Remus: Custom Yawning Cat Oil Painting Commission

A striking and high-energy tribute to Remus, capturing a rare moment of personality through a vibrant multiverse of color.

A Portrait with Novel-Worthy Character

This custom oil painting represents a departure from the traditional "ID style" pet portrait. Commissioned by Erin Cadwallader as a legacy piece for her cat Remus, we chose a dynamic yawning pose that captures his spirit in a truly memorable way. The composition was so compelling that the finished artwork was later selected by a publisher to be featured on a novel cover in the USA. It is a hand-painted cat portrait that serves as both a soulful memorial and a piece of contemporary fine art.

The technical focus of this 25x25 cm wood panel was the interplay of light and shadow. I used luminous highlights to capture the way the sun hits the ears and whiskers, contrasted against neon-infused shadows and a deep purple background. By applying professional oil paint with a thick impasto technique, I created a buttery texture that gives the fur a physical, three-dimensional presence. The result is a spectrum-rich celebration of Remus’s life, filled with chromatic depth and spectral energy.

Why this commission is a radiant gem

• Dynamic Composition: A unique yawning pose that moves beyond traditional portraiture to capture raw personality.
• High-Contrast Palette: A bold exploration of purples, reds, and greens that creates luminous energy.
• Signature Buttery Texture: Heavy impasto brushwork that makes the original artwork feel tactile and alive.
• A Lasting Legacy: A personalized painting so iconic it transitioned from a private home to a professional book cover.

Technical Details

• Original Oil painting
• 25x25 cm (10x10 inches)
• Handmade prepared wood panel
• Certificate of Authenticity (COA) included
• Worldwide tracked and insured shipping