Been a whole year since I painted our little alley cat Squishee, i really poured my heart, soul, blood, sweat, and tears in to this mural, even cut my head open at the end tryna finish in the pouring rain! 😅
But seeing people's reaction was a beautiful thing, its definitely inspired me to pursue more stray stories with my work...and I've got some really cool cats im excited to share with you guys very soon!
Much love to @street_prints for giving me the opportunity to share her story with the world! And all the other Artists who contributed to the beautification of my home town Papaioea, Palmerston North!
💚🙏🙏🙏💚
#CATGANG #adoptdontshop #squishee #squishy #cat #mural #streetart #catportrait #alleycat #tabby #papaioea #manawatustreetart #manawatu #nz #tabby #tabbycat #tabbycatsofinstagram #catsofinstagram #cats #catstagram #catlife #cats_of_instagram #catsofig #catsdaily #catsofworld
...well it truly pains me to post this, but our stout little stray cat Squishee has sadly passed on. She lived quite a remarkable life, and it was her unexpected companionship that ultimately changed my own.
In 2017 my journey in Tattooing brought me right to her doorstep. I moved in to a private studio space in an old building above where she lived (outside/underneath). If we hung outside long enough she would eventually come up for pats, but run away if approached. We always wondered what her backstory might be. She had half an ear missing, half a tail, rough weathered fur and a raspy purr to melt your heart.
There was something really wholesome about her. She was always there after a long day Tattooing, and when I'd walk home at night, she'd follow me to the edge of her territory and see me off.
I didn't even want a cat at the time, but then Id get home and start worrying if she got back safely, and before we knew it, Molly and I were unanimous... we're bringing her home with us!
I started painting more cats in my mural work wherever I could. Starting locally with the Ashhurst and Palmy skateparks, then up to Taupo for Graffiato 2018, Whangarei for Street Prints Manaia 2019, then in 2020 it came back home to Palmerston North thanks to @street_prints Papaioea.
I finally had the opportunity to paint my favourite cat of all... Squishee!
It motivated me to push my spray-painting style to a more technical level to try achieve the most realistic portrait possible, specifically with the fine fur textures, sun-lighting & drop shadows. I wanted it to look like she was actually sitting there, not just a mural but an actual tyrannosaurus-rex-sized cat perched up on the wall. Being such a tiny cat with a feisty Napoleon complex, I knew she'd appreciate the embellishment in scale. I painted this mural on the back of the Palmy Grand, serendipitously the same building I've now moved my Tattoo studio in to. So even though she's gone, her mural's still there to see me off at the end of the day...
(continued in comments...)
🍕 APRIL PIZZA SPECIAL 🍕
Created in collaboration with local legend & phenomenal talent @swiftmantis - this pizza special draws on his Greek heritage, bringing to life nostalgic flavours inspired by fond memories of The Greek Picnic: those who know… KNOW! 🇬🇷
Here’s the good stuff:
🥩 Seasoned lamb
🫒 Authentic Kalamata whole jumbo olives
💚 Artichoke
🍃 Spinach
🧀 Mozzarella
🍋 House-made lemon-feta-olive-oil drizzle
🍞 All on top of our Tony’s sourdough base
Available to dine-in, takeaway and have delivered via @ubereats for this month only 🧡
We’ll see you soon Palmy! 👋
#TonysPizzaNZ #PalmyProud #ThisIsManawatu #SwiftMantis
📣 COMING SOON! 📣
The insanely talented, Palmy legend @swiftmantis is creating our April pizza special! 🍕
Place your bets on what he’ll be cooking up in the comments...
#TonysPizzaNZ #PalmyProud #ThisIsManawatu #SwiftMantis
Fun times at @roots_auckland !
Finished up a really cool bio-mechanical/cyborge sleeve for my man Aaron, who flew all the way up from Timaru! Absolute legend!! Ill wait till its all healed to share it properly.
Gave Molly her first Tattoo... a fluffy little bumblebee to start her bodysuit off 😂
Great seeing everyone, and meeting new faces, I always love the yarns and ofcourse getting super inspired by all the amazing Tattoos that went down!
Also really cool to see @railsidenz and @berst_1 involved with a Tattoo studio we could scribble all over! Finally! 😂
Massive thanks to @dbkaye and @miss_madelinekaye for your vision and hard work making this very special event happen, literally years of work! We can't thank you enough! 💚💚💚
Portrait of KitKat.
Dedicated to her loving memory, and the home, friends and family she found at Viv's Kitchen
Thanks Viv & Kevan for having me, and for all the coffees, paninis, and creamhorns along the way! It was an absolute priviledge to paint KitKats portrait and get to know you both! 😄💚🙏
Ill be Tattooing at @roots_auckland very soon!
Bookings available!
[email protected] 😊
Open to ideas. I love Tattooing animals, pet portraits, mythology, movies, landscapes, horror, comedy...anything with realism! 😄
