drawn to the upper part, and the tail to the lower part. Then the mustache is drawn and the fur is randomly marked.

One circle, two circle

Another clear example of how you can quickly and easily draw a cat with a pencil.

The larger circle is drawn first, and then another, smaller circle is drawn inside it. Add ears, facial features and a tail. Children will love a funny sleeping kitten and can quickly distract a child and cheer him up.

Such a sketch is something between simple schematic images and realistic drawings animals.

We mark the outline of the animal with thin auxiliary lines made with a hard stylus. The sketch of the head looks like an octagon, the ears are triangles, and the body is a rectangle or cylinder. After this we make markings for the paws.

We draw a horizontal line in the center of the head, thus indicating the level of the eyes. Draw sketches of the mouth and nose, round eyes. We draw a chin and mustache.

We define the muzzle more clearly. We draw in detail the eyes, nose, mustache and cheeks. Soft pencil draw fibers on the ears, head and muzzle. Then we draw the front paws with claws and pads, and detail the hind paws.


At the final stage, all auxiliary lines are carefully erased. It's time to draw fur. For these purposes, a 2M (or 2B) lead is best suited, but in principle you can use any soft one.

Realistic

Many people think that realistic portraits pets - not the best simple task for beginners, but in reality not all sketches are difficult. You can verify this using the example step by step instructions to the portrait of the Scottish Fold.

Draw a Scottish fold cat with a pencil

Scottish Folds are loved by many breeders for their disposition and charming appearance. Thanks to distinctive feature breed - with ears curved forward and down, these cats look so cute that it is impossible to resist squeezing such a mustache. We offer simple step by step lesson for beginners how to draw a British cat with a pencil step by step.

At the first stage, auxiliary lines are drawn with a hard pencil: 1 vertical and 2 horizontal. The vertical one shows the center of the muzzle, so it needs to be shifted slightly to the right relative to the center of the page, since the cat is sitting slightly turned.

The horizontal ones should be parallel to each other, as they indicate the size of the animal's eyes. After this, you need to start drawing the contour of the muzzle and eyes.

Important! For a cat to be proportional, the distance between the eyes must correspond to the size of the eye.

When drawing a nose, remember that its size should be less (narrower) than the distance between the eyes.

Then, using an M or TM stylus, we darken the eyes and nose. More experienced artists If you are confident in your movements, you can use a black pen for these purposes.

To make the cat’s look “alive”, do not forget to leave unpainted, white areas, as in the picture.

For the third step, you will need a 2M (or B2) pencil. Carefully, using smooth lines, shading the strokes, darken the areas around the pupils. Notice how the color goes from darkest (around the pupils) to lightest. Then, with a hard stylus, arrows are marked in the direction from the nose. They show directions for drawing fur.

Using the softest stylus (it is better to use B4 or 4M), focusing on the arrows, draw the darkest fur. The crown and fur under the ears should be the darkest.

To complete the picture, draw in the remaining fur. The cat is ready

Attention! The color of the bristles depends on the force of pressure.

It's the most luxurious month outside, and that's why we've put together a big and fluffy March post.
All over our vast Earth, in every country, even the smallest, many artists are terribly fond of cats.

They are touched by their habits, expressions on their faces and eyes. They lose their vigilance. And cats, playing on feelings, quietly and mercilessly steal hearts. Forever.

But you can enjoy beautiful works of art, imbued with love for these cunning faces.
We have put together the fluffiest, warmest collection of paintings from artists from different parts of the world whose hearts have been stolen by cats.

Rihards Donskis, artist from Latvia



Rihards Donskis is an artist from Latvia who works under the name Apofiss. Richard creates atmospheric, slightly mystical illustrations where the cutest cats reign. Tender eyes with a piercing expression on their faces win the love of the viewer at first sight.

Englishwoman Kim Haskins




Artist Kim Haskins was born in England. Kim mostly works acrylic paints on cardboard or canvas. Her shaggy multi-colored cats with round eyes always bring wide smiles. It is impossible to forget these cute striped bunches. Kim's cats easily, even too easily, steal the hearts of many who look at them.

