A quick one from the is morning as I discovered one of our cats curled up in my jacket. I guess I’m working from home then! I didn’t want to disturb her so drew this quick ink sketch of her having a wash.
Sadly, we had to say goodbye to the SketcherCat, Mocha recently.
She had been with us for 21 years, half our lives and for the whole of the Sketcher Twins lives who are now half that age. There is a huge hole in our small family and we are struggling through, but it takes time and although she was old and we knew it was coming, the pain isn’t any the less.
I have sketched Mocha many times, she was my faithful sketching buddy.
Since she left I have been sketching a cat a day for a #100catsketches project, inspired by a gift card I received. I thought it was a good way to improve creative character drawing, adding a narrative to my drawings for my picture book work.
I’m posting them on Instagram and Twitter in more detail but thought I’d group them into 12’s on here. And here is the second 12, and the one below is my last one of Mocha, which may never be finished. 
1-12 of the 100 Cat Sketches Project
13-24 of the 100 Cat Sketches Project
Sadly, we had to say goodbye to the SketcherCat, Mocha recently.
She had been with us for 21 years, half our lives and for the whole of the Sketcher Twins lives who are now half that age. There is a huge hole in our small family and we are struggling through, but it takes time and although she was old and we knew it was coming, the pain isn’t any the less.
I have sketched Mocha many times, she was my faithful sketching buddy.
Since she left I have been sketching a cat a day for a #100catsketches project, inspired by a gift card I received. I thought it was a good way to improve creative character drawing, adding a narrative to my drawings for my picture book work.
I’m posting them on Instagram and Twitter in more detail but thought I’d group them into 12’s on here. So here is the first 12, and the one below is my last one of Mocha, which may never be finished.
1-12 of the 100 Cat Sketches Project
13-24 of the 100 Cat Sketches Project
Today the kids went back to school and Joanne and I got back in to our busy routines, and Mocha, our elderly indoor tortie cat seemed to take a large sigh of relief.
Last night she looked a little tired as she laid curled up in her basket by the radiator, her chin resting on the side of her basket. I drew this sketch, while she watched us all watching the television.
So enjoy the peace and quiet Mocha, it will soon be another noisy weekend!
I love how this puddy cat turned out. One of my first commissions of the lock down and as it was a gift I couldn’t share it right away.
Here are a few photos of how it came together, starting with a pencil sketch drawn from a photo, which was emailed to me.
I find portraits quite hard as I think everyone sees their loved ones slightly differently to everyone else, and matching that can be a little tricky. It is always such a relief when a client is pleased!
Once I was happy with my drawing I inked over and rubbed out the pencil marks, before adding a touch of watercolour to pick out the fur.
Finally I added the purple which was a bit of a gamble for me but he needed something to lie on and I like the contrast in the finished piece.
If you would like an original drawing of your pet drop me a line and I’ll send you price details and a few examples. Cheers, Mark ES
Inspired to draw a small sketch each morning before beginning my work.
Whilst watching last nights TV – a catch up of the brilliant Grayson Perry’s Art Club on 4od and especially the feature on painter and sculptor Maggi Hambling who starts every day with a drawing to get in the rhythm, I was inspired to do the same.
So here is mine today, Mocha, my muse again. This time in pencil with a wee dash of watercolour. Now to my commissions. Have a great day 😊
I recommend you all catch up on Grayson’s Art Club, fascinating and uplifting.
The Sketcher cat, Mocha. Not one for hogging the limelight, or even looking at you when sketching or taking a photo.Mocha is a beautiful tortoiseshell cat, fifteen years old and on the cold nights in Edinburgh she likes to curl up on my, or Mrs Sketcher’s knee.
I love to draw her fur, beautiful colours but also random line work, a change from the ordered straight lines from buildings and architecture.
As she was on Sunday evening as we both watched Shetland together. Very tense we thought it was too.
Sketch is in blanck fine liner with a watercolour wash. If you would like your pet portrait sketched prices start at £65. Email me at contact@www.edinburghsketcher.com
This is the sketcher cat, Mocha. Or rather her back as she is currently sat on the bed with her back to me, making a very loud purring noise.
A ‘torty’, Mocha is now 12 years old and has been an ‘indoor cat’ from birth. We picked up her and her sister from Edinburgh’s Cat and Dog Home in 2001. Unfortunately we lost her sister, Pheobe a good few years ago now, she was a poorly cat.
Mocha has seen a few changes though, most notably the arrival of the twins 2 years ago, and has taken it all in her stride. You’ll often find her high on a door top looking down on us all 🙂
Highlights from the lives of my two wee toddlers James and Zoe…
Given a photo of a wee doggie recently Zoe, now a year and a half old was adamant that the image was that of a cat. No matter how many times we told her otherwise that picture was a cat in her eyes. And to be honest I think she has a point, its definitely a very cat-looking dog.
Amazing machines when they work, not so when they don’t.
Tonight I’ve been trying to speed up Mrs Sketchers laptop, which is days old and struggling to startup. Fingers crossed it’s running okay now but when the computer says ‘no’ you realise how much we now depend on them.
Like for catching up on Australian soap ‘Neighbours’ 🙂
