Tabi is a little rascal. He loves to chase geckos on the porch at his home in Hawaii. But he’s also a lap cat, and is fondly known by his family and friends as “Lounge Lizard.”

Tabi is also the name for traditional Japanese socks that have a spit between the big toe and the rest, so that they may be worn with thong sandals (for more on that, click here). They are ankle high, and usually white, just like Tabi cat’s “socks.”

In the painting, you can see how certain details really bring out the animal’s personality. During the couple of weeks I worked on Tabi’s portrait, I got to know his features pretty well. I know the shape of his ears, and the curve of his chin. I know about the little pink spot on the first paw pad of his right hind leg, and that he has too many whiskers to count. Without these, Tabi wouldn’t be Tabi. Without the wispy long hairs on his back and chest, you might not know he has a rascally side.