During the six years Tula has been with us, I’ve tried multiple times to represent her on paper or screen, using multiple techniques.

Some of these attempts I consider more a success than others, but overall I’m quite satisfied with each of the images you see below.

A first attempt I made probably 4 years ago, in Procreate. Tula’s pattern adapts well to a minimalistic, two-colours approach.

I then moved to watercolour on paper (like in the old times!), which is probably my favourite technique to draw/paint with but I never experiment with enough.

Going back to a cleaner approach, I went as minimalistic as I could, using only black and white and drawing only the essential lines I thought were needed.

This has then evolved in what I think it’s maybe the attempt I’m happier with, since it perfectly fits into a circle, thanks to the donut shape she gets when sleeping in her bed.

Of course, since I was exploring a minimalistic black and white approach, I had to try and imitate Timo Kuilder beautifully smooth drawings.

That smooth style doesn’t really fit with me, so I tried a rougher one, which I have to say I like a lot more.

Finally, the attempt I’m least satisfied with, but decided to publish anyway since it captures her puppy-face pretty well, I think.

For reference, here’s Tula, busy hunting mice.