This Chapter Ends

With tremendous sadness we report that Napster has left us.




He was taken ill on July 1st, and on July 4th was diagnosed with an aggressive liver cancer. At almost 18 years old, there is no coming back from that, nowhere to go.


He was in pain, and that's not ever acceptable.  On Saturday afternoon, held in loving arms, purring, he went to sleep and crossed that Rainbow Bridge.  Heaven will be the brighter for his arrival, while we are all a little darker for his departure.




For so many years he has brought so much joy, such sheer delight to so many people around the globe. He has raised over $12,000 for his various charities -- and that work will continue with the ongoing sale of his artwork to honour his legacy.











Much thanks goes to Dr. Earl Wurdell, his lifetime vet, for going above and beyond.  To Brian Tapley, who built a suitable casket lined with purple satin provided by Carol, to David and Megan Tapley for attending to the various details that go with even a small family funeral.








Who would ever have thought that this little ginger scrap of fur, with one tooth and one eye, one huge heart and one amazing tail could have achieved what he did.

Thank you Napster for sharing your life, your talent, your affection with us for these many years.  Know that you were beloved. Know that you will be remembered.

Sleep well, little kitty...

What a Way to Brighten a Snowy Day

I think it goes like this... and I see flowers.
but what do I know

 Napster is bored with Winter Whites.

Yesterday, he dragged out his paints, and created a piece of art to brighten any day.


The thing is (as is often the case with the Cat and his brush with art) we are not quite sure which way he meant it to hang on the wall...


And we are told that art requires a title to validate the piece, so we not only need to decide Which Way?  We also need a charming title for the work.



His friend Sharon thought it looked a little "Emily Carr" for the boldness of the style.

#2

He's got some spring flowers blooming in the house right now, like a hibiscus that has a big pop of colour.

We're just not sure...


So... we'd like you to weigh in here please.  We'll pick a winner from the entries that we like the best, and that person will get a free packet of Napster's coveted art cards.

#3...  is that somebody leaning down to pull up a garden weed

#4. Could be Emily Carr... maybe...

Recognition from Macleans Magazine

Autumn Fox, one of his most recent pieces

Thank you to Aaron Hutchins of Macleans magazine, who got the nod to follow up on Napster's artistic journey.

This article has just been posted to their on-line edition. You can read it here.

Napster is very very pleased, and grateful, and hopes that this added publicity will help him push his donations fund even higher.   This past week, he made a donation to BEAR WITH US, in Sprucedale, where Mike MacIntosh rescues injured black bears.  This was a specific donation towards the rehab of Hope, a desperately ill little bear who is still suffering a form of paralyses in her hind legs.  Napster knows what it is to be ill...  and he also knows that every little bit can help.  When we found an orphaned fawn in our back fields, he was pleased to be able to donate towards her care at the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.

Loon Dancer, signature print for A Wing and a Prayer,
famous for their rescue work with loons.

While he snuggles on the back of his favourite chair watching the birds at the feeder and the deer on our lawn here at Bondi Village, these charities that help animals are the ones closest to his heart.

Skaters.  This piece sells in Amsterdam for
 Eyes on Animals.

In addition to his favourite charity, A Wing and a Prayer, over the past years he has been asked and has been happy to help out a whole list of charities. Both the local Lake of Bays Libraries feature his work, and he fund-raises for them. As he does for both the local Anglican and United churches.  The Huntsville branch of the Cancer Society has auctioned his work. The Huntsville Animal Shelter was a big benefitting cause as well. In Guelph, the Wind Dancer Pony Rescues auctions off one of his paintings each year at their PonyPalooza event.  He has also made contributions to the Me to We group on their way to Africa a few years back, the local Food Bank fundraiser, and animal shelters in Hamilton and B.C.  In addition, one of his works sells as a fundraiser card for the charity Eyes on Animals, based in Holland and working throughout the EU to improve the conditions of animals being shipped for breeding and slaughter across multiple border crossings.

Cardinals.   He painted this with help (holding the paper
and the paint palette) from  Denise Newell and the ladies
here with the Old Salts.

In short, for being a pretty small player, he has done a tremendous amount of good for a lot of charities.  He would very much like to thank Aaron for the article -- and for explaining that the amount in the BlogList referred to single sales. Hard to match those numbers, since he doesn't sell his originals... and likes to keep his prints affordable for all.  But still...

And he would very much like to express his purr-fectly best wishes to all those who wrote in on his behalf, and especially the Old Salts Seniors Canoe Club for their devotion to his artwork, to himself, and for putting together that petition.    He had no idea you were doing that for him, and he is deeply humbled.


He also has his paws crossed that this will help him to advance his sales, so he can make even more donations in future.

Thanks Aaron, for taking the time to respond to the emails and petition, and to call up to interview Napster for Macleans.

Coming soon to a news-stand near you.

He's been trying to contain his excitement.  After being snubbed in Macleans Magazine back in July, by being omitted completely from their list of animal artists (and there may be reasons, but he was still upset), Napster was thrilled to get a phone call interview from one of the Macleans' writers.

