The Siamese is one of the oldest and most recognisable cat breeds in the world - and one of the most visually dramatic. The pale body contrasting with dark points on face, ears, paws and tail, and those extraordinary blue eyes, make the Siamese a natural subject for portraiture. Where most cats need the right style to look painterly, the Siamese arrives already looking like a work of art.
Point colours and how they render
Siamese cats come in four traditional point colours - seal, chocolate, blue and lilac - as well as a range of additional colours in modern varieties. Each point colour creates a different tonal relationship between the body and points that suits different portrait styles.
Seal point - the darkest and most dramatic - has near-black points against a warm cream body. Oil painting renders this high contrast with extraordinary depth. The dark mask framing those blue eyes creates a portrait with immediate visual impact.
Blue point has cooler, blue-grey points against a pale bluish-white body - a more subtle palette that suits watercolour and pastel styles with real elegance. The coolness of the blue palette gives watercolour portraits a delicate, almost ethereal quality.
Chocolate point has warm, milk-chocolate points against an ivory body - a warmer palette than seal that suits oil painting and impressionist styles. The warmth of the chocolate points creates portraits of particular richness.
Lilac point is the palest - pinkish-grey points against a glacial white body. Watercolour handles this pale, delicate palette with particular sensitivity.
Recommended styles for Siamese
Watercolour - the clean tonal contrast of the pointed pattern suits watercolour beautifully. Oil Painting - for seal and chocolate points, oil painting renders the depth of contrast with real drama. Impressionist - captures the elegance and fine bone structure of the Siamese. Japanese Woodblock - the graphic quality of the Siamese markings suits the bold lines of this style. Line Art Portrait - the fine, precise lines of this style honour the Siamese's precise, graphic beauty.
Photo tips
The blue eyes of a Siamese are the portrait's most important feature - make sure the eyes are sharp and well-lit. The pointed pattern is best captured when the cat is alert and the face mask is clearly visible. A pale or neutral background allows the point contrast to read clearly. Photographs in natural light show the tonal relationship between body and points most accurately - artificial light can distort the colour relationship that makes the pointed pattern so distinctive.