Cats are an ideal subject for watercolor paintings, as they are charming and mysterious. That's why I've gathered 28 Watercolor Cat Painting Ideas in this list.
Both novice and experienced artists will love these charming yet artistic drawings of our feline friends.
Let's explore!
Contents
- 1 28 Watercolor Cat Painting Ideas
- 1.1 Reading
- 1.2 Night
- 1.3 Simple Kitty
- 1.4 Ghost
- 1.5 Jumping
- 1.6 Man
- 1.7 Norwegian Forest
- 1.8 Vintage
- 1.9 Abstract
- 1.10 Brown
- 1.11 Calico
- 1.12 Couple
- 1.13 Family
- 1.14 Fish
- 1.15 Ginger
- 1.16 Garden
- 1.17 Laying
- 1.18 Paw
- 1.19 Ragdoll
- 1.20 Red
- 1.21 Siamese
- 1.22 Sitting
- 1.23 Tails
- 1.24 Toy
- 1.25 Butterfly
- 1.26 Wings
- 1.27 Orange Tabby
- 1.28 Yoga
- 2 Conclusion
28 Watercolor Cat Painting Ideas
Each of these ideas highlights a distinct aspect of these amazing creatures. Peaceful scene or playful moments – you must find your favorite style here for sure.
Reading
A cat reading a book is one of my favorite watercolor paintings. I enjoy painting its large, bright eyes as it looks at the pages.
The technique I use is called “wet-on-wet”. It combines colors to create the velvety fur. The whole setting brings a cozy vibe and never fails to make me smile!
Night
How about drawing a cat sitting in a night scene? I start by drawing the dark silhouette of a cat in the sky with beautiful stars.
The cat appears to be staring up, soaking in a peaceful moment under the beautiful moonlight.
Like the “Cat Reading” drawing, I use soft blending with wet-on-wet techniques to keep the fur edges gentle.
The dark blue sky really helps the cat stand out. This one has such a calm, magical mood — perfect for peaceful painting days.
Remember that the gentle color blending is the secret to making your piece look dreamy and catching.
Simple Kitty
I really love to introduce this charming piece of “Simple Kitty” to you.
You can see that this little cat is wearing a bright red bow. This adds a lovely pop of color to the soft, neutral tones of the cat's fur.
What I enjoy most when drawing this one is how simple watercolor techniques can bring this kitty to life. I apply the wet-on-wet blending to give my cat lively eyes as well as a fuzzy look.
For beginners, this is a fun and easy place to start. Painting this piece reminds me that art doesn’t need to be as complicated as you may think.
Just use your creativity to express your love for cat friends!
Ghost
The Ghost Cat is one of my emotional pieces of art.
A cat that seems to be drifting through memories is shown in this gentle, almost dreamlike artwork. You can feel the mysterious and quiet vibe when looking at this.
Again, wet-on-wet watercolor techniques work to create the cat's hazy, translucent fur. The secret is to use smooth brushstrokes and soft tones to capture the calm and loving spirit.
Jumping
My next favorite piece is this Jumping Cat Watercolor. I love painting a jumping cat – full of energy and joy.
To create that lively motion, I used the wet-on-wet technique and let the colors blend naturally across the page.
This technique gave the fur a smooth, dynamic appearance as if it had been captured in midair. I also added splashes of bright color to capture the joyful nature of the cat.
This is a fun and simple idea to try, even if you're not very good with watercolors.
Man
It's always special to paint the bond between a person and their pet. I selected earthy, mellow hues to emphasize their friendly bond in this work.
I applied the wet-on-wet method once again. The man has soft, simple features, and the cat appears safe and sound next to him.
The soft color blendings can help to express warmth without using harsh lines.
This idea works well for any level of artist — you don’t need to worry about perfect details. I love how this painting celebrates the love we have for our cats.
Norwegian Forest
I always have a cool feeling when painting the Norwegian Forest Cat. Do you like the way its silky fur stretches across the page? It looks so majestic and elegant.
The wet-on-wet technique and gentle brushstrokes will help you to achieve the ideal layered, fluffy texture.
The picture feels warm and inviting due to the blending of earthy tones.
Vintage
This vintage style is charming, timeless, and delicate. You can get this beautiful look by using soft brushstrokes and subdued colors.
Here, the wet-on-wet method does its job again. It makes it easier for me to paint smooth textures on delicate fur.
