A Pig "Picasso" Beats Cancer, Continues to Paint Masterpieces

Have you ever met a pig with art talent? If you live in Richmond, Va., and happened to be at Pocahontas State Park on June 2, you could have met the pet pig turned artist who's gained a reputation for his artistic endeavors.

Smithfield, the painting pig, creates his artistic masterpieces even after being diagnosed with nasal cancer four years ago, according to an article from the Associated Press on examiner.com. This lovable painting pig, lives and paints out of his home in Richmond, Virginia where he serves double duty as prolific artist and household pet. to Fran Martin, a Richmond resident. Even after being diagnosed with nasal cancer 4 years ago and undergoing 19 rounds of radiation, Smithfield was still able to return to the activity he loves best, painting his own inner artistic vision on a canvas.

Fortunately, the prognosis for Smithfield's nasal cancer is excellent. Although he had an aggressive form of nasal cancer, he recovered quickly after being treated for his disease at North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine in Raleigh, North Carolina.. His owner, Fran Martin, said "The trip to North Carolina wasn't bad. Smithfield likes to travel, usually standing up in the back seat" according to an interview with Ms. Martin conducted with dailypress.com.

Martin says Smithfield is now working on dropping a few of the 20 pounds he was ordered to lose after he ballooned up to 153 pounds. Ms. Martin said in her interview that Smithfield was quite svelte when he weighed in a 130 pounds a year ago. Smithfield will turn ten years of age on July 26 of this year. He is scheduled to begin another 19 rounds of chemotherapy for his nasal cancer in two weeks.

Although Smithfield's cancer prognosis is optimistic, Ms. Martin was concerned that exposure to the paints Smithfield uses in his paintings could have promoted development of his cancer, but was reassured by Smithfield's oncologist the paints the pig used in his artistic pursuits were nontoxic and are the type used in paintings children's faces at parties and festivals.

Unfortunately, the nasal cancer treatments have racked up a bill of over $8,000 that Martin is trying to pay off. Her solution? She's considering offering a 2008 calendar of Smithfield, the painting pig's, artwork! Will Smithfield, the painting pig, make it into the big time with his calendar? At the very least this is something art and animal lovers can look forward to in the future!

Sources:

Associated Press, Cured: Smithfield, the painting pig, beats cancer
http://www.examiner.com/a-805678~Cured__Smithfield__the_painting_pig__beats_cancer.html