We recently found a one-of-a-kind cat artist whose work we just adore! Her name is Jess Doutrich and since 2003, her whimsical, playful and colorful cat paintings have captured the many moods and expressions of our feline furriends.
Jess works with acrylic for her paintings, and her clever and unique style of art has been featured all around the country.
We spoke with Jess and she was kind enough to offer one lucky Purrington Post reader the chance to WIN a custom 9″ x 12″ acrylic painting of their cat [contest details below].
Jess first sketches your kitty from a few photos, then transforms over a period of weeks to reveal a unique, stylized and whimsical custom cat painting – just for you! The customer becomes part of the process in helping to select background colors, detail direction and final approval.
Jess loves to involve her clients in the process so they feel as connected to the painting as possible. >^..^<
* Contest Now Closed
This contest ended on December 27th, 2017 and was available to North American residents only. Entrants needed to submit a comment in our “Leave a Reply” section at the bottom of this page saying:
My cat’s name is [insert your cat’s name] and he/she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because [insert your cat’s reason]
The winner was chosen by Jess Doutrich from all the correctly submitted entries and contacted by email.
About Jess Doutrich
Jess graduated from Pratt Institute, in Brooklyn, NY, with a degree in Industrial Design and currently resides in Virginia with her cool cat, Jax. Be sure to follow Jess on IG at @jd_catpaintings
My lovely ginger boy’s name is Leo aka Leo the Ferocious. And he would ADORE a custom portrait from Jess because he has a face that deserves to be shown to the world !
My cat’s name is Waylon Jennings and he would love to win his portrait in your contest.
*Butting in unasked to say I am so happy to see a fellow Waylon fan who also loves CATS!*
My cat’s name is Brad and he would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because he is the only boy in a house of girl cats and they torment him all day long. A custom portrait would seal his rightful place as king of the manor!
My cat’s name is Kapono and he would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because he is his daddy’s little shadow. They are always together and Pono cuddles in his daddy’s hug every night to fall asleep. Pono just turned 15 this year and has been in poor health since the day he came to live with us. We know the time might be coming soon and I (and Pono) would to present my husband with a custom portrait of Pono as a gift so he can always see his precious boy. Of course I would love to see it too. Pono is a special boy to us both, but he had bonded more with my husband. The orange cat in the portraits above could almost be Pono with the large eyes and ears. Pono is a red Devon Rex.
My cat’s name is Ariel and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because she is the best cat I have ever had. She is sweet, knows my heart, and even got my husband to love her, and he only tolerates cats!
My cat’s name is Buttons Xavier McNubbin (twitter.com/buttonsmcnubbin) and he would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because he will one day rule the world and he will need it for his office.
Our cat’s name is Mr. Sparkles (despite being a girl, blame Daddy) and we would love her to be featured in a custom portrait. Mr. S. is our only child and we are collectors of original artwork. To have an original portrait of her to hang on our wall would just be THE BEST. She’s a City Kitty so I already love the city backgrounds of the featured portraits. Thank you.
My rescue cat’s name is Itachi (“weasel” in Japanese!) and he would love to be featured in a portrait by Jess because unfortunately, solid black kitties still battle a lot of stereotypes, superstitions and invisibility in shelters! We love art that shows how beautiful black cats are! ❤️🐾
My cat’s names are Smokey, Chesney, Gandolfini, Jakey, and Halloween and they would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because mommy loves them to pieces and they want to give her this gift, as they are as grateful to her as she is for them. They have all saved her life in one way or another ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
My cats name is Smokey and he would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because it would be a wonderful way for him to be remembered forever.
My cats names are Sammy, midnight, moonlight, Star, and Alize and they would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because they know mommy would love a picture of all of them because they are the best rescue kitties ever!!
My cat’s name is Ezmarelda and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because well who wouldn’t want to be the subject of there very own personal portrait!! Quenn Ezmarelda just about says it all, now doesn’t it? This could be her crowning portrait, because each queen has to have an official portrait!
My cat name is Annie she loves me with all of her heart
She loves to play with my niece cat her name is Raina ———-> Annie has been with me ever since she was a kitten ————-> She was given to by someone how new my step – brother Thank God for her ———-> She makes me so very happy ———> I ratter die then not have my Annie ——–> I live in Georgia …….. I never win anything but i just want you 2 know Annie is the best thing ever happen to me
My cats names are Kitty Sunshine and Hemingway Rose and they would LOVE to win a custom portrait by Jess bc her portraits are SO fabulous and they and/or she would be honored to be drawn and painted by her!!
