Whiskers in the Garden: Drawing a Gentle Rat

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For some of you, this post might make you want to grab a broom and swat at these dear, sweet creatures—not me. I love all animals!

I volunteered at the Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth, Minnesota. Because I didn’t freak out when they sent me into the flying fruit bat exhibit with a tray of food for the prehensile-tailed porcupines, I earned their respect.

Volunteering to handle the tarantula got me even more kudos.

Until the past year, I’ve always had some kind of pet—cats, dogs, birds, horses, not to mention mice, rats, and yes, my own tarantula.

And before you ask—yes, I’ve looked for reference photos of tarantulas. No, I haven’t found any adorable one, yet.

This is another incredible reference photo from Debbie Anne – Photography., an amazing photographer based in the UK. She shares some of her photographs in the Facebook group called Free Reference Photos for Artists.

And sorry, not sorry, but the second I saw this, I KNEW I had to try recreating it with my then-new (and very intense) hype fixation: colored pencils.

With my trusty iPad and the Procreate app, I traced what I felt were the important features—especially the direction of the fur. Then I printed the outline on vellum tracing paper and transferred it to Strathmore Toned Tan paper. For this piece, I used a mix of Polychromos and Prismacolor colored pencils.

With pencils in hand, I got to work. 

I began by slowly laying down the lightest colors I saw in her (yes, I decided the rat was a she—but I could be wrong). Colored pencil work is all about layering, starting with the lightest tones and gradually building depth. That’s exactly what I did with this sweet girl.

I’ve seen many other colored pencil artists zero in on one area and complete it before moving on. I’m not one of them — I tend to bounce around. I’m still adding the underlying colors I can see.

I don’t print my reference photos; I keep them on my iPad and constantly look back and forth between the drawing and the screen.

I hate to disappoint you by not sharing 3,279 images in this post. I was still pretty new at this and didn’t think I’d ever need progress photos. But here she is—pretty much completed—and now I’ve started focusing on the pole she’s on.

I actually thought I was done here. Her had whiskers have been added, and you could still see the paper showing through on the pole.

So many layers of pencil. I worked to make sure the “black pole” had some depth—not just flat black, but a build-up of dark tones and texture.

If you enjoyed this piece, I invite you to visit my Etsy shop, NorthernSwanArt. I’m gradually adding artwork to items like totes and mugs—pieces that weren’t commissioned and that lend themselves well to print. Commissions remain private unless clients specifically request otherwise.

Supplies Used in This Piece:

Some links below are affiliate; I may earn a small commission at no extra cost—thank you!

• iPad
• Procreate App (for tracing the outline)
• Vellum Tracing Paper (for transferring the outline)
• Strathmore Toned Tan paper 
• Faber-Castell Polychromos Colored Pencils
• Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils
• Reference Photo by Debbie Anne – Photography. (shared via Free Reference Photos for Artists Facebook group)

Cosset: Beginning the 13 Horses Journey Through Portraits

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I have a dear, sweet friend I met while volunteering at a local equine therapy nonprofit. She’s an incredible horsewoman, and I’ve always loved seeing her shared posts on Facebook—photos of her horses, glimpses into her life. Over the years, I’ve had the joy of watching her children grow up through her posts.

When I read that her daughter’s horse had passed away, my heart broke. I’d seen the bond between them, and it was something truly special. I felt deeply moved to try and paint the horse as a memorial for her daughter.

Had I ever painted a horse before? Not really. I’d only been painting for about a year. But I loved horses, and I figured I could find my way through it. So, I messaged my friend, shared what I was hoping to do, and asked if she had any photos of the horse I could use for reference.

My first attempt at painting Cosset wasn’t bad. Looking at it four years later, I’m honestly impressed with what I managed to pull off, especially considering how little I knew back then and how early I was in my painting journey.

At the time, I had just discovered Arches paper, but I hadn’t yet learned the proper way to prepare it before painting. These days, I soak the sheet thoroughly, mount it to GatorBoard with double-sided tape, and reinforce it with staples to keep everything secure. Back then, the paper warped quite a bit—but even so, I managed to get the job done.

I also had no idea how to approach that soft, “white mane.” I made it work, and I’m still happy with how the painting turned out—but looking back, there’s definitely a lot I’d do differently now.

Once I felt I had the body correct, I had to figure out how to paint the mane and forelock

To tackle the mane, I used a product called Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White. Since watercolor is mostly transparent, using traditional white watercolor wouldn’t have worked for painting the strands of this palomino’s light forelock and mane—it just wouldn’t show up. But by mixing in a little bit of watercolor with the Bleed Proof White, I was able to create an opaque, water-based paint. I was pretty happy with the effect it gave me.

I used the same technique on the mane—and it worked. These days, I’d approach those areas differently, but considering I had only been painting for a year or two at the time, I’m still pretty happy with the results.

Looking back, Cosset was one of my first real horse portraits, created when I’d only been painting for about a year or two. While the techniques and polish have evolved since then, this piece remains close to my heart because of the story behind it — a tribute to a beloved horse and the bond it shared with her family. It reminds me how every step in my art journey is meaningful, and I’m excited to continue growing and sharing with you all.

I’d love to hear from you! Have you ever had a special bond with an animal that inspired you to create something meaningful? Or maybe you have memories of a beloved pet you’d like to share. Drop a comment below and tell me your story — or just say hello! Your messages brighten my day and inspire my art.
Feel free to ask any questions about this painting or the process, too. Let’s connect!

Supplies Used in This Piece:

Some links below are affiliate; I may earn a small commission at no extra cost—thank you!

• Arches Watercolor Paper — High-quality paper with a lovely texture, perfect for watercolor. (Affiliate link)
• Mijello Mission Gold Watercolor Paints — My favorite paints for vibrant, smooth color.
• Dr. Ph. Martin’s Bleed Proof White — I mixed this with watercolor paints to create the opaque colors I needed for Cosset’s mane and forelock.
• Painter’s Tape — Used to secure the paper while painting and help reduce warping.