This is Hopey the cat. This unique project began with a purchased cement garden ornament. I painted her from multiple photographs supplied by the family to resemble their beloved family pet.  It was important to give some life to the face.  I painted just a little eye peeking out from the sleeping face with which the cement was originally cast.  I think it makes all the difference.  When you come across Hopey ‘sleeping’ in the garden you have to look twice to see she isn’t going to wake up and meow at you!  I have included a picture of what the cement cat looked like early in the painting process when I had just begun to add some color over my coats of white sealant.