Me and My Cat

A Creative Mixed-Media Art Workshop

Celebrate the quirky, cuddly, mysterious magic of cats in this joyful, expressive workshop, Me and My Cat. Inspired by the unique personalities of our feline companions, this creative session will guide you through the process of creating a personalised mixed-media artwork that captures the bond between you and your cat. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting out, this workshop is designed to help you tap into your creativity and explore playful, heartfelt storytelling through art.

1. Welcome and Introduction

Duration: 10 minutes

Greeting and Purpose:

• Welcome participants and thank them for joining.

• Introduce the workshop theme: celebrating the relationship between people and their cats through expressive, whimsical art.

• Highlight the goal: to explore personality, emotion, and symbolic connection using mixed-media techniques.

• Explain the project: Participants will create an artwork inspired by their cat (real or imagined), incorporating collage, colour, and personal symbolism.

2. Icebreaker Activity: “Your Cat Connection”.

Duration: 15 minutes

Activity: “Personality Snapshot” 

• Invite each participant to briefly share their cat’s name, personalit y, or a funny or heartfelt memory.

• Prompt reflection: “If your cat were a human, what kind of person would they be?”

• Purpose: Build a relaxed, connected vibe and spark inspiration for personalising the artwork. '

3. Cat Art Exploration: Understanding Feline Forms and Personality

Duration: 20 minutes

Provide reference materials:
Photos of cats in various poses, styles, and moods (realistic, cartoon, abstract).

Discuss:

• Shape & Gesture: Capturing feline elegance, playfulness, or mystery through posture and body language.

• Colours & Mood: Assigning colours to your cat’s personality (e.g., bold reds for sass, soft blues for calm).

• Textures & Symbols: Using fur patterns, whiskers, paw prints, hearts, moons, or abstract marks to represent traits.

• Art Style Choices: Realistic, expressive, whimsical, minimalist, or pop art influences.

• Demonstrate a few sketching approaches to stylise cats in fun, simple ways.

4. Introduction to Mixed-Media Techniques

Duration: 25 minutes

Demonstrate techniques such as:

• Collage layering using torn paper, fabric, and found images.

• Painting base layers with bold or textured backgrounds.

• Line work & detail using pens, pastels, or fine brushes.

• Incorporating text: Add names, quotes, or personal words into the piece.

• Mixed materials: Buttons, ribbon, or textures to reflect your cat’s personality.

5. Creative Session: Painting Your Cat-Inspired Masterpiece

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Step 1: Choose your focus:

• Portrait of your cat

• Symbolic “Me & My Cat” representation

• Playful or fantasy-style artwork (e.g., you and your cat flying, dancing, in outer space)

Step 2: Sketch your design lightly onto the canvas or paper.

Step 3: Begin painting and collaging:

• Backgrounds first, then layers of colour, texture, and detail.

• Facilitators will offer one-on-one guidance, tips, and encouragement.

6. Reflection and Sharing

Duration: 20 minutes

Activity: Mini gallery setup

• Participants display their work on easels or walls.

• Invite optional sharing of their piece:

  • What they expressed about their cat

  • What surprised them about their creativity

  • How it felt to create something so personal

• Group photo (optional)

7. Closing and Takeaways

Duration: 10 minutes

Wrap-up:

• Celebrate everyone's creativity and feline flair.

• Share tips for continuing cat-themed art at home:

  • Observe your cat’s movements and expressions

  • Try making mini artworks or cards based on your piece

  • Explore digital tools to enhance or remix your design

• Mention upcoming workshops and creative opportunities.

• Distribute optional takeaway materials (mini zine, prompts, sample supplies).

• Thank participants for attending.

🎨 Materials Provided

• Canvas boards or A3 mixed-media paper

• Acrylic paints in playful colour palettes (neutrals, brights, metallics)

• Collage materials: magazines, patterned paper, fabric, photos

• Brushes, pens, pastels, glue sticks, scissors

• Reference images of cats in different styles

• Aprons, palettes, water jars

✨ Optional Add-Ons

• “Cat Keepsake”: Gift small items like paw print charms, postcards, or bookmarks

• Advanced Mini-Session: Techniques for realism, fur textures, or expressive eyes

• Sketchbooks: For journaling and future art inspired by your cat

🧍♀️ Target Audience

• Adults and teens (16+)

• All skill levels welcome – from curious beginners to experienced creatives

💰 Pricing

• Flat Rate: $750 AUD (up to 8 participants)

• Per Person Rate: $80 AUD (for varying group sizes)

The “Me and My Cat” workshop and all related materials, including content, concepts, and structure, are the intellectual property of Ilana McBain. All rights reserved.

No part of this workshop may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without prior written permission, except in the case of brief quotations used in reviews or educational settings with proper acknowledgment.

© 2025 Ilana McBain

Images by Yasna Moreno courtesy of Pinterest