Happy Birthday Kitty - Japanese Woodblock Traditional Style Feline Cat Meme Art Illustration Art

A lot of my digital work is inspired by Japanese art, both modern and traditional. My influences include Katsushika Hokusai, Hishikawa Moronobu and Kitagawa Utamaro (ukiyo-e - pictures of the floating world/wood block artists), Koga Harue, Yumiko Kayukawa (surrealism) and more modern artists such as Chiho Aoshima, Makoto Muramatsu, Yoshitomo Nara and Akira Toriyama (digital art/manga). Most of these pieces start out with a sketch which is then scanned then manipulated in Adobe Illustrator/Photoshop.

I came across a video the other day of one of the cat islands in Japan. I’d heard there were a few island with more than a clowder of cats and I’d always planned to go to one if I ever visited Japan. I though it was going to be so cute, so many cats running amok but it just made me so sad to see, in fact I was almost in tears! Some of the cats were in such a state and they were all starving! The visitors feed them but most of the time they are left to fend for themselves. I wanted to help in some way so I decided to create some artwork to raise money for a charity in Japan who helps stray animals, including cats on cat islands.

10% of profits from the sale of this print will be going to the Japan Cat Network and 10% to Brysons Animal Shelter in Gateshead UK.

Print 2 of 6 - お誕生日おめでとうにゃんこ Omedetou gozaimasu nyanko Happy Birthday Kitty 余分な砂糖, 余分な塩, 余分な油とうま味調味料一 Yobun na sato, yobun na shio, yobun na abura to umami choumiryou ichi. Extra sugar, extra salt, extra oil and MSG’ and is a line from the song Birthday Cake by Japanese punk rock band Cibo Matto

Based on the famous meme of a kitty nomming it’s way through a birthday cake.

Printed on high quality 200gsm paper or 90gsm antique style vellum.

This vellum is made from cellulose fibres.

Choose options from the drop down menu.

A5 200gsm paper

A5 90gsm vellum

A4 200gsm paper

A4 90gsm vellum

Woodblock art is traditionally printed on Japanese vellum. Please see photos for comparison between the prints on paper and vellum.

Any questions, just ask.

All items within the UK will be sent via Royal Mail signed for within 3 working days, please allow 3-5 working days for delivery. International items will be sent via Royal Mail International. Please allow between 15 and 30 working days for international items.

Thanks for looking

Copyright © Denise Humphrey