"Chomsky" - a very difficult cat portrait

---

I have previously done a commissioned portrait of a Border Terrier and you can see the finished picture on my Commissions page. I have also previously done a portrait of my own cat Gingersnap, which turned out well enough, but I don't think I really caught his character that well as he was quite a timid scaredy cat. ​​But this is the first time I've ever done a cat portrait commission, where it is vital that the end result not only looks like the subject, but also captures the personality of the cat.

​Although I have never had the pleasure of meeting "Chomsky", from his photographs I would say that he has shed loads of personality and I absolutely loved the photo that his owner and I decided should be the one I worked from. Apparently he is a cross between a Siamese and Tabby cat and he's also slightly cross-eyed.

​His owner requested a background of purple and green Harris Tweeds similar to the one I'd used in a previous picture of "Blossom" the angora goat. I also decided to use a grey/black herringbone Harris Tweed as the background for his fur and a pale yellowish green Harris Tweed for his eyes. ​

The rest of the picture was very gradually built up using a variety of needle felted wool yarns and unravelled individual threads taken from various Harris Tweeds. (You can find out more about how I create my pictures on my Needle Felting page.)
​
I have built up quite a collection of wool yarns to use in my work and some of them are so special it's almost hard to bring myself to use them! ​Two of the special yarns I used in this picture are hand-dyed boucle Herdwick yarns made by Mary Bell of Crookabeck Farm in Cumbria. I bought these ages ago from the Wool Clip in Caldbeck, Cumbria. Mary has retired from the Wool Clip now but you can still buy her yarns online or by visiting her farmshop. ​Anyway the colours fitted perfectly with a beautiful purple, pink and green patterned tweed in the background.

Although I loved the photo I was working from and ultimately I would say that I enjoyed doing this picture, I think it will be my last animal portrait as they are just so very challenging. I'd say that overall this picture took me twice as long as a picture of this size (12" x 12") usually does (35-40 hours) and it was easily the hardest thing I have ever done because it was just SO difficult to get his face right. I am really pleased with the end result, as is Chomsky's owner. But my husband Keith will tell you there was much bad language and talk of giving up half way through, when I just couldn't get the nose and eyes right. Anyway he's done now and so onto more pictures for my Bakehouse Gallery exhibition next summer.