It's a calm feeling to watch the colors flow and create my artwork.
This idea is great for beginners who want to try something simple yet elegant. It's a beautiful way to show the graceful presence of cats through art.
Abstract
I find that this Cat Abstract piece of art is super fun to paint. I mean that you can break the rules and feel free to play with colors and shapes.
Just blend the colors freely and get your unique cat. So, don't worry about those perfect lines.
It's time to practice wet-on-wet techniques for soft edges. The final purpose is to bring a feel like a mix of chaos and calm, which makes your work special and abstract.
Brown
Do you love a brown cat? I prefer using earthy colors to depict this scene. This tone always brings a sense of calm and comfort. It is simplicity that gives it its beauty.
I build up the fluffy fur and mix delicate hues using the wet-on-wet technique. The cat looks relaxed, and so do I while painting it!
This is a great watercolor painting idea for beginners, for sure. It's charming, soothing, and simple to follow.
Calico
The next one is this beautiful Calico cat. She has a lovely fur with a burst of bright and bold colors. And this is exactly what watercolor can do to bring it to life in a painting.
I give the cat a delicate, realistic texture by using wet-on-wet techniques.
The key to this concept is playful energy. As I apply layers of orange, black, and white, my brush seems to be dancing.
If you want to have a happy watercolor painting time, try this one. Just have fun and get creative with color!
Couple
Well, it's so romantic to paint a cat couple. Two cats sitting close together with their heads just touching is something I love to draw.
It's such a charming way to express their love and connection. I keep the vibe smooth and peaceful by using soft brushstrokes.
Wet-on-wet technique is what you need to practice to blend the cats' fur nicely. The whole setting should look fluffy and comfortable.
This idea works great for beginners, too. Personalize your piece with colors and see how joyful to paint!
Family
The Watercolor Cat Family is one of my favorite ideas. Four cats, each with a unique color and shape, sit together like a happy family.
As you can see above, it's enjoyable to give each cat a distinct personality!
By blending their coats, the wet-on-wet technique brings them together with soft and cozy textures.
This option is ideal for expressing love and unity. It's a fun and simple way to experiment with watercolor while creating something meaningful, even if you are a beginner.
Fish
And now is a playful time!
A painting with a fun and lively watercolor cat and fish! I imagine a curious cat is gazing into a fishbowl and is amazed by the little swimmer inside. This idea brings energy and joy to our artwork.
Wet-on-wet is a popular method to create beautiful moments of rippling water as well as fluffy cat fur. You can experiment with vibrant hues and flowing shapes to make it more special.
It's also a fantastic project for novices! Let's enjoy painting this cute and sweet moment of a cat and a fish!
Ginger
I'm sure that many of you love and desire to draw a ginger cat. Why not paint one by yourself? This orange fluffy cat is amazing and full of personality.
You can see its fur seems to shine with golden tones on the paper.
I also used wet-on-wet blending to achieve that fuzzy and soft effect. This method uses light color layers and gentle brushstrokes to bring the ginger cat's charm to life.
This idea is simple to try, even if you're just getting started.
Let's explore more inspiring ideas!
Garden
Wow! Such a peaceful piece of art!
You can imagine a cute cat sitting in a small garden with colorful flowers. This scene captures nature's beauty, reflected in the cat's gaze.
The wet-on-wet method enables us to provide our feline companion with silky fur. It will give your whole setting a fluffy look and feel more alive.
The interesting part is that you can play with colors to brighten the canvas. In that way, you can show how cats like exploring their surroundings as we paint.
Laying
The next idea is to draw a lazy lying cat. You can see here that I use soft blue washes to create calmness around the cat.
You will want to get thát fuzzy look for the cat's fur as well as a dreamy and soothing vibe for the whole artwork.
Even very beginners can try to practice with this “Cat Laying”.
Trust me. It's joyful to capture such relaxing moments of our furry friends. So, let's learn to create these amazing cat drawings together!
Paw
No doubt! This is the easiest one anyone can draw! Although it is simple, the painting is still full of feeling.
You can do it by blending colors smoothly (wet-on-wet). I use soft brushstrokes to paint those tiny pink pawprints.
What I try to show is the love, cuteness, and soft steps like the cat just touched the paper.
Ragdoll
My most loving kind of cat – Ragdoll cat with blue eyes (just like a doll)! I can say that it is a perfect subject to practice watercolor drawing!
