Samantha McLean, an artist based in Southern California, is the creative mind and talent behind Sam’s Cool Cats. Inspired by her daughter’s ideas and her own cool cats (Minky, Millie, Mr. Meow Meow, and ‘Prano), she has created a brand of quirky cat art that’s entirely her own. Sam’s Cool Cats paintings are colorful and unique—abstract yet packed with personality. Sam starts by getting inside the mind of her subject, then illustrates what they’re doing and feeling through bright colors and facial expressions. “I love it when I capture a cat’s grumpy, pissed off, or funny expressions,” she says. “The paintings where you can just tell how smug and judgy a cat is—those are my favorites.” Sam paints with acrylics and creates ACEOs, originals, prints, and commissions.