Seems that there has been a persistent mail-in campaign to Macleans from his fan-base, culminating with the Old Salts Canoe Club putting together a petition with over 50 names on it...

THAT got the attention of Canada's most widely read magazine.

So, fingers crossed... while he had hoped for nothing more than a simple correction, a mention of his art, below the fold on page 5...   he is now all a-quiver that he may get a bit more recognition than that.

Stay tuned.  As they say, don't touch that dial...

Santa Claws

Napster has not posted for a few months -- he has been enjoying being out of doors, and watching the birds at the feeder from the back of his chair. We think he draws a lot of inspiration from watching his world!


But now, he is gearing up for the Christmas season, when Santa Claws and his trusty reindeer will be delivering Napster Notes and Prints for stockings and gifts.

(we are informed that this is one rein-dear, and one stan-deer-ed poodle, but let us knot quibble)

Connisseur

Mike is a big Fan of Napster's work, and has two in his own home.

Each summer, he picks up a few more as house-warming and other gifts for his friends.

Napster had a little snuggle with him, just his way of saying "thanks."

Gallery, Open by Chance or Appointment

Having first heard of Napster at the Noah's Larks' dinner at the Pioneer Memorial Church, where one of his paintings sold for $50 to aid the cause at the silent auction, there was nothing to be done except to drive out and meet the artist in person (cat-son?) at his studio at Bondi Village.

June Gibson, Joan Macaw and Ann Hutley made an afernoon of touring the artist's studio and taking home some swag in the form of note-cards.






Of course, Joan (a Macaw herself) had to have his image of Two Macaws...

New Fans, new Friends

Napster has been selling a lot of his artwork this summer, which is great news for his charities.  He's also been making a lot of new friends.


At the Star Search and Wolf Howl evening this week, he came out in the dark to greet Dan, his newest fan.

One Upset Cat

Napster was heartbroken this week when the copy of Macleans Magazine arrived in our mailbox. The August 4 & 11 'double issue' of this great Canadian magazine contains a preview of thh Blog of Lists, due to be published in the next issue.

Now, we love Macleans magazine. We enjoy the articles, even when we don't agree with the viewpoints, and we enjoy the Blog of Lists -- such as the 5 incredible historical artifacts stolen by Canada's most thief (who knew???); and 10 weird things you can only do in Canada...

But... this year they included a list of the 8 Top-Selling Animal Artists.
1. Congo, the chimpanzee, in London, at $26, 352.00
2. Ruby the elephant, in Phoenix, at $25,000
3. The Orangutans of Krefield Zoo, Germany, at $4100.

Well, you get the gist, and you can see the picture. We would normally link to that page, but we couldn't find it on-line yet.

"So," said David, "how much has Napster sold?" We did the math. He has just cracked $12,000 in Gross Sales. All of his profits go to charities, including a Wing and a Prayer, Aspen Valley Wildlife, various Animal Shelters, the local churches and libraries, Cancer society, the local foodbank, and more. That is a LOT of money raised by a small, portly ginger housecat over the past four years.

And by our math, that would put him in slot number Three.

So we wrote a letter to Macleans. You can support it, by firing off a letter to letters@macleans.ca to support Napster's artwork and his tentative claim to fame. After all, he is Canadian, and he's doing great work... and he has works around the globe...

Come on Macleans, do the right thing, and recognize this Canadian cat!

Bird on a Wire

Bondi Resort BLOG: Napster goes to Legendary Cowdray House

Bondi Resort BLOG: Napster goes to Legendary Cowdray House: Earlier this summer, Andrew, one of our long-time Bondi Family, was here for the annual Williams/Hadden Family reunion. He confessed tha...

Unicorns and Dreaming

Napster had a visit from a young artist, Amber Fyfe, last week.

Amber picked out the colours, Napster communed a bit with Amber, and then he whipped up this.

Audrey, Amber's mom, right away spotted the lady with the flowing cloak riding on the unicorn...  Now, he has been watching Lord of the Rings reruns...

We think it quite lovely!

Who Knew!? Surprise Award sends Napster to 24 Sussex Drive

Here was something we didn't expect.

Last weekend, Laureen Harper was in town, with Minister Tony Clement. They went out on Stand Up Paddleboards, they visited the SPCA, they presented awards to the volunteers of the Marine Society in Gravenhurst. They did the 'glad handing' appearances that they do.


And then, out of the blue, on the S.S. Segwun, Tony presented Laureen with a painting. The comment is made that it should be in the National Art Gallery -- Napster would be happy to paint a companion for the much debated "Voice of Fire," which cost the nations millions. For a small fee, he would be happy to provide "Voice of Fur." Seriously...



One of Napster's. Now, he got it a bit wrong, when he said Napster's tail 'got dipped into paint' -- Napster picks the paint up all by himself. Nobody touches the tail...

but we quibble... Tony needs to drop by and spent five minutes Painting with Napster... He'd be very welcome.

Mrs. Harper is a fan of cats. She described the print as "fantastic."





The print is one that can be hung several ways -- horizontally it is titled Ascending. It has been auctioned in the past to raise funds for the local United Church.






But when you turn it, it becomes a lovely Woodpecker. And sold hung that way for the Me to We Fundraiser a few years ago.

