Behind the Painting: Yuki – Finding Colour in the Darkness
"Every painting begins with a conversation. Sometimes that conversation is with a place. Sometimes it is with the changing light. And sometimes it begins with a pair of quiet, watchful eyes."
Welcome to The Creative Freedom Diary.
This diary is a place where I'd like to share not only my finished paintings but also the thoughts, discoveries and quiet moments that happen along the way. Painting is rarely a straight path. It is full of uncertainty, experimentation, small breakthroughs and lessons that reveal themselves one brushstroke at a time.
I hope you'll enjoy stepping into my studio and following the journey with me.
What I'm Painting This Month
At the moment, I'm working on a painting of Yuki, one of our beloved cats. She has become the first painting in my Close-up Figures series, a collection exploring the quiet power of looking closely. Although the painting is still very much a work in progress, I wanted to share it before it is finished. I think there is something rather beautiful about seeing a painting during its awkward stage.
Artists often speak about "trusting the process", but we don't always show what that really looks like. Sometimes a painting appears almost finished. Sometimes it seems to lose its way. And then, almost unexpectedly, it begins to come alive. Yuki is somewhere in that journey.
Why Yuki?
Yuki has a wonderfully calm presence. She can spend hours quietly observing the world around her. There is a stillness about her that fascinates me.
Rather than painting her full body, I wanted to move closer. Much closer. Close enough that the painting becomes less about a cat and more about expression, character and presence. When we look closely enough at another living creature, we begin to notice things we might otherwise miss. The subtle changes of colour. The softness of fur. The reflections within the eyes. The individuality that makes every animal completely unique.
Discovering Colour Where We Think There Is None
One of the greatest challenges of painting Yuki has been her fur. At first glance it appears black. But the longer I look, the more colour I discover. Deep violets. Warm browns. Burnt oranges. Cool greys. Hints of blue. Touches of creamy white.
Painting has taught me that very little in nature is ever simply one colour. The more closely we observe, the richer the world becomes. Perhaps that is one of the reasons I paint. It encourages me to slow down and truly see.
The Eyes
If there is one area that has demanded the most patience, it has been Yuki's eyes. For me, the eyes are never simply an anatomical feature. They are the heart of the painting. Everything else supports them. The subtle greens. The changing reflections. The quiet intensity of her gaze. These are the details that gradually transform paint into personality.
Even though the painting isn't finished yet, I can feel that moment beginning to emerge. It reminds me why patience matters.
My Colour Palette
I'm working primarily with my trusted Georgian oil colours. Some of the colours currently spread across my palette include:
Burnt Umber
Raw Umber
Yellow Ochre
Titanium White
Ivory Black
Ultramarine Blue
These familiar colours continue to surprise me. Mixed together in different proportions, they reveal an extraordinary range of warm and cool neutrals that are perfect for capturing the richness of Yuki's coat. One of my favourite moments in painting is discovering a colour that wasn't there a few moments before.
Life in the Studio
My studio is rarely immaculate. There are paint tubes squeezed almost flat. Brushes waiting to be cleaned. Cloths stained with months of colour. Half-finished sketches. A cup of tea growing cold while I become absorbed in painting. I wouldn't have it any other way.
For me, creativity isn't about perfection. It's about curiosity. Each painting teaches me something new. Sometimes it teaches me about colour. Sometimes about patience. Sometimes about myself.
What Still Needs to Be Done
Although the painting has reached an exciting stage, it is not yet complete. There is still work to do. The fur needs greater depth and softness. Some edges need to disappear while others need to become more defined. The nose requires more subtle transitions of colour. The whiskers are still waiting to emerge.
And I want to continue refining the relationship between light and shadow so that Yuki's face feels even more alive. One of the joys of oil painting is that there is time to look, reflect and make thoughtful decisions. There is no need to rush.
Why I Love Showing Work in Progress
Finished paintings tell one story. Work in progress tells another. It reveals the uncertainty. The decisions. The changes of direction. The moments of doubt. The unexpected discoveries.
Sharing unfinished work feels a little vulnerable, but I also think it reminds us that beautiful things rarely appear all at once. They grow gradually, layer by layer. Much like a garden. Much like a meaningful life.
Looking Ahead
As Yuki continues to develop, I'll be sharing more of the journey here in The Creative Freedom Diary. I hope you'll enjoy watching the painting evolve from these early stages to its finished form.
Thank you for spending a little time in my studio today. Whether you've followed my work for years or have only just discovered it, I'm grateful you're here.
Until next time,
SG