pop art cats

BEANIES STORY
Back in 2008 I discovered a momma cat had given birth to her babies in a cubby hole in a stack of firewood close to the highway. She was feral and had been coming around for food. She would cross the road to get to the woods and river on the other side. It was a very busy road and many an animal had met their doom while crossing. I realized immediately that once those babies were big enough she would be taking them across the road, so I devised a plan to capture her and the babies. I made up a space for her in the basement away from our other animals, so that she could nurse her babies in peace. She was good with it and we forged a relationship. Within a few days it was clear that something was wrong with one of the babies. He was unable to latch on to nurse. He had been born with an ill formed lower spine, a hard corkscrew of a tail and stiff  hyper extended legs. It was clear that momma (now named Peggy) was trying to help him, so I pitched in and held him next to her while he nursed. Things began to happen quickly. Within the first weeks I noticed that he was having trouble emptying his bladder, so a trip to the vets and a lesson in bladder expression followed. 
Once back home the kittens, five in all were growing and moving around the basement and venturing upstairs. the little guy Beanie, he was not as lucky, he was unable to jump and had a hard time keeping up with his siblings. Eventually they left the nest and started sleeping together away from mom and Beanie was left on his own. From there I started working with him more as he kept growing. I moved him up into the house where he could get around better and also made a place for him next to me in the bed where he would sleep. He grew very determined and independent; he seemed unaware of his limitations and was always using his upper body strength to pull himself up onto the furniture. He became very good at jumping down and was soon chasing the other cats around and making a place for himself. 
Over the years we have continued this relationship. There have been ups and downs and on several occasions we thought we might lose him.  But he has been strong, the most resilient soul I have ever known. He is still fiercely independent, and it is this independent spirit that inspired me to create these series of artworks using his image. 
It is now the end of July 2024 and The Bean is having a birthday. He and his remaining siblings will be sixteen.
In all we have said goodbye to momma Peggy, brother Daniel and sister Juniper. The Bean, Phoebe and Lucy are still doing well, and life in the Beaniverse is good.