Italia's Cat (2023)

This portrait was created as a gift and memorial, painted for a friend in remembrance of her cat. The work approaches loss through stillness rather than sentiment, portraying not absence but enduring presence. In painting the subject, I aimed to capture the subtle balance between portraiture and memory — how an image can hold life long after it has passed.

This portrait was created as a gift and memorial, painted for a friend in remembrance of her cat. The work approaches loss through stillness rather than sentiment, portraying not absence but enduring presence. In painting the subject, I aimed to capture the subtle balance between portraiture and memory — how an image can hold life long after it has passed.

The composition is kept deliberately simple. A soft chiaroscuro lighting isolates the face against a dark background, drawing attention to the luminous amber eyes that seem both alert and distant. The direct gaze evokes familiarity, while the slight upward tilt of the head suggests dignity. Every mark was made with attention to character: the faint gloss of the fur, the curve of the whiskers, the small patterned bow. These details turn likeness into recognition.

More than representation, Italia’s Cat functions as a keepsake — a gentle space where affection and art converge. It reflects my belief that portraiture, whether human or animal, exists not only to record but to preserve the quiet, living qualities that memory alone cannot hold.

Painted digitally using a restrained palette of muted browns and soft neutrals, the piece draws on classical oil portrait lighting to heighten intimacy. The fur was built through layers of fine, semi-transparent strokes, contrasting with the dark, near-monochrome background to create depth and atmosphere. Light was introduced subtly around the face to suggest warmth, while texture overlays emulate the natural weave of linen. The result is both painterly and personal — a quiet study in remembrance.