This is one of the first pictures I attempted when I decided to become an illustrator in 1985. I had this idea of creating a picture book of famous people using cats as models to create a hiss-tory. So many people love cats that it seemed like a clever idea at the time. Since then I’ve noticed several bookstores carrying books along these lines. Most of the illustrators who ran with this idea painted cartoons of cats inserted into famous paintings, but I intended to do stroke for stroke copies.
This piece was based on Holbein’s portrait of Anne of Cleves, one of the wives of Henry VIII. Other ideas that might have followed in the series were Cleo-cat-tra and Meow-Zedong.
The model for Anne was a stray in the neighborhood; the belt I made her pose in for hours on end nearly killed her. (Just kidding, cat lovers!)
There must be something I can do with this illustration, but what?
I think it's quite brilliant. Just because others have done something similar, doesn't mean you can't - it's how you execute that matters. Your ideas are terrific!
ReplyDeleteI think you had an amazing idea and should run with it!
ReplyDeletePost it on the net for us to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteJust put some funny text on the picture and it'll go all over the web. People love cats for some reason.
ReplyDeleteI just love it -- and I recognized the portrait, too! Your idea has the ring (or should I say the meowwww)of a best seller to it!
ReplyDeleteThere used to be a line of stuffed bears that included Queen Elizabear and Humphrey Beargart. Maybe you could start a line of such cats, and use this on the packaging and ads. Yes, i'm joking, i really have no clue.
ReplyDeleteLooks like there's a consensus. You could do something like That is Priceless
ReplyDeleteI rather like Mimi's idea. Or you could still try to sell the original idea, the book. I'm willing to bet there's enough cat-crazed folk out there to make it at least a guaranteed non-loser for some publisher.
ReplyDeleteI am partial to your original book idea. Or you could wangle a cat-litter deal to have her on the bag, wringing her paws. "For when you just can't hold it any longer."
ReplyDeleteI can haz my head?
ReplyDeleteThis is terrific! I so enjoy things that are fun like this. I'm sure there are lots of things you can do with it. Thanks for stopping by my blog-
ReplyDeleteaccording to a TV fact show here Henry had anywhere between two and six wives depending on how you count it
ReplyDeleteTwo marriages were annulled - which means that legally they never happened, for another Henry announced that it was illegal to marry the widow of your brother (or something like that)
The picture of the cat is great btw