by Mary Jane Zissoff

We are two artists who care about animal welfare and The Cat House On The Kings and wanted to do something to help.

Magda Szabo is a celebrated and awarded miniature painter. Magda has successfully marketed over 700 paintings of miniatures at the Village Gallery in Maui, Hawaii. Magda Szabo has received several prizes in international and national juried competitions for her work, including the following:

• First prize: 1997, Seaside Gallery, North Carolina (international)
• Second prize: 2000, Florida Miniature Art Society, (international)
• Four Awards of Excellence: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, (international)

Mary Jane Zissoff has been a glass artist since 1979. In 1981, Mary Jane studied with Paul Marioni an American artist, at the Banff School of Fine Arts in Banff, Alberta. Mary Jane has executed Custom Glass Art for the Housing. She opened Trilogy of Art in 1979. Mary Jane’s commissions can be viewed on the website: www.iloveglass.ca.

Magda and I joined talents to support Lynea Lattanzio, Director of the Cat House On The Kings in Parlier, California. We were amazed at Lynea’s dedication and direction in this worthy cause and wanted to support this endeavor.

Magda and I have been friends for over 30 years. Our combined talents are joined together in a book called Sylvie’s Charades. Magda’s cat, “Sylvie’’, is the heroine of the story. For several years, Magda has painted Sylvie, in miniatures, in many cat poses. As I studied the paintings, it seemed that each one truly represented the animation of these beautiful animals and the story of Sylvie’s ‘cat life’ came to me.

Personally, I have been enchanted with Magda’s miniature cat paintings for years. The incredible detail of Magda’s paintbrush captures the daily adventures of Sylvie with her feline friends. My stories of the paintings highlight the personality and diversity of ‘day to day cat living’! We are hopeful that animal lovers of all ages will engage with Sylvie’s Charades to enjoy these miniature paintings and the delightful stories of cats and support this cause.

This book sells for $10. US – postage extra. We support The Cat House On The Kings with a $5 donation per book. You can purchase it on my website.

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