Easy Cat Painting: Paint Symbols, Not Every Whisker
Skip the 47 whiskers. Paint loose, playful green cats over collage paper and a reject using simple shapes, bold color, and a little line work.
Just because you want to paint a cat doesn’t mean you have to paint every eyelash, every strand of fur, and 29 eye sparkles. Here’s an easier, more fun way.
Paint symbols of cats
We’re not really painting cats. We’re painting symbols of cats: shapes, colors, and lines. You don’t need 47 whiskers to tell someone they’re looking at a cat.
If you’re someone who needs everything perfect, this is for you. Let it go a little.
What you need
- An old rejected watercolor
- Random scrap collage paper
- Acrylics (and inks if you have them)
- Whatever brush is lying around
Almost any color combination works. Chaotic background patterns, random colors, big bold splashes of solid color. Start with a reject and see how to start mixed media with crayon and watercolor rejects.
Want to Create Loose Mixed Media Art, Slacker? Learn the fundamentals, experiment with collage and layers, and develop your own expressive style.
Step by step
- Glue down random collage paper over the reject.
- Paint big, bold cat shapes in solid green. (Or pink, blue, or white. It doesn’t matter.)
- Come back with line work for the face, tail, and legs.
- Stop. That’s a cat.
They look playful, fun, and energetic, like they just stepped out of a jazz club. For another take on this, see cat silhouette painting with mixed media collage.
Art is supposed to be fun
You don’t have to impress people with technique and photo realism. It’s okay if the art is fun. Put it on your wall and you’ve got a conversation piece, something people will talk about and you’ll enjoy looking at.
No stress. No 47 whiskers. No 29 eye sparkles. It’s okay to enjoy yourself when you’re creating.
For more, see 10 tips for painting loose.
Learn Structure. Paint Loose.
Construct. Deconstruct. Explore. Repeat.
Easy cat painting FAQ
How do I paint a cat easily?
Use simple shapes and solid color, then add a little line work. Skip the fine details.
Do cats have to be realistic?
No. Green, pink, or blue cats all work great.
What can I use for the background?
Scrap collage paper, an old reject, or a messy painted surface.
Do I need fancy supplies?
No. Scrap paper, acrylics, and whatever brush you have is plenty.