American artist Joy Campbell




American illustrator Joy Campbell lives in Winlock, Washington. He has been painting for over 30 years. Now he works in oil, and, of course, his favorite theme of the canvases is cats. Her cats are happy with life and self-sufficient. They lounge on sofas and tables, playfully look into people's eyes and completely control people's hearts.

Lithuanian artist Norville




Lithuanian artist Norvile (Norvile Dovidonyte, Nora) is the owner of the red-haired inspiration of Elvis. She loves to draw cats and create an inexhaustible source of Have a good mood and a kind smile. Nora creates a cozy simple life, conveys the funny habits of cute animals. She has long and tenderly been in love with cats.

Vladimir Rumyantsev, artist from St. Petersburg




Vladimir Rumyantsev is a member of the St. Petersburg Union of Artists and the St. Petersburg Society of Watercolorists. He is a member of the Russian Union of Artists. His works are in museum collections in Russia, as well as in private collections in Germany, the USA, Great Britain, Finland and Sweden. His cats are romantic. They see angels, love flowers and the lyrical city on the Neva.

Japanese artist Makoto Muramatsu




Japanese artist Makoto Muramatsu creates incredible tenderness. Cute, velvet cats stole his heart long ago. And now they are stealing the hearts and souls of everyone who stops to admire the incredible cuteness of Makoto’s cats. Muramatsu tenderly describes each cute face and admires his soft pets. Romantic from the Land of the Rising Sun.

Moskvich Stepan Kashirin




Kashirin Stepan Vladimirovich was born in Moscow. He is a member of the UNESCO Federation of Artists. On his canvases, cats live like fluffy, warm people. They drive cars, have get-togethers, and have weddings. Stepan creates life situations, filled with understandable and kind humor. Funny emotions are written on the faces of his cats.

Russian Valery Khlebnikov




Valery Ivanovich Khlebnikov was born in the city of Vyshny Volochek, Tver Region. Now lives in the Moscow region. Already at the age of three, little Valera drew his first picture. And it was, of course, a cat. His cats are like heavy, gentle giants. It's great to cuddle with such a cat and not have to worry about anything. Valery's works are full of humor, kindness and warmth.

Vladimir Stakheev, born in Leningrad




The painter Vladimir Yuryevich Stakheev was born in Leningrad. I have been involved in illustration for many years. The cats from his graphic series are very elegant, emotional and beautiful. Their faces convey feelings so clearly that the cats’ thoughts can be read. Cats are angry, curious, surprised, want something, are afraid of something. They are endowed with a bright character.

Vasya Lozhkin from Solnechnogorsk




Vasya Lozhkin was born in Russia, in the city of Solnechnogorsk. He draws with inimitable humor, conveying the emotions of his ginger cats. Although, as he himself jokingly admits, he doesn’t know how to draw. Vasya also admits that his paintings are actually fairy tales with good ending. So there is hope that there will still be enough sausage for everyone.

Lesley Anne Ivory

English artist, textile designer by training. She taught for several years. She successfully exhibited at the Royal Academy and other galleries. Her paintings and drawings with cats are extremely popular all over the world. Leslie Ann Ivory's cats decorate calendars, cards, notebooks, cups, clocks, photo frames, etc. Lesley Ann Ivory has published illustrations for several dozen books, including her own books. For example, "Meet My Cats" talks about 12 own cats artist, and "Perfect Kitties" is an album of drawings by Lesley Ann Ivory, which are accompanied by sayings of poets and writers, ranging from Baudelaire to Tennessee Williams.

Lesley Ann Ivory paints primarily in watercolor and gouache. Her work is influenced by her fascination with Indian and Persian patterns, as well as medieval mosaics and frescoes. Cats in her paintings are often depicted against complex ornamental backgrounds.

The artist who only painted cats

10 facts about Henrietta Ronner-Kniep, whose cats helped her win the love of European monarchs and feed her large family

The artist had no other teachers except her father

Henrietta Kniep ( Henriette Ronner-Knip, 1821 - 1909) was born in Amsterdam. Her father Joseph August Kniep was an artist who painted city views and battle scenes. He began to pass on his craft to his daughter as soon as she reached the age of six: the fact is that already at the age of five she tried to copy his work. By this time, his father had already begun to lose his sight, so Henrietta had to not only study, but also help him: after all, the family’s income depended on how many paintings he painted and what quality.

