Artistic pig will headline fundraiser in Danville

JOHN CRANE MEDIA GENERAL NEWS SERVICE
Published: January 13, 2009

DANVILLE -- A Midlothian woman plans to show off her pig's painting abilities at a fundraiser in March for the Langhorne House.

Fran Martin taught Smithfield, her 11½-year-old Vietnamese potbellied pig, about 10 years ago to pick up a brush with his mouth and stroke colors onto a canvas. The pig has appeared on YouTube, on talk and entertainment shows, and in newspapers and has performed for charities.

Dolphins, orangutans and pigs have the intelligence level of 3to 6-year-old children, Martin said. The first few lessons were a challenge.

"He had a brush in his mouth; he'd break it," she said.

But Martin got an idea. Instead of a paintbrush, she gave Smithfield a barbecue brush. His first attempts at art were basic, she said.

"He started up and down and soon his strokes developed," Martin said.

Since then, the pig has produced hundreds, if not thousands, of paintings. His favorite subject matter is nature, including birds, horses and other animals, said Martin's son, Richard Martin, a Danville resident who is part owner of the pig. The work tends to be abstract.

Smithfield has helped raise more than $20,000 at charity fundraisers across Virginia, Fran Martin said.

A temperamental artist, Smithfield flings his paint while working. His favorite color is blue, and he doesn't like fluorescent orange, Martin said. He also performs other tricks. He can stick out his tongue, smile, play the drums, bow, shake hands and turn around in a circle. He stuck out his tongue at the judges on "America's Got Talent" after they made fun of him, Martin said.

Smithfield's art also has helped pay for his medical treatment. He has survived two bouts of nasal cancer, enduring surgery and 19 sessions of radiation treatment, Martin said. Smithfield was treated at North Carolina State University's veterinary hospital.

His two cancer battles cost $16,000, and his pictures and calendars raised enough money to pay the bills, Martin said.

She said several doctors have told her the nontoxic watercolor tempera paint Smithfield uses did not cause the cancer.

The fundraiser is planned for 3 p.m. March 28 at the North Theatre, 629 N. Main St. The event will include an auction of Smithfield's work and will feature the porcine painter in action. Proceeds will go toward Langhorne House, the birthplace of Nancy Langhorne, who as Lady Astor became the first woman to sit in the British House of Commons.

John R. Crane is a staff writer at the Danville Register & Bee.