"Have you ever seen a cat smile? They can you know. They smile with their eyes."
I began painting cats years ago, shortly after adopting a magical little kitty named Maxine. Maxie is the inspiration behind the ‘Bigcatheads’ series. All at once, I found my own style, as my past influences melded into one. I rejected the detail of realism and evolved the linework into simpler, more ‘iconic’ shapes. I embraced the saturated colour found in abstract work, and the whimsical spirit of cartooning. The subject matter was – and still is – cats. You see, I adore cats. I love everything about them. They're just like me – quiet, reserved, mysterious and easily embarrassed. When I look into a cat’s eyes, I see a deep consciousness. It's not human, and it's a little bit twisted, but there are definitely wheels turning in there. What I try to capture with my art is an essence; that feeling of being completely immersed inside the moment. People who live with cats will know what I mean. The real magic is in the cat’s reaction to ‘the moment’. Cats have a profound range of expressions, but they’re so subtle, they're virtually invisible. Have you ever seen a cat smile? They can you know. They smile with their eyes.
My work is inviting to the viewer. It makes people happy and can literally brighten the room it’s in. I’ll leave the deep, brooding statements of despair to others. I do cats.
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