How I Paint a Black Cat in Oils & My Favorite Brushes for Painting Fur

[@megangarcia6991]

I appreciate that you spent time discussing exactly what you were doing, how were you thinking, the brush size you were using etc. It’s EXTREMELY helpful vs others who simply paint in front of you and call it a “tutorial.” Thank you for sharing the entire mental and physical process. MUCH appreciated!

[@CaroleRodrigue]

I’m really happy I was able to help. Thanks for the kind comment!

[@MisstressMourtisha]

same.

[@Russozzie]

Agree, others just don't want you to learn 😅 thanks to the author 🎉

[@patricia-eo3bz]

I am attempting my first cat in oils so I am watching your video over and over again. It is so helpful. Thank you

[@CaroleRodrigue]

Glad this is helping. Best of luck with your portrait!

[@margehaiduc9096]

Very informative... thank you ❤

[@MisstressMourtisha]

really appreciate all the tips to work with oils as a medium to get the desired effect.

[@svetlanamanning5155]

Excellent teaching. You are an amazing artist.

[@jefftischler7422]

Thank you for the tutorial. I've been a fine photo-realistic painter for years but I've been intimidated about doing an animal. I've been wanting to paint a portrait of my favorite cat that passed a long time ago. She was charcoal and I never could get it started properly. I'm going to try it now. Thanks again, excellent!

[@CaroleRodrigue]

I hope this helps with your painting! Best of luck to you Jeff. ☺️

[@davekennedy52]

Amazing how many times I've watched this video, thank you

[@pamblevens8897]

Thank you so much for an oil demo! Very nice!

[@CaroleRodrigue]

Pam Blevens my pleasure! I’m glad you enjoyed it. ☺️ There will be more oil painting videos in the future too.

[@sherlynn7211]

love how you do eyes,, thank you for such a wonderful tutorial : so helpful,, especially for black fur .

[@CaroleRodrigue]

Thank you! I’m glad you found this helpful. ☺️

[@kaylane_.018]

Amazing, congratulations!!!

[@SavannahRaeSisk]

GORGEOUS

[@CaroleRodrigue]

Thank you!

[@jackiegarroutte8970]

BBeautiful painting!

[@CaroleRodrigue]

Thank you!

[@mariasommer8151]

Thank you for the great tutorial, I would like to know what did you mix for the green eye, the one on the right of my screen. I love your work.

[@anthonyspencer2826]

Beautiful painting...

[@CaroleRodrigue]

Thank you!

[@DrWhom]

Good tips all.

[@bipbip9294]

Magnifique! j'adore!!!!!! Merci pour ce partage.

[@CaroleRodrigue]

bip bip C'est mon plaisir! J'apprécie votre appui!

[@angelalittlejohn2301]

Absolutely beautiful and so realistic (new subscriber)!!! 🤗

[@CaroleRodrigue]

Thank you!

[@janlowe4980]

so beautiful, thank you for sharing.

[@CaroleRodrigue]

Jan Lowe My pleasure Jan. Thank you for watching and commenting!

[@CaroleRodrigue]

For full tutorials in oils or pastels, join my Patreon! www.patreon.com/CaroleRodrigue

[@richardsharp9605]

Lovely painting, just taken this up as a hobby and want to paint our mainly black and little white cat that passed a few months ago. How long to you leave oils to dry before next layer as I thought they take a very long time to dry ? Thanks :)

[@CaroleRodrigue]

Thanks Richard. I use Liquin which speeds up drying time. I usually let dry to the touch and then I can continue layering. With Liquin that can take anywhere from 5 hours to overnight.

[@richardsharp9605]

@@CaroleRodrigue many thanks, will give this a go 😳

[@Victoria-vr9ze]

This is amazing!

[@CaroleRodrigue]

Thank you Victoria!

[@CeciliaDietrichArt]

Beautiful painting! Well done! I like to turn my paintings upside down as well to make painting easier. :D

[@CaroleRodrigue]

It sure helps! And thanks. ☺️

[@VintageJoBeth]

Lovely video! Can I ask, do we need to worry about fat over lean if using liquin/liquin fine detail in all the painting layers?

[@CaroleRodrigue]

Fat over lean should never be ignored. You don’t want the top layer drying faster than the one underneath, otherwise the paint will crack. You can always add linseed oil.

[@Dizzy7878]

How do you paint the whiskers and what kind/size of brush? Thanks

[@CaroleRodrigue]

Use a fine liner like a 1 or 0

[@Bigred443]

How did you transfer the picture on to the canvas?

[@susanlindblad234]

Carole, I LOVED this cat painting. I'm hoping to paint our much loved black Labrador soon and the colors you used will be so helpful! Any tips on capturing her beautiful brown eyes?

[@CaroleRodrigue]

Susan Lindblad glad you liked this! Good luck with painting your dog. I have a fair sized playlist of full step by step videos. This one here might help you. Remember to paint what you see. Start with dark and build lighter layers. Only practice will make perfect! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKDVhJp9fNaEd7s

[@debbiekelly4316]

Thank you so much for sharing your paint mixes and brush choices. I'm painting commissioned pet portraits but I'm still learning. My go to size is an 8 x 10 but I think this is too small to get the eye detail. What is your preferred size? Also, on your reference photo - do you use a Ipad or other device or do you print out the photo? Thank you!

[@CaroleRodrigue]

I’ve done a lot of 8 x 10’s, but 11 x 14 is my favourite size. It’s just right to get all the details in and not so big that it takes forever. I work looking at my computer screen. I have a large iMac, and this way I can enlarge when I need to see better. I have terrible vision so a print out doesn’t cut it for me to see details. Thanks for the questions!

[@deborahanderson1287]

Do you have problems of wet paint on dry oil paint beading up? I have to oil out between layers or beading happens and even when I do this sometimes I have trouble with the blending into the bottom layer. If I use linen canvas this isn't as bad a problem but cotton canvas it happens all the time. I have really been doing wet on wet oil painting cause this beading is such a problem. My last paintings have been maybe 2 layers cause I get so sick of this problem. Any advise would be so appreciated because I used acrylic paint for years so I am very used to layering cause acrylic is just layer after layer to achieve realistic paintings.

[@CaroleRodrigue]

Sounds like your initial layers are too fatty or have too much oil. This can create surface tension, or oily shiny parts where paint will bead, or so I’ve read. I’ve personally never had this happen in nearly 40 years so I can just assume this is what the problem is. Thin the initial layers either with Liquin, turpentine, or mineral spirits. You need to remember the fat over lean rule. Keep the first layers thin, then build up with thicker fattier paints. I also use linseed oil for my fatty layers. I no longer work with Liquin as I did at the time of this video, but I use oil mediums instead but just the last layers. If you still keep having this issue , oiling out is the right thing to do. I read a bit of alcohol can help too.

[@ПознавайМир2019]

At -6:10 minutes the cats color suddenly changed, didnt show how change color