My cat’s name is Rusty Jones and he would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because he’s a handsome gentleman who likes to work the cute when he’s not working over your face for trying to kiss his little feet while sleeping on his cat tree.
My cat’s name is Sherlock and he would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because he knows he is a very handsome cat that deserves to be portrayed forever in a work of art.
My cat’s name is Smudge and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because she is the queen and deserves to have a portrait up in the grand hall!
My cat’s name is Munchkin and he would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because his 16th birthday is coming in February and he wants his mom to have something very special of him right above the fireplace.
My cat’s name are Odie and Reggie and they would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because all cat royalty should have their pictures done, and they are princes a,omg cats.
My cat’s name is Tootsie and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because she is the most beautiful floofy girl in the world. Her momma tells her that all the time.
My cat “Mr Tubbs” is a freak of nature, abnormally large but that might explain why he is so loving and fun and would love to be in a portrait because he seems to realize how incredibly handsome he is and photogenic as well. His favorite spot is atop the couch in the living room where I thought he liked bird watching but now realize he’s simply showing his gorgeous self off to the neighborhood.
My cat’s name is Butters and he would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because he has always wanted to be a painting. He has many photographed portraits but desires to painted.
My cat’s name is Penny and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because she is one-of-a-kind. She is curious, energetic, playful, loving, cuddly and always a joy to be around.
My cat’s names are Tarifa, Suha, and Elvis, and they would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because they are so gorgeous and they LOVE to be admired.
My cat’s name is Georgia Joon and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because she thinks she is royalty and should be crowned!
My cat’s name is Marceline and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because she is full of sass and would make a great portrait
My cat’s name is Zowie and he would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because his personality is as unique as Jess’ style!
My cat’s name is Inky and he/she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because she’s survived a lot and would love to get some attention instead of her doggie sisters, Jeep and Tippy. She was found wandering around a parking lot when she was nine weeks old. In her first home the other kitties didn’t like her, so they had to find another home for her, which was us. She’s now sixteen years old.
My cat’s names are Princess and Gigi and they would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because it would be perfect to put on an apartment wall or something like that.
My cat’s name is Smokey Joe and he would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because he has lost his cat dad and sister this year and wants to make sure that his human mom will always have a picture of him.
My cat’s name is Kimba and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because she was made to be in pictures!
My cats name is Zaynnee and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because she is the most curious cat and she is the exact definition of zany. She is very obedient, always running when her name is called. Zaynnee is a great companion and she is always by your side when your feeling bad or anything else. Our wonderful kitty is the one who spoils us with her love and her great personality. Because of all that zaynnee does for our family we know she deserves a great portrait for us to spoil her. She is also a very sassy cat who would love admiring a portrait of herself.
My cat’s name is Elle and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because she is a true diva.
My cat’s name is Oliver, and he’d love a custom portrait by Jess because he already thinks he’s a superstar!
My cat’s name is Ryder and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because she loves to be displayed all through the house in pictures. A painting would be so awesome!
My cat’s name is Sabrina and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because Sabrina thinks she is quite the diva and deserves a portrait of herself.
My cat’s name is Roku he would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because hes such a Diva!
My cats name is Cassie and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because my mom wants my beautiful self on her wall so she can stare at me when I decide to hide under the sink or closet.
My cat’s name is Fia and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because she’s getting tired of having to admire herself in a mirror and would love to admire herself in a portrait by Jess instead!
My cat’s name is Lulu and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because, although she is too humble to admit it herself, she is truly one of the sweetest cats there is and deserves to have something special Just for her. She serves as an emotional support for my boyfriend during his anxiety attacks, and is always by our side when someone is ill or upset. She doesn’t scratch or hiss, and only has room in her heart for love and compassion.
My cat’s name is Simon and he would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because he truly believes he is the king of the house and needs a portrait to let everyone who enters his domain to be reminded of such.
My cat’s name is Patches and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because she was my first cat as an adult, given to me as a Christmas present by my husband (our first Christmas as a married couple). She was positive for feline leukemia and lived for 10.5 years passing over the rainbow bridge 3 years ago due to lymphoma. A creative portrait would be an amazing tribute to her. She was my heart kitty.
I have 7 cats. I would have to choose one if I won.
My cat’ s names are Kathleen and Domino and they would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because they are simply feline fabulous and deserve to be immortalized!
