The Lull Before The Storm

With this painting, I've rediscovered my muse - Detail.

One of my most fulfillig and satisfying paintings thus far, it's taken me time to paint this one,layer by layer. It amkes for a rare case of patience too, as I looked at it from a distance and began adding depth and colour with each such scan. It's been inspired from an art-book that I'd bought a while ago - sometimes all it takes to sit at the art-table is a cloudy memory of an image, blending with the restlessness of imagination. I'd never painted an animal before this (I've preferred to make their silhouettes against sunsets and the like, thus escaping the vigour required to capture the fur, the whiskers and the expressions!).

I particularly loved the flush of the red leaves that bring verve to this otherwise sombre scene. The creases in the cat's face, the paws, the tiny ears - each of them was a separate study in colour, density and exaggeration! I am thrilled with the result :D