Salt Pond Kitties

"Bootsie" Sentinel of Salt Pond
click on photos to enlarge

There is an overwhelming population of feral cats on this little island in the heart of the Pacific Ocean. How to remedy this situation is beyond my concept at this point. For the last seven years I have been one of the committed feeders of two colonies located at the edges of Salt Pond Park on Kauai.

There is the morning feeder, Dorothy whom has been feeding these kitties for over thirteen years. She willing shares that there are several kitties that are ten years or older...the "originals" she fondly refers to. She has them all named. Dorothy is in her 70's.

"Mama Pinkie" over 10 yrs old

Tom and Debbie share the evening feeding with myself. They also are the couple responsible for catching and releasing hundreds of kitties for the last four years. After the kitties have been spayed by our Human Society, who donate the cages and traps to catch them , they then donate Veterinary services for neutering these feral kitties. After caring for them during recovery, Debbie and Tom release them back into the colony.

The population with this colony was working well, as we all managed to keep the colony numbers right around 20 kitties. Then about four months ago, people started dumping not one or two kitties, but LITTERS and pregnant mama kitties.

The colony quickly grew to over 40 kitties with half not neutered. Debbie and Tom worked diligently capturing dozens to have neutered. The ear is clipped as to recognize those ones fixed. They were both warriors of the evening, gathering up as many as four at a time to take to the Human Society for their alteration, and care for them over night and release back to the colony the next day. Mahalo nui loa Tom and Debbie for your LOVE and caring of these kitties!

"Georgie and Tuffy"

A couple of weeks ago this all began to change. An emotional solution was unfolding. The Salt Makers of Hanapepe posted this.

This is what I drove up to for the evening feeding. Kitties in a disarray of confusion. All dishes and containers of water were removed. All shelters and palettes-gone too!

A gathering of folks involved met with the Human Society and it was decided we had to remove the entire colony, stop feeding and capture to bring to the Human Society. Because many of these kitties had been in the colony for several years they were tame. so maybe for some it could mean adoption, but, sadly for most, it means an end to their life.

There is not one solution to this growing problem. Feral cats and feral chickens are a part of this island. People need to be more responsible for their actions with the animals they have and do not want. Dumping an animal is punishable with a $500 fine. IT takes only a minimum of $5 to have your animals spayed at the Human Society.

IN MEMORY OF
Big Boy Samba
1995-2010

Painting a Winner

I tend to be the type of painter that feeds on first creating an image in my mind or during dream time. Using real time , real life events and elements. A painting might be born in a title first, or come from a theme for a specific show. The following painting , "Listen to the Orchids Sasha" took work and the concept evolved to solve specific composition challenges.

For this painting, my first ideas came about when I visited my son and daughter-n-law this last Christmas. My grandchildren are grandkitties! Two beautiful "temple" cats, Puppy and his sister Sasha. I told my son that I wanted to paint Sasha for his Birthday painting this year.
This painting quickly evolved into one for the theme of an upcoming show, "Orchid Fantasy", to be held during our town, Hanapepe Orchid Festival, March 27-28, 2009. So I wanted to have orchids in the painting. I was attempting to create a lei (necklace) of orchids. Took the above painting to another artist friend, Marionette, for some critique because I wasn't satisfied with the composition and needed her eye. She mentioned that the orchids around the border were a distraction and I agreed.

Fortunately painting with acrylics is very forgiving. I painted out about half the orchids. I thought of adding a butterfly. I also decided to have Sasha cat-napping with eyes closed, rather then looking out with her intense stare. Make it like she was listening to what the orchids might have to say.


I quickly decided that the butterfly wasn't going to work for this particular painting. So I painted it out too. IT took a few days of looking at the painting and figuring out what I needed to add to balance and complete this painting. I started three other paintings during this time but still had this one to mull over the composition and bring it to completion.

I added some green leaves of orchids to pull the composition into balance. Finally satisfied with the composition through its many evolutions I entered the painting into the show. "Listen to the Orchids Sasha" received an award for the "Orchid Fantasy" show.

"Listen to the Orchids Sasha" © Schar 2009

click on image or title for link to purchase or see larger image at FineArtAmerica

It was very thrilling to go up to a stage after having my name and award announced in front of hundreds of people and then to have congratulations hugs from many. But the most memorable moment was when my friend Marionette told me , " you worked hard on that painting and deserved the award". I realized that often as an artist, I forget the process of making a vision evolve and work, and honoring the dedication it then takes to complete a painting rather then stack it away for a later day in storage. I also realized just how important it is to go to a fellow artist, putting ourselves out there and ask for a critique. Mahalo nui loa, Marionette, for your critical eyes, good heart and guiding words for this painting!