THANKS to everyone who supported my 5th Kickstarter campaign, the 2019 Literary Cats Calendar is fully funded! I am so grateful that people enjoy my artwork enough to continue to pledge year after year; it really means a lot to me! :)
The campaign ends tonight, Tuesday (Sept. 4th), at 8:00PM EST, so there are still a few hours left to pledge for calendars at a 25% discount, starting at $15 – and to receive a Kickstarter-Exclusive Limited Edition 11″x14″ print of “Anne of North Shore” at the $30 Tier.
I am currently working on individual portraits of the main characters in “Little Women”. Both “Beth March” and “Amy March” will be featured in the calendar this year. I have been sharing my work-in-progress pics and upcoming projects over on my Patreon account. A $1 minimum monthly pledge will unlock all of my exclusive posts.
“Beth March” is an acrylic painting, on a canvas panel, measuring 5″x7″. She and Amy March will be available during the “Art For The Animals” charity art auction in October.
Below is an unfinished / work-in-progress picture of “Amy March”, also on a 5″x7″ panel. I have two additional paintings that I intend to donate to the auction this year.
Art For The Animals
“Art For The Animals” (AFTA) is an annual charity auction, hosted by Howards’ Arts & Frames, in Hagerstown, MD. Each year, local area artists are invited to participate by donating 5″x7″ works of art, which will then be professionally framed by Howards’ staff, and put on display for bidding in a silent auction that runs for 3 weeks in October.
2018 marks the 13th year for AFTA, and I’ve been involved since 2011.
100% of the auction proceeds are donated to an animal charity. In the past, we’ve supported Guiding Eyes For the Blind and our local Washington County Humane Society. This year, the funds will benefit For Otis’ Sake, Inc., a dog rescue based in Maugansville, MD.
From their website:
For Otis Sake was founded in honor of an amazing Chocolate Lab named Otis. In 2006, Otis was diagnosed with Mega-esophagus (aka ME). While he survived 3.5 years post diagnosis, he still left us far too soon…
Our mission is to rescue in his honor.
For Otis Sake Rescue Groups, Inc. rescues, rehabs and re-homes at-risk dogs that have been pulled from under-funded and overcrowded shelters and animal control facilities across the United States. We are a foster-only organization with no facility. Donations and money raised through fundraising activities are used to cover veterinary care, medication, food, and training expenses for our rescued animals as we prepare them for their adoptive families.
All of our dogs are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and health issues are addressed prior to their adoption. While this may seem excessive, we do not want any animal to go to its forever home with known health issues that need to be resolved. We have funded amputations, dental extractions, spays/neuters, cancer treatments, emergency surgeries, training and much more. We do this because we believe each animal that reaches our rescue should be treated in the same loving manner that we treat our own.
This is a wonderful organization that will benefit greatly from the funds we raise through our auction, so if you live in the area near Hagerstown, please consider participating in the silent auction and help us to help For Otis’ Sake!
Of course, we have a Chocolate Lab of our own, Rufus, who has made multiple appearances in my Kickstarter video(s) and is my trusty trail hiking partner. Pictured here at High Rock, via the Appalachian Trail, in Cascade, MD.
The important dates to remember for the AFTA auction are September 29th – the Opening Reception from 6:30-8PM, and October 20th – the Tail-End Reception & Awards Ceremony (6:30-8PM). The silent auction ends exactly at 7:30PM on Oct. 20th. Popular Choice voting (of your favorite artwork) will be carried out from Sept. 29 – Oct. 13th. They also award Judges’ Choice, which I was fortunate to win 2 years in a row! :)
Upcoming Shows
I will be attending the 44th annual “Apple Butter Festival” in Berkeley Springs, WV. This is my 5th year participating in this festival, hosted in the small town where I graduated high school 20 years ago! :) My artwork is also on display (and for sale) at the local cat cafe, Give Purrs A Chance, and at the Ice House Co-Op Gallery.
I will have a booth at the Carroll County Farmer’s Market, in Westminster MD, for the following four winter dates: November 3rd, November 10th, November 24th, and December 8th.
I do also plan to attend the CFA Cat Show in Winchester, VA, in late October… but the details haven’t been announced yet.
I am looking to add a few new shows to my schedule for next year. Let me know which festivals you love and would like to see me attend! :)
Thank you for your support and I hope to see you soon!