In this follow-up to her hit Painting Happiness, Instagram sensation Terry Runyan shows you how to play with watercolour to create quirky cat portraits – and let go of stress.
Perfect for cat lovers and watercolour artists of all skill levels, from absolute beginner to more experienced, Painting Cats teaches you how to go from blob of paint to a beautiful portrait of your fluffy friends. Drawing on art therapy techniques that emphasize fun and freedom in creativity over technical perfection, Runyan guides you step by step through the process of adding details to loosely painted shapes to create your own unique and distinct cats!
In this joyful book brimming with inspiring watercolour artwork and encouragement:
Play and experiment with watercolour, exploring the ways in which the medium invites us to be present in the moment
Find projects, tips, and techniques to help you develop your painting, creating a myriad of beautiful portraits along the way!
Explore the art of storytelling with cats
Enjoy the scientifically proven mental-health benefits of making art
Embrace techniques and lessons in creative mindfulness whilst having lots of feline fun and letting your creative instincts go free.
Read more
236 reviews for Painting Cats: Curious, mindful & free-spirited watercolors
4.7out of 5
★★★★★
★★★★★
12
★★★★★
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★★★★★
Carol –
I am so excited that my book as arrived. Fabulous gift for myself and I am going to order for a dear friend. Thank you Terry Runyan for sharing your creative with us.
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★★★★★
Carol T. –
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Un livre magnifique plein d’images.. cette artiste écrit tellement bien que c’est un plaisir prendre le temps pour la lire( livre en anglais, je le dis pour mes amis francophones) et voir ses créations qu’elle partages avec pleins d’astuces.. c’est génial ! Je suis totalement satisfaite de cet achat et aussi je le conseil vivement !! ♥️
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★★★★★
AMC –
I love this book so much! Terry is encouraging and inspiring. Her instructions and tips are helpful and flexible, urging the reader to have fun and go for it! I highly recommend this book if you want to get started painting watercolor cats!
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
CW –
This book is fantastic! Terry gives you a ton of cat examples to try, with different expressions as well as different clothing and a couple of other animals. If you are familiar with watercolor, and with practice, you can paint these cats based on the instructions she has included. This is not a book that teaches you how to paint in watercolor. I don’t think that would truly be possible to achieve in a book alone. Terry has a YT channel where she has some in-depth videos and she has websites with online classes. I have taken some of her classes and loved them!
This is one of the best printed paperback books I have ever seen. The cover is thick and eye-catching, the pages are thick, not flimsy. Vibrant colors. This book will last a long time. It would also be great as a coffee table book for browsing enjoyment.
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
onegoodstory –
I was concerned about the size of this book but it turned out to be better than expected. The cover is extremely heavy paper and there are many assignments in cat illustrations to allow you to grow and move on. I was at a turning point in my art, had studied for two years recently and didn’t know what direction I wanted to go. This book took me right back on track and I have majorly enjoyed Terry Runyan. and her outlook on art, which she shares openly, along with her instructions and reviews on art. I love how the book folds open and stays open easily without being cumbersome. Two kitties have come into my life also, littermates and bonded together completely, their antics help me with ongoing art projects and even stories as Runyan has a chapter on storytelling art. I highly recommend this author and book, (I have also found her on YouTube) I got her other book on Kindle, which worked fine, but I do love this one in the softback. Get the book! Who knows what could happen?
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
Sumcat –
I’m a beginner at watercolor and own a cat. So what could be a more perfect book than “Painting Cats”. Love her perspective and approach. Her tips are very helpful too. I recommend this book even if all you want to due is look at her whimsical artwork.
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
Carol T. –
Livro inspirador,repleto de felicidade e muita cor
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
onegoodstory –
The cats are cute and easy to paint. Having one of her other books, I find this one a bit more of the same. But it is a pleasant book to look at and I am not sorry to own it.
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
Michelle Cornish –
If you love cats and dabbling with watercolours or any art medium you will totally love this book. Just looking at its pages makes you happy. This book will also be a resource for me when teaching mindfulness classes.
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★★★★★
Barbe A –
Well-done! and I love Terry’s cat art. The book is beautiful as well.
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★★★★★
Xander and Patrick’s Nana –
I watch this author on you tube and she is very positive and so much fun. I bought the book for my grandson who loves cats. I recommend it for adults as well as children.
Helpful(0)Unhelpful(0)You have already voted this
★★★★★
Vonnie –
Having already bought “Painting Happiness” by Terry Runyan (and liking cats), I pre-ordered this book and waited in eager anticipation. I was delighted when I received it. It has a paperback cover which feels nice in your hand as the paper is textured like some watercolour paper, and the book feels satisfyingly substantial in your hand. Just looking at the colourful animals makes me feel happy.
The front and back covers fold out and contain colourful illustrations which whet your appetite for reading the rest of the book and creating. It is a book you can either follow in order, or you can dip into and do the exercises.
The references to the artist’s own cats Tucker and Rylee makes the book feel more personal and brings it alive for me. There are suggestions not only how to paint cats, but about 6 pages on painting their animal friends.
There is a good resource list at the back. Most of the watercolours listed are Winsor and Newton Professional which are great. (I would like to mention that for beginners like me who won’t be selling their work and who may be initially dipping our toes into art, Winsor and Newton also have a cheaper Cotman set which I enjoy practising with.)