To achieve that fluffy coat, I use wet-on-wet strokes. The complete scene should be a long, soft fur with beautiful blue eyes.
My Ragdoll here is really outstanding in its beauty and grace. No matter what your skill level, it's worth trying this idea at least once!
Red
Now, we will move to something more energetic – a red cat! To draw this one, I use strong brushstrokes to show its fiery personality and fluffy fur.
Then, to create the soft and fuzzy look for the cat, use the wet-on-wet technique here.
A touch of orange, red, and brown shades will work nicely in this type of painting. It's not too hard for you to make your cat pop up on the paper.
Thus, painting this “Cat Red” is both fun and beginner-friendly. It's a lovely way to express both your love and energy for cats through watercolor art!
Siamese
Siamese is a very popular cat breed that you will want to draw. They look striking with blue eyes and a special, soft, and cream-colored fur.
Again, I use the wet-on-wet method to create the nice blend for the light body, and then dark shades for face, ear, and tail markings.
It helps to capture the elegance without using sharp lines. This idea is also a great chance to play with light and shadows to show the cat’s shape and pose.
A few soft strokes, light here and dark there, will bring a good contrast to your artwork.
Sitting
I love painting orange tabby cats sitting. It's because the bright colors bring warmth and enthusiasm.
I create the softness and fluff of its fur by using the wet-on-wet approach
The combination of orange and yellow hues makes the cat appear cheerful. To highlight its adorable shape, I add little strokes to its ears and tail.
Beginners will love this painting idea. It has a lot of character despite being simple.
It's a nice way to show the playful nature of our feline friends through art.
Tails
I sometimes focus on drawing a cat's tail, especially a calico's softly swaying tail. Although it is just a small detail, it is a great example of motion and beauty.
To draw a cat tail, you can combine whites, oranges, and soft blacks using the wet-on-wet technique. This gives the tail the fluffy, airy appearance that you will love.
Although painting cat tails is a simple idea, it can help you to practice drawing movement and texture. Beginners absolutely can have fun with it.
Toy
Such a lovely painting can make anyone smile!
The scene is full of joy and playful energy. To do that, I use bright colors and see, your cat seems to dance across the paper with its toy.
To make the painting feel gentle and alive, I use the wet-on-wet technique. The soft fur and small details around the toy will add a touch of fun to your piece.
This idea is perfect for all skill levels. It’s a sweet and lovely way to show your love for these little companions.
Butterfly
This is my favorite – a cat watching a butterfly! I adore painting a blue butterfly hovering close to the face of a curious cat. The scene is so quiet and enchanting.
I keep things dreamy and smooth by using the wet-on-wet technique.
The technique makes the cat and butterfly stand out while still blending nicely with the background.
This peaceful moment shows their bond with the natural world. That's why we love watercolor when it can tell sweet stories with just a few touches.
Wings
The idea sounds amazing and magical, right?
The bright, dreamy colors of the soft, winged cat can lift the mood of any artwork.
I maintain the fur silky, fluffy, and the margins light by using the wet-on-wet method. This technique also helps the wings blend naturally on the paper.
All skill-level artists can try this idea. It is enjoyable to draw after all. I like to use delicate pinks, blues, or golds to bring a celestial vibe to my painting.
It’s a beautiful way to express comfort, hope, or even a tribute to our loving pets.
Orange Tabby
Warm tones of orange and yellow are always the favorite choices of many artists. And my orange tabby cat here looks so comforting and cozy on the paper.
I use gentle brushstrokes to build up the fur after starting with light layers.
My tabby looks fluffy and realistic thanks to the wet-on-wet technique. The colors mix subtly and naturally, as you can see.
Yoga
Yes! We will draw a yoga cat!
What a relaxing and joyful idea a stretching yoga cat is! I enjoy painting because it captures the elegance and peaceful spirit of a cat.
I give the fur a silky, light appearance by using the wet-on-wet technique. Light, soothing hues like lavender or pastel orange are what I use to make my artwork even more charming.
This concept is ideal for a leisurely painting time in the afternoon.
Beginners and those who enjoy art and mindfulness will find it to be quite inviting.
Conclusion
I hope these 28 watercolor cat painting ideas spark your creativity and bring joy to your sketchbook. So pick one idea from my list, grab your paints, and bring your dreamy cats to life!