How To Draw A Cat

 I start with a photo. This one was taken by Austin Photographer Deborah Cannon (this kitty showed up at her house and she put the photo up on facebook to find it a home)  I'm using it here with her permission. First I create a pattern either by tracing major lines with tracing paper or doing a free-hand drawing and then making a copy of that with my printer on white paper. I could use the tracing paper pattern to transfer, but it doesn't show up well on the black surface of the Scratchboard, the lines kind of disappear.

 Then, I transfer the lines to the board by rubbing white chalk on the back of the pattern, taping the pattern to the board, then drawing over the lines. After that I lightly cut the lines in with a scratchboard knife. The chalk then can be wiped off.  The board I use is made by Ampersand Art in Austin. Their official name for it is Scratchbord and it is the best.

 Next I start adding detail using a fiberglass brush tool and more cutting with the knife. I've added some ink already just to illustrate for you how it is moving on.

Scratching even more out here. I love when it starts to pop off of the board. Instant gratification!

I've added more color and more scratching here. I'm using a combination of Claybord Inks by Ampersand plus Liquitex Acrylic Inks and even some Pelikan Ink.

After the ink is dry I scratch some more away and add some background fun. This photo is not the greatest but you get the idea. There's a lot of detail lost in this photo, I will scan it into my computer later and it will be perfect.  Last thing to do is give two light coats of Krylon Workable Fixitif spray. Then I'm done. This is basically how I do it. I will be drawing kitties for the Cat Scratchin' book in about a month...but only if I raise the total amount of funding on kickstarter. Look for the link here. If you can toss in some dollars to help that would be sweet. If you've got a cat for me to draw, even sweeter. There are some pretty great rewards(at least I think so!) for you at all different levels.