May we introduce you to a marvellous and mischievous cat...Van Gogh's Cat, to be exact!
Lillian Crump, Van Gogh's Cat with Irises, Art Print, 8.5"x8.5"
You may be familiar with Lil Crump: artist, illustrator, and designer behind many amazing creations including the Van Gogh's Cat Series! Now we would like to introduce you to a special character of Lillian's creation: the cat themselves! So, who is this cat, really? Although Lillian did grow up with cats, this one is not based off her real-life cat, as she does not have one at the moment. However, she does have a yellow dog that thinks she is a lioness, so there is some feline inspiration in her household!
Vincent Van Gogh, Daubigny's Garden with Black Cat
Van Gogh created pieces that included a black cat: "Daubigny's Garden with Black Cat" and "Hand with a Bowl and a Cat". It is unknown if this was Vincent's cat, a neighbour's cat, or otherwise! It is also unknown how much Vincent interacted with the cat, or if he had any nicknames for them. If the cat remains nameless, Lillian thinks this would contribute to the mysticism of the cat's existence. However, if you take one of Lil's prints home with you, the naming game is yours!
Vincent Van Gogh, Hand with a Bowl and a Cat
There is a long and winding history following the cat, and how it has arrived at its current destination! The Van Gogh's Cat Series is part of a larger series of Lillian's: Cat in Classic Art. The very first cat that started it all was incorporated into "The Scream" by Edvard Munch. Lillian created this for a show called "The Cat Days of Summer" here at Argyle Fine Art! The original piece was in black and white, and Lil decided to revisit the concept while creating content for her instagram page! This started the ball rolling, and Lillian's idea of inserting a feline into other Classic Art pieces (such as the work of Van Gogh, Matisse, Cezanne, Grant Wood, etc.) developed from there!
Lillian Crump, The Cat Scream, Art Print, 8.5"x8.5"
Lillian thought the bold colours and brush strokes of Van Gogh's work perfectly matched the personality of the black cat. The "Vase with 12 Sunflowers" was the first piece she created in the Van Gogh's Cat series! The "Chair" was an easy next step, followed by "Bedroom in Arles". The next design to be made into a print was "Cafe Terrace at Night". And of course, the most recent addition with the anticipation of Spring is "Van Gogh's Cat with Irises". Followers of the little cat are sure to wonder, where will they go next? Will we be seeing more of them? Lillian says the black cat loves attention and is full of mischief, so the chances are high!
Lillian Crump, Van Gogh's Cat with Sunflowers, Art Print, 8.5"x8.5"
Although the cat theme was sparked by our "Cat Days of Summer" show, Lillian did not have to continue featuring a feline friend, yet she did! You may be wondering, why have a cat specifically make an appearance in such Classic Art pieces? Why not any other animal? Well, Lil says, "I think deep down many of us would like to pull off the panache of a cat". Cats do tend to have quite a unique approach to life. Lillian describes how in one moment a cat can look you right in the eye while destroying something, and the next moment they look at you as if they did you a favour and you should admire them. They show no remorse! The combination of bold and fluffy seemed like the perfect humorous addition to the Classic Art pieces. To top it all off, cats are simply Lil's favourite thing to draw.
Lillian Crump, Van Gogh's Cat with Chair, Art Print, 8.5"x8.5"
Even Lillian's creation process has a fascinating story! She uses an app called "procreate pocket" on her iPhone along with an "Adonit, Mini 4 Stylus" pen! Lillian likes this technique because she enjoys the ability to work in layers and experiment with the plethora of available brushes. Before completion, the next stage is to transfer her work to a Photoshop file on her desktop computer for final touch-ups and print set-up!
Lillian Crump, Van Gogh's Bedroom in Arles, Art Print, 8.5"x8.5"
Many of you are most likely wondering, where can we find the cat next? Will the cat branch out to visit the work of other Classic Artists? Well, we can't reveal too much, but Lil has said she loves Degas and can envision a cat in the dance studio...so for now, we thank you for following the cat along the journey thus far!
Who knows what the feisty little feline will get into next? Stay tuned!
Lillian Crump, Van Gogh's Cat at the Cafe Terrace at Night, Art Print, 8.5"x8.5"
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