Half and Half Challenge: How to Paint a Realistic Cat in Watercolor

[@glenda7921]

I’ve watched ALOT of watercolour tutorials..the “map” process you describe/demonstrate was so helpful!

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

I'm glad to hear this Glenda, thanks for letting me know!

[@tonialu8681]

I have been wanting to paint my cat for a while, but found it very intimidating to try. This video is very helpful. Thank you

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

I'm glad it was helpful! Thank you!

[@myrnalandersartist]

Love that idea of the grey map! Thank you for this!

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

I'm glad you like it - thank you!

[@MdSTherapeuticcoaching]

Amazing work, good teaching. Thank you!

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Thanks so much! I appreciate your message.

[@5yarcottages397]

What an inspiration ! Sweet soft and fluffy realism. Wonderful

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Thanks so much!

[@Kandicookheller]

This wonderful video at least confirms to me that I am doing everything correctly though with not so great results, from needing more practice. I am almost ready for your on-line school I think. I am much older than most of your students and haven't been painting all that long, starting in my sixties, but I desperately want to paint animals proficiently and with detail.. I have rescued and adopted my whole adult life. Cats or long-haired dogs are the most difficult things for me to paint. Your skills are perfection and I would love to keep learning from you.hope. I am so grateful for your videos and will watch them more now that I understand them better with a bit more experience.

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Hello! Thanks so much for your message - I look forward to seeing you in our school!

[@Fineanddandyart]

Incredibly helpful video! Thank you!

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

I'm glad it was helpful - thank you!

[@jonnelg7905]

Thankyou! It's really helpful!

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

I'm glad it's helpful, thank you!

[@nocturnalcat6701]

Very neat and very detailed tutorial 💖

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

I appreciate your input, thank you!

[@sandyphillips2467]

Beautiful thank you for your time Sandy

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Thank you Sandy, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[@redemissarium]

whata georgeous painting!! feel like I want to touch the cat fluffy hair!

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Thank you! I appreciate your message.

[@rolandevans5894]

Beautiful. Thanks for posting.

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Thank you Roland!

[@TheAleswiller]

Fantastic tutorial no waffle and straight to the point I’m attempting a two cat portrait, nervous to progress past the pencil this has given me some confidence thank you.

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

I appreciate your message, Darren - thank you! I hope the video will be helpful.

[@melissahunnybee2you]

That's amazing 😍

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Thank you! 😊

[@Elle-fp5uy]

Beautiful and informative, thank you so much.

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

You are so welcome! I'm glad it is helpful!

[@judymills873]

Wow! Amazing! I’m going to try the map, never heard of that before

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Thank you Judy, the map sure is helpful! Enjoy!

[@GiulianaBoaretto]

Che meraviglia!!! 😍 👏👏 Grazie per la lezione!!! Peccato non ci siano i sottotitoli in italiano...

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Thanks for your message!

[@muhlenstedt]

you are a very patient person and your hands make magic!

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Thank you!

[@jeromeanderson3007]

I’m new to the art world, and this video was very helpful and relaxing to hear you explain everything was fantastic thank you.

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

That's great! Best wishes in your artistic adventures!

[@seamama-o5j]

what brush and warter coler are you using? that's amazing !!! from japan I"won't paint like you

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Thank you so much! Materials are in the description.

[@willfhenning]

for the gray are you using water downed black?

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Yes, this is a thin consistency of what can be called black. I like to create grays and blacks with a mix of French Ultramarine Blue and Burnt Umber or Burnt Sienna.

[@annnoyez]

Beautiful

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Thank you!

[@Tide_ThePod]

Beautiful!!! ♥️♥️♥️ very inspiring and educational!

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Thanks, I'm glad to hear this!

[@tammylanglois2602]

This is lovely!

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Thank you Tammy, I'm glad you like it!

[@ashleyevans3330]

Brilliant way of teaching!

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Thank you Ashley!

[@Yoshette92]

Wow amazing !

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

I appreciate that, thanks!

[@jamesbon1]

Excellent teaching. Is the guache a pencil or thin brush?

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Thank you! This is a brush.

[@jessicagrill425]

I keep thinking how what you think looks sloppy looks so beautiful. My sister just lost her 29 year old cat. I am trying to paint a picture of her cat as a gift. This video really helped. Thank you!

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

I'm so glad it helped, thank you!

[@elahcasiano]

Hello Rebecca, this was a wonderful tutorial, very well explained. I would like to ask a question, since I don't have gouache, can I use acrylic? Thank you^^

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Yes, give it a try, and I'd love to hear how it goes!

[@elahcasiano]

@@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist well, I used my tiniest brush and used acrylic for the fur baby's whiskers, and it looks quite good. I'm so glad I watched this video! Thank you!

[@ChiBStudio]

How long (in real time) did this take you! And thank you for showing us the many steps of going over and over the same areas. Sometimes I even forget watercolor is a translucent medium and I end up applying to heavy 😅

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Thanks for your message! This took around 6 hours in real time. Yes, you've got it - thin layers are key.

[@sharonhood5027]

Can you tell me....what side of the paper do you use: the textured side or the smooth side? This is amazing! I have just discovered you and watercolor. I am liking it a lot! 😊 Thanks so much! Sharon from Maine

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Thank you Sharon! I like to use the side that is slightly smoother, but it's really personal preference.

[@sharonhood5027]

@@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist Thank you very much! I have drawn a pic of my cat, Charley, and I am hoping, with the help of your techniques, to make it come out wonderful. I love your channel. 😊

[@ingridgiguere5999]

What brush are you using??

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

This is a Michael Klein Synthetic Pointed Round #2 www.rosemaryandco.com/michael-klein-synthetic-pointed-rounds?u=rebeccarhodes

[@midgediener3461]

Your finished cat is stunning but you never said what colors to use, especially the eye color other than the yellow.. The fine detail is not shown so I’m makes it very difficult to paint.

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Colors used in the eye are yellow, green, and gray. You can find specific paints in the description. I invite you to follow the link in the description to the real-time tutorial in our watercolor school, where you can learn exactly how to paint the eye. Hope this helps!

[@sassylass9406]

I really enjoyed watching your art come to life. You’re very talented. Just one thing Rebecca. Please don’t write in the description about the download, the supplies for this cat artwork. This is a challenge and myself and others.. I’m sure.. thought that if we looked at your online school you would at least make the FREE tutorial be the rest of the cat and more emphasis on how you painted it. At this time there’s no way that I can afford a monthly subscription. I thought that what I just watched would be the continuation of it. Sadly it’s not. You need to word that differently please. I hopefully one day will be able to afford a month, and is there any place to show our side of the cat since it’s a challenge? Thanks again for your wonderful teaching. It sure helped. Hopefully I will be able to subscribe. I know I would enjoy it very much. Kindly, ~J~

[@RebeccaRhodesWatercolorArtist]

Thanks for your message, Janis! People like to show their side of the cat in our private Facebook group, Realistic Animals in Watercolor.