It's the cat's birthday!

This print 'Darwin' is based on the many positions that a sleeping cat adopts. He is a particularly long cat - the average cat's tail is 11 inches - his is 14, and he's only just turned one today. #sleepingcat #longcat #catshapes

Darwin came from the family of Adam Swan (the former tennis coach at my club in Cirencester). They have recently moved back to their home area of Kent so a print of the cat seemed an appropriate leaving gift.

This is my first go at a Reduction Print. I carved out the simple cat shapes and printed a few off, some yellow, some grey and some an experimental mixture. Then I returned to the block and removed more wood to create the stripes, hence 'reduction print'. #reduction #reductionprint

I then overprinted, using combinations of the same colours to create various tabby cat effects. Some of them went a little out of register, but I feel this adds to the effect, almost gives the design a shadow or a bit of depth.

Darwin doesn't seem that interested in the design, but I'm pleased, particularly as they have started to sell. #catlover #ilovecats #wallart #limitededition #handmade #handprinted #ballardcreative

There are a few of these in my website shop - and there are more to be uploaded. This is a genuine limited edition print - I couldn't make any more the same even if I wanted to. Comes with a mount that fits into a standard A4 picture frame.