Art Inspired by Felines

What could be more appealing to an artist than the graceful feline form? Their beauty, allure and amazing personality is enticing, yet a challenge to capture for even the most creative and patient artist. As I walked through my house the other day, I was amazed at how many pieces of cat-related artwork we had collected over the years. Of course, this reflects the deep love and admiration we have for the feline species. I often wonder if our cats recognize themselves with their typically intelligent Oriental Shorthair mentality, and if they understand the tribute we pay them with our decorated walls and the lovely statues that grace our tables. Here are some of my favorites. Shortly after we moved to Florida, while investigating a new dollar store, I found this rather intriguing and humorous statue fashioned out of thin bronze, its whiskers made from wire. However, the eyes compelled me to purchase it. Of course, as far as artistic beauty is concerned, it pales in comparison next to the fabulous Laurel Burch plate given to us by a dear friend as a wedding present. They are not exhibited in our home, side by side! Barbara Levitan of Felitan Cattery crafted the Siamese cat picture hanging in our foyer. She specializes in breeding Siamese and Oriental Cats. While rummaging through a pile of driftwood, Barbara’s eye was drawn to the outline of an extreme "typey" Siamese engrained in the wood. She quickly designed an enchanting series featuring the four basic Siamese colors. We were thrilled with such a gorgeous housewarming gift. Resembling a cat with the task of guarding our library, this little white kitty statue performs its job quite well. Initially, our cats were somewhat curious about after we placed it on the floor. They are now bored with it, of course. One of my all time favorites is this humorous rendition of a cross-eyed Siamese I ran across in a bookstore many years ago. While Siamese cats' eyes should never be crossed, its comical demeanor enchanted me. What kind of animal artwork do you collect? Tell us about it by leaving a comment.