My cat’s name was Ambra (she died 21 weeks ago) and she would have loved to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because she was a beautiful and intelligent little lady who gave me enough love to last a lifetime. Love you always…
My cat’s name is Kotoha and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because she started life as a feral kitten – just two weeks old when I found her (I had to bottle feed her at first). Kotoha wants the world to know that even a feral cat can be a family cat. Her two siblings had been killed by an animal – it’s not safe for kitties in the wild, so Kotoha wants to help them find homes.
My cat’s name is [Snicker] and he would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because he was in Cumberland Co. Animal Co and was going to be euthanized because he is blind. Luckily because he is super friendly and has a nice smile, the wonderful volunteers worked really hard to find Snicker a furever home. They reached out to this place called Blind Cat Rescue in St. Pauls. N.C. They are a sanctuary for Blind, FELV and FIV+ cats. Snicker was so lucky because they had a spot open in their building where most of the blind kitties live. Because Snicker was scared and did know what was going on, at first he did not really like other cats but loved people. So they decided to make Snicker a lobby cat to hang out with the people. Since then Snicker has become kind of the mascot or Mayor of BCR. He greets everyone when they come into the building with his wonderful Snicker smile. If you go to our website and under The Cats, click on Snicker and you can see his wonderful smile. He would be so honored to have a portrait done by Jess and to hang it up in the lobby at BCR were all the people that come to visit the kitties can see it.
My cat’s names are Patsy & Eddie and they would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because they need some colour in their (nine) lives <3
My cat’s name is Mama Ninja and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because Mama Ninja (Ninja for short) was an outdoor feral. It took us over two years to be able to touch her and we were feeding her every day. She had kittens under our neighbor’s deck and our neighbor wanted them gone. We went and got the kittens (over a week old, but eyes not open yet) but had no idea where she was. We began to bottle feed, and take care of them. A few days later Mama Ninja showed up at our back door. My husband went out with a carrier, determined to capture her. Much to our surprise, she walked right into it! We can’t explain it! She was so happy to be back with her kittens, and resumed care. We made a special place for just them. She and her kittens have since been fully vetted (exams, vaccinations, spayed/neutered) and all of them live with us. Mama Ninja is now a gentle, indoor princess and her days of scrounging and kittens are over. Now all she has to worry about is what time dinner is. She still doesn’t like to be picked up, but she loves being petted and talked to, and we love her (and her now grown babies) a lot!
My cat’s name is Pipsqueak and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because she had such a rough start to her life that she deserves something nice. She was found as a stray with a broken tail. She has remained a very tiny cat, thus her name. She has been a lifesaver to me and I would like something nice for her.
My youngest cat is named “The Outlaw Buddie James Mowrey, and he would love a custom cat portrait to show the world what a comedian he is. He never fails to make me and his dad laugh every day.
My cat’s name is Tammy and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because my mama says I’m the most unique cat she’s ever had and believe me, she’s had a lot of cats in 60 years! She says I’m not the typical cat and that is why she loves me so…I’m one of a kind!
My cat’s name is Gilley. He is an exotic shorthair. He has large, expressive eyes and a smooshie face. Gilley would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because after birth he struggled with eye infections (almost losing one) but now- after love and a good Ophthalmologist- he has big, beautiful, and healthy eyes.
My cat’s name is Mikayla and she would LOVE to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because she’s a beautiful supermodel who loves staring at herself. She’s so vain! And she thinks your artwork is purrfect!
My cat’s name is Whiskers and hewould love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because he loves posing for photos and would love to have his portrait made.
My cat’s name is Noel and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because she is now 20 years old and is so beautiful we would love to have this picture of her done. Noel came into our lives after our daughter Amanda had Burkits non Hodgkins Lymphoma at the age of 7 she is now 28 . When the dr’s said it was ok she then rescued Noel. Noel is my baby now and spends her days always laying by me or is in my lap all the time. Noel is a Maine Coon cat.
My cat’s name is Harley and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because she loves having her picture taken and loves to pose.
I’m loving all of these replies! >^..^<
My name is Oakley and my brother cat
Big Boy Rossi would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because he is beautiful, loving, sassy and
He was rescued by our mama at only 6 weeks old, He was small, he was hungry and he was freezing cold.
She gave Him some food and some warm kitty milk and put him in a bed that must have felt like silk.
She soon got him healthy and really big and strong and with us 4 fur siblings nothing could go wrong.
I would really love to see his painting upon our mamas wall to show everyone that rescue cats are just as cool.
So me and my mama are going to sit here waiting to see if Rossi is the winner of your custom painting.
My cat’s name is Stella and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because she is vain.
My cat’s name is Lily and she would love to be featured in a custom portrait by Jess because she is my constant companion and she is beautiful. I would love a portrait of her to have furrrrever.