By the age of 16, Henrietta had succeeded so much that she not only participated in an exhibition, but also sold her painting there - there was a cat in the painting, but the artist would continue to experiment with themes and characters for a long time.

Henrietta never studied at any academies.

Everyone in her family were artists

Pauline Riefer de Courcelles' mother specialized in painting birds. Aunt Henrietta Gertrude Kniep (our heroine was named after her) painted lush floral bouquets. And my paternal grandfather was also an artist.

At first she preferred to portray dogs

Henrietta Ronner-Kniep took on any orders, and at one time her frequent clients were poor merchants who transported their goods in small carts drawn by dogs. Very quickly, such paintings from Ronner-Knip became a trend among merchants - and everyone considered it their duty to order portraits of their helper dogs. Later, wealthy customers also came along - the nobility also wanted to portrait their dogs.

In 1876, Ronner-Kniep painted the favorite dogs of the Queen of the Netherlands - the talented artist immediately became popular with monarchs from other countries. European countries: she is commissioned to paint with her favorites by Kaiser Wilhelm I of Germany, Princess of Wales, Duchess of Edinburgh...

Cats came into the artist’s life when she was already over 50

In the 1870s, Maltese lap dogs were replaced by seals in decent homes: now it became fashionable to keep them. Henrietta Ronner-Kniep also got herself cats: especially since the children grew up (two also became artists), and she wanted to take care of someone. The artist becomes a cat lover - for the next 30 years, until the end of her life, she will paint only cats, watching their games, admiring their poses and, judging by the paintings, allowing them absolutely everything.

She animated the cats

Henrietta Ronner-Kniep's cats don't wear clothes and don't go to work. But she is considered one of the artists with whom the fashion for anthroporism in animal painting began: animals began to be depicted as similar to people - with complex emotions, characters, and a deep, meaningful look.

The subjects of Henrietta Ronner-Kniep's cat portraits are real individuals.

And it's not just the eyes, but also the subjects and titles of paintings

The titles of Henriette Ronner-Kniep's paintings add her furry heroes“humanity”: it seems that in stories with such names people should act, but no.

Her painting has changed greatly throughout her career

Of course, Henrietta Ronner-Kniep did not take important place in the history of painting, you will not find her name in textbooks - among those who changed the visual language, said a new word, invented their own inimitable style. But this does not change the fact that she was a popular, obviously talented artist and, even having found her main subject, continued to experiment with style. It is enough to compare two paintings by Henrietta Ronner-Kniep to see the journey she has taken. At the very beginning she paints pictures in the spirit of old Dutch masters: dark background, smooth, neat strokes. And her last works- this is straight up impressionism: light colors, textured dynamic strokes.

The artist's career lasted more than 70 years

She lived for 87 years, worked until the end, and, as we know, from the age of 16 she painted paintings for sale.

She was active, hardworking, but she was not a feminist

And all because of cats. Here's how Philip Hook, author of Breakfast at Sotheby's, explains why women's rights activists won't make an icon out of Henrietta Ronner-Kniep:

She specialized in depicting cats and kittens, often naughty: playing with balls of wool, turning over jugs of milk in the interiors of rich bourgeois living rooms, similar to those in which admiring buyers of her works lived. Madame Ronner-Kniep will never become a feminist icon. The reason is that it too easily found its place in the existing social order and painted pictures on subjects that did not in any way threaten the dominance of men.

Her paintings sold well during her lifetime and today cost tens and even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

She was always the breadwinner. First in her parents' family: as soon as her father finally lost his sight, Henrietta herself carried out all the orders: landscapes, genre scenes, portraits... Then she would get married, move with her husband to Brussels, give birth to six children - and again she would earn money for everyone: no, no , the marriage was happy, but the husband was sick all the time. Fortunately, there were always enough orders: many wanted to see sentimental scenes with animals performed by Ronner-Kniep in their living rooms. Many people want them now - and pay a lot of money for them at auctions.

Illustrations: the-athenaeum.org, sothebys.com, christies.com, artuk.org

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