We don't know which way it will hang in 24 Sussex Drive, but we do hope it will bring Mrs. Harper great joy.









Napster was so overcome by this news that he had to go lie down... While he has a print with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and another with the Governor General, he was quite suprised by this presentation.



But he also wanted Mrs. Harper to know that to date he has raised almost $9,000 for various charities. Most recently, one of his works auctioned for Busting Out, a Breast Cancer Survivor Dragon Boat team in Ottawa. That print went to a couple -- she from Sweden, and he from Malaysia! Napster has been sold all around the world!

Muskoka Music Men come to Call ... and Sing

Napster was honoured to welcome the Muskoka Music Men to his house this evening.

They were here to sing during the Chowder Bowl Clam Race.  42 Clams came to the start, and are racing overnight under drizzly wet conditions.

The Music Men are fantastic. They come each year for us, with a Barbershop Quartet.  Napster points out that is is a V.L.Q. this year -- a Very Large Quartet. The more the merrier we always say!

Without them, the Clam Race would just be a bunch of clams vying for a trophy. With them, it is an Event with a capital E.

They raise funds for speech therapy, and Napster is delighted to meet friends who also raise money for worthy charities.  He came down immediately to say hello and hopped up on one of the stools. We think he perhaps was rather hoping he would be asked to sing harmony...

A visit with a Collector

 Napster is always delighted to meet his fans.

Last week Gavin was here. He is already a collector of Napster's work, and this summer added another print to his personal gallery.

Napster was thrilled to spend some time snuggling with Gavin in his studio.  It brings him great satisfaction to know that his art is making people happy!

Oh Man! Napster sells art to Oman!

Such excitement! Sherry was with us for the last two weeks, for the annual Family Reunion that has been going on every summer for the past 52 years and as the kids grow up, and the grandkids start their own families, the Reunion just keeps getting bigger and better.




Sherry and Rob have been posted to Masqat, Oman for the next few years. Sherry joined the Omani Womens' Guild, and is working with a group of young entrepreneurs. Recently she was selected as a coach for the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards and will be working with a young woman from Libya - exciting stuff!

She scooped up three of Napster's masterpieces to take back to Oman.

Running Wolf






Dolphins Chase the Moon

and Commedia del'Arte

They work beautifully together as a triptych, and Napster is thrilled to add Oman to his list of collector countries.


He posed with Sherry this morning, proudly wearing his "Purrrr-ka"...

Oh Man! Napster sells art to Oman!

Such excitement! Sherry was with us for the last two weeks, for the annual Family Reunion that has been going on every summer for the past 52 years and as the kids grow up, and the grandkids start their own families, the Reunion just keeps getting bigger and better.




Sherry and Rob have been posted to Masqat, Oman for the next few years. Sherry joined the Omani Womens' Guild, and is working with a group of young entrepreneurs. Recently she was selected as a coach for the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards and will be working with a young woman from Libya - exciting stuff!

She scooped up three of Napster's masterpieces to take back to Oman.

Running Wolf






Dolphins Chase the Moon

and Commedia del'Arte

They work beautifully together as a triptych, and Napster is thrilled to add Oman to his list of collector countries.


He posed with Sherry this morning, proudly wearing his "Purrrr-ka"...

Ontario North

 The Louvelle family are visting us from Cochrane this week.

Napster was delighted to meet his newest fans, and spent some time having a chat and cuddle with Maya and Abby.

Amanda and Frank -- with input from the girls of course, and in conversation with the artist himself -- chose Autumn Fox to take home with them, adding one of Ontario's northern towns to Napster's Collectors' locations!

Making Art History

 Dr. Anne Whitelaw teaches Canadian Art History at Concordia University in Montreal.





While she was here this week, she promptly snapped up a Napster to hang on her office wall.

Her choice? "Firebird".

In Huntsville she met up with Gerry Lantaigne, the brush behind the Group of Seven murals in Huntsville and Lake of Bays.  You can easily spend a few days tracking these murals in Dwight, Dorset, Baysville, Oxtongue Lake and Huntsville.

When we were chatting about Napster's work, the topic of the Group of Seven came up, following the mural discussion.

"Had Tom Thompson not died so young, and so tragically," Anne said (with only a hint of facetious whimsy) "it is quite possible his style might have matured to match Napster's freedom of abstract expression."

Comparisons...

 Roger Hilton's "Boats. Perhaps."   And below, his "Landscape Study."

Roger's work sells in the estimated range of 25,000 to 35,000 English Pounds a piece.





Roger is valued as a pioneer of abstract art in post-war Britain.  Which is all fine and good, but we find it dark, and a tetch gloomy...    Perhaps best suited for lamp-lit baronial halls....









Diana Howse, the Countess of Harewood, also finds her pieces selling for tens of thousands of pound.

Napster admits that one must never compare artists, since each has a unique vision and style.   But for his purrrrr-poses, his works are brighter, more fun to have hanging on the wall, every bit as abstract and evocative.

And sell for far less.

He's just sayin'

Dolphins Chase the Moon. Gift to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

Yoga, the Downward Dog

Loon Dancer

Two Macaws