Fish Smelling a Tulip: Custom Long-Haired Cat Oil Painting

This original 20x20 cm (8x8 inch) oil painting captures a sweet, curious moment, hand-painted on a premium canvas as a surprise anniversary gift.

A Social Media Surprise Reveal

This commission was one of the most fun and unique surprise reveals I have ever been a part of! The collector wanted to surprise his girlfriend with a portrait of her beautiful, long-haired cat, Fish. Because she already followed my art accounts online, we hatched a plan: instead of keeping it a total secret until delivery, I posted the finished painting casually on Twitter without any tags or names. She spotted it right on her feed, completely amazed and confused to see her own cat on her favorite artist's profile, making for an unforgettable gift reveal!

The painting is based on a favorite photo of Fish curiously leaning in to sniff a flower. I chose a split, color-blocked background featuring vibrant lime green on the left and a warm pastel coral on the right. This high-saturation framing perfectly anchors the bright pink tulip and complements the deep, jewel-toned patches of Fish’s tuxedo coat. I used heavy impasto oil strokes to build up a chunky, tactile surface, infusing the white ruff with soft pinks, pastel yellows, and cool mint greens while packing her wide, amber eyes with bright, glassy reflections.

Why I love this commission

• Unforgettable Surprise Story: Tailor-made for a fun, casual reveal on social media that directly connected the collector, the recipient, and the studio.
• Vibrant Split Backdrop: The juxtaposition of energetic lime green and warm coral creates a beautiful modern frame for a classic pet portrait.
• Thick Tactile Volume: Heavy layers of professional oil paint emphasize the fluffy texture of the coat and the delicate structure of the tulip petal.
• Nuanced Highlight Work: I layered unexpected pastels into the light-colored fur to give the chest ruff and whiskers a rich, three-dimensional depth.

Technical Details

• Original Oil painting by Alai Ganuza
• 20x20 cm (8x8 inches)
• Professional oil paint on premium stretched canvas
• Certificate of Authenticity (COA) included
• Worldwide tracked and insured shipping via FedEx