About
Santa Fe-Based Artist
I’ve been drawing cats in humorous situations for most of my life, inspired by the many cats I’ve had. When I moved to the Southwest in 2022, I fell in love with the colors and landscapes of New Mexico and with the ginger cat I adopted, who loves to explore those landscapes with me in his trusty cat-pack. I found myself drawn to the old cowboy artwork and movie posters from the silent film era through the 1960s. One day I drew a cat version of Tom Mix’s The Fighting Streak (The Fighting Tabby) and the rest is history.
Step One
Sketch
After I select a film poster for cat-ification, I uses Adobe Fresco to draw my designs. I start by creating a sketch using blue lines. It's rough but helps get everything into place and set out the proportions.
Step Two
Cat Puns
After I finish the sketch, I move on to making the title and all the cat names into cat puns. The Big Trail becomes The Big Tail, John Wayne becomes John Mayne etc. Sometimes the puns are easy, like TomCat Mix instead of Tom Mix, and others take more time to think of, like George Hackleback instead of George Hackathorne. Cat-ification is a real skill.
Step Three
Line Drawing
After I am satisfied with the sketch and lettering, I lighten the blue sketch layer and, in another layer, draws out the lines for the finished design. This step is also when I add the details of the cats' faces after finding models with the appropriate facial expressions. Sometimes, the line drawing follows the sketch exactly, and sometimes, it deviates a lot.
Step Four
Color
Once the lines are drawn, I add colors to the designs. The colors are drawn in solid sections, making a mosaic of hues rather than a blended or gradient effect one might get from painting or other techniques. Bringing the design to life with vibrant colors is my favorite part.
Step Five
Finishing Touches
Finally, I check over the finished piece looking for any flaws or missing shadows. Once satisfied, I move the file to the computer and sizes it for printing.
Step Six
Printing
I worked hard to find the best printers, going over many samples and proofs of my various offerings, ensuring that I have high-quality finished products with vibrant colors. Once they arrive, I double-check the quality, and, if excellent, they're ready for purchase.