I think it is a great book for beginners and more experienced artists alike. As a beginner, I feel that I can’t make a mistake. I enjoy Terry’s YouTube videos and will now be having a look at her online courses which complement this book.
I would have preferred a copy of the cat colour wheel to also be put on the inside of the front or back book covers so that all of the kitties’ faces can be fully seen. 3 currently sit in the fold and I don’t like to flatten the book in case I damage the spine. This is a very minor thing though and I am now off to start using and enjoying this book.
Ps. As I am also a dog lover, how about a dog book with the different breeds and shapes next?
Carol –
I am so excited that my book as arrived. Fabulous gift for myself and I am going to order for a dear friend.
Thank you Terry Runyan for sharing your creative with us.
Carol T. –
The media could not be loaded.
Un livre magnifique plein d’images.. cette artiste écrit tellement bien que c’est un plaisir prendre le temps pour la lire( livre en anglais, je le dis pour mes amis francophones) et voir ses créations qu’elle partages avec pleins d’astuces.. c’est génial ! Je suis totalement satisfaite de cet achat et aussi je le conseil vivement !! ♥️
AMC –
I love this book so much! Terry is encouraging and inspiring. Her instructions and tips are helpful and flexible, urging the reader to have fun and go for it! I highly recommend this book if you want to get started painting watercolor cats!
CW –
This book is fantastic! Terry gives you a ton of cat examples to try, with different expressions as well as different clothing and a couple of other animals. If you are familiar with watercolor, and with practice, you can paint these cats based on the instructions she has included. This is not a book that teaches you how to paint in watercolor. I don’t think that would truly be possible to achieve in a book alone. Terry has a YT channel where she has some in-depth videos and she has websites with online classes. I have taken some of her classes and loved them!
This is one of the best printed paperback books I have ever seen. The cover is thick and eye-catching, the pages are thick, not flimsy. Vibrant colors. This book will last a long time. It would also be great as a coffee table book for browsing enjoyment.
onegoodstory –
I was concerned about the size of this book but it turned out to be better than expected. The cover is extremely heavy paper and there are many assignments in cat illustrations to allow you to grow and move on. I was at a turning point in my art, had studied for two years recently and didn’t know what direction I wanted to go. This book took me right back on track and I have majorly enjoyed Terry Runyan. and her outlook on art, which she shares openly, along with her instructions and reviews on art.
I love how the book folds open and stays open easily without being cumbersome. Two kitties have come into my life also, littermates and bonded together completely, their antics help me with ongoing art projects and even stories as Runyan has a chapter on storytelling art. I highly recommend this author and book, (I have also found her on YouTube) I got her other book on Kindle, which worked fine, but I do love this one in the softback.
Get the book! Who knows what could happen?
Sumcat –
I’m a beginner at watercolor and own a cat. So what could be a more perfect book than “Painting Cats”. Love her perspective and approach. Her tips are very helpful too. I recommend this book even if all you want to due is look at her whimsical artwork.
Carol T. –
Livro inspirador,repleto de felicidade e muita cor
onegoodstory –
The cats are cute and easy to paint. Having one of her other books, I find this one a bit more of the same. But it is a pleasant book to look at and I am not sorry to own it.
Michelle Cornish –
If you love cats and dabbling with watercolours or any art medium you will totally love this book. Just looking at its pages makes you happy. This book will also be a resource for me when teaching mindfulness classes.
Barbe A –
Well-done! and I love Terry’s cat art. The book is beautiful as well.
Xander and Patrick’s Nana –
I watch this author on you tube and she is very positive and so much fun. I bought the book for my grandson who loves cats. I recommend it for adults as well as children.
Vonnie –
Having already bought “Painting Happiness” by Terry Runyan (and liking cats), I pre-ordered this book and waited in eager anticipation. I was delighted when I received it. It has a paperback cover which feels nice in your hand as the paper is textured like some watercolour paper, and the book feels satisfyingly substantial in your hand. Just looking at the colourful animals makes me feel happy.
The front and back covers fold out and contain colourful illustrations which whet your appetite for reading the rest of the book and creating. It is a book you can either follow in order, or you can dip into and do the exercises.
The references to the artist’s own cats Tucker and Rylee makes the book feel more personal and brings it alive for me. There are suggestions not only how to paint cats, but about 6 pages on painting their animal friends.
There is a good resource list at the back. Most of the watercolours listed are Winsor and Newton Professional which are great. (I would like to mention that for beginners like me who won’t be selling their work and who may be initially dipping our toes into art, Winsor and Newton also have a cheaper Cotman set which I enjoy practising with.)
I think it is a great book for beginners and more experienced artists alike. As a beginner, I feel that I can’t make a mistake. I enjoy Terry’s YouTube videos and will now be having a look at her online courses which complement this book.
I would have preferred a copy of the cat colour wheel to also be put on the inside of the front or back book covers so that all of the kitties’ faces can be fully seen. 3 currently sit in the fold and I don’t like to flatten the book in case I damage the spine. This is a very minor thing though and I am now off to start using and enjoying this book.
Ps. As I am also a dog lover, how about a dog book with the different breeds and shapes next?
RT –
Great content for this cat painting book!