Who knew that cats could produce abstract-impressionist outworks full of colour and interesting patterns?
Volunteer at the Cats Protection Centre in Belfast, Valeria Higgins, has helped the feline residents discover their inner artist with the help of an unusual iPad app called Paint for Cats – which allows paw marks on the screen to become part of paintings, which are built up in novel arrangements of colour as paw marks increase on the screen.
The centre has discovered, to its surprise and delight, what Picasso-like painters cats can be with the right artistic direction.
Now, possibly for the first time ever in Northern Ireland, a fine collection of cat paintings, all completely created by the cats themselves, will go on sale at the Protection Centre in Dundonald, with funds raised from the sale to go towards the continued work of the centre in providing stray cats with shelter and love before helping to rehome them.
The talented felines discovered their artistic side when volunteer at the centre Valeria Higgins – a passionate cat lover – brought her iPad to work and let the cats get to grips with the specially designed application.
“The cats displayed very different artistic styles,” says Valeria, the centre’s in-house art facilitator and cat art critic.
“Some were very keen to start painting and would cover the whole canvas within a matter of seconds, while others would look at the screen and ponder what they wanted to draw – ending up with just a single paw print in the middle of the painting.
“The cats’ styles also differed – certain cats would use a lot of blobs and splodges, while others used thick lines across the whole of the screen.
“All the art works look very different, which makes this sale unique.”
The application allowed the artistic felines to express their creativity without getting their paws and tail dirty (everybody knows cats are immaculately clean, elegant creatures and to be covered in real paint and bedraggled by art materials would be simply disastrous).
Being so clever and up-to-date on all modern gadgets and gizmos, cats have really taken to the app which lets them paint to their hearts’ content, with a variety of colours and themes, while maintaining supreme cleanliness and poise.
What is really interesting, as Valeria, 31, who lives in Newtownabbey with her own cats Aussie and Smeagol, has observed, is the different artistic styles that have emerged here – showing each cat’s unique personality and approach to artistic expression.
These unusual artworks go on sale at the Cats Protection Belfast Christmas Food and Craft Fair on Saturday November 30 at the Cats Protection Belfast Adoption Centre, Belfast Road, Dundonald, 1-4pm. All proceeds go towards the continued work of the centre.
Belfast Adoption Centre manager Bel Livingstone said: “We always knew that we had special cats in the centre, but didn’t realise the wealth of untapped talent there really was.
“Valeria has not only provided our centre cats with hours of stimulation and enjoyment but found a way in which the cats themselves can help raise funds, so we can continue to help other cats and kittens this winter.
“I would encourage everyone to come along and see for themselves the colourful array of cat art on display at the Belfast Adoption Centre and of course meet the artists in person.”
The cats already at the centre know what a good life they have, being rescued off the street, having their injuries tended to, provided with food, shelter and love – and now the opportunity to develop their artistic side. The sale of cat artworks could start a serious bidding war and will undoubtedly raise much needed funds for the invaluable work of Cats Protection.
Perhaps Charles Saatchi will soon be on the phone: cat art could be the next big thing.
These fabulous cat artworks will go on sale at the Cats Protection Belfast Food and Craft Fair, Cats Protection Belfast Adoption Centre, Belfast Road, Dundonald, November 30, 1-4pm. Prices start from £1 for a small print, with framed paintings on sale for £10.
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