Ginger cats have been painted more often than any other colour of cat, and the reason is the colour itself — that vivid, warm, slightly improbable orange-red that portrait traditions in oil and watercolour amplify to extraordinary richness. The ginger cat is almost always a tabby — the orange colour in cats is always accompanied by tabby markings to some degree — and the combination of the warm base colour and the visible markings gives the portrait a richness and depth that cooler-toned cats cannot quite match. There is a reason so many famous cats in art, film and literature are ginger. The colour photographs and paints with an enthusiasm all its own.
Coat colours and how they render
Ginger cats range from pale cream-orange through apricot, tangerine and deep burnt orange to the richest dark ginger. The tabby markings range from subtle — nearly invisible in the deepest ginger — to bold and clearly defined in paler coats. The coat type varies between short and long, and each produces different portrait results.
Pale apricot-orange ginger cats suit watercolour and aquarelle with a particular luminosity. The soft warm tone in loose washes has a quality of glowing warmth that makes these portraits immediately appealing.
Deep orange and burnt ginger cats produce oil painting results of great richness. The colour in the painting tradition takes on amber, ochre and sienna tones that make the portrait seem lit from within.
Long-haired ginger cats — Maine Coons, Norwegian Forest Cats and domestic longhairs — have the combination of the warm colour and the flowing coat texture that impressionist and oil painting styles handle with particular enthusiasm.
Recommended styles for ginger cats
Oil Painting — amplifies the warm orange to its richest, most luminous expression. Watercolour — beautiful for paler apricot and cream-orange ginger cats. Impressionist — the warm colour and tabby markings give this style a great deal to explore. Golden Hour Portrait — the warm amber light of the style and the warm amber coat create an almost perfect harmony. Aquarelle — the flowing quality of aquarelle suits the warmth of the ginger coat beautifully.
Photo tips
Ginger cats are among the more cooperative portrait subjects — the colour is forgiving in a wide range of light conditions and the tabby markings are usually clearly visible. The best results come from natural light that shows the full warmth of the coat without washing it out. Direct sunlight can bleach the pale areas of the coat — slightly shaded natural light gives the most accurate colour rendering. The tabby markings on the face, particularly the M on the forehead and the cheek markings, should be visible and clearly defined.