A herd of forty life-sized fibreglass cows have descended on Perth as part the International Cow Parade.
The parade is the world's largest public art event, with 75 parades held around the world since its inauguration in 1999.
![Fremantle artist Ian de Souza working on his cow for the International Cow Parade.](/web/20161105010856im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/g/o/4/o/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsgny5.png/1478079268725.jpg)
Forty cows were sent to the City of Perth, and 36 artists including Fremantle painter Ian de Souza were given a 2.4m cow and an open-ended brief.
Mr de Souza said he tossed up a range of ideas for his cow, including 'cow-moo sutra', 'cow-moo-flage' and 'dance moo-ves' designs, before settling on a more seasonal wild-flower creation.
![Fremantle artist Ian de Souza's 'cow-moo-sutra' idea.](/web/20161105010856im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/g/o/4/p/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gsgny5.png/1478079268725.jpg)
"I decided on the one I did because it's the season, it's spring-time, and the cow had to be fun, playful and colourful, so I thought it would fit well," he said.
Mr de Souza said it took him 3 days to paint his cow, and he used acrylic paints that would withstand Perth's warming weather.
The artists worked in a hidden Forrest Place studio to complete their cows, with some even deciding to lug the 60kg sculptures back to their own studios.
The herd will be dispersed around the streets of Perth until December 11, when they will to move permanent homes including the new children's hospital, Perth airport, and the Art Gallery of Western Australia.
Some of the cows will be auctioned at the 2016 Lexus Ball for Telethon, which raises money to support child health research.