It seems that this is one of the earliest, if not the first, cat portrait. Although the name MacFadyen can be seen signed on many works there is very little in the way of dates on Joy’s paintings. My own estimation is that this piece was painted in the 60’s because it is mentioned in a returning trip to Canada as “they travelled in the back of my Volkswagen “Bug” like two tigers on heroin.” Misty and Mingo are painted with dashing brushstrokes and may in fact have preceded all the portraits of people that would come later. If it is indeed a very early piece it shows a natural talent for composition, and for form-describing brushstrokes. It looks confident, not to mention the sophisticated use of colour and subtle whites.
