At first glance, the works of Vanessa Stockard are classic oil paintings depicting recreations of Old Masters, portraiture, landscapes, still life, and lavish interiors. However, once you look closer, you will notice something unexpected: a tiny black cat that sneaked into the composition.
Black cats are actually always the main stars of Stockard’s artwork. The Australian artist finds ways to incorporate them into every painting she does. Sometimes they are prominently featured, mostly in her original works, while other times they lurk in the backgrounds, waiting for the viewer to discover their hiding spot.
In her paintings, Stockard often features her own cats as well as black cats that she came to meet over the years. But arguably the most popular black cat featured in her works, a crown-wearing feline named Kevin, doesn’t actually exist.
In one interview, Stockard shared that Kevin was created when she mistook a sock in her studio for a kitten. She decided to bring that kitten to life through her paintings and give it a crown so people could spot it more easily.
“I paint cats. I understand cats. As much as anyone can understand cats, “Stockard shares in her profile at Birdcage Collective art gallery.
Continue scrolling to check out more of Stockard’s paintings below.
