Making Birds With No Place To Go

Well, the 'Flock Together' class at Eye Of the Dog Art Center in San Marcos TX didn't fill, so we cancelled it. It's just as well, because a dear friend is having a birthday on Monday and I wasn't too keen about missing it. Now, I can go celebrate with him. Lemons into lemonade and all.
I will however be headed to Austin later in the week to deliver a piece of artwork (below) to the Animal Trustees of Austin who will be throwing their big Petcasso shindig. I participated last year and had a ball.

Then it's back to NW Arkansas to continue drawing cat after cat after cat. I finished one this afternoon and started another tonight. My hand and arm are pretty tired from all the scratching. Soon I'll get into the groove and really start pumping them out. Right now there are around 60 cats to draw. Oh my, I'm a tired gal tonight. Time to clock out.

Kickstarter Dog Scratchin' book project

My kickstarter book about rescued dogs and their people will end on April 7th at 10:11am. Click on this link to get the info and see how to be a part of it.
I'm finally home, recovering from some intense travel. I spent the past week, driving, flying, teaching scratchboard workshops/demos for Ampersand, visiting friends and participating in a fundraiser for The Animal Trustees of Austin.  My donated artwork for ATA sold at auction for $3500.00. That was awesome. They do great work for lower income animals and their owners. Income should not determine who can or cannot have a healthy animal!! 
I had a blast....but have to take a few days to recover. (for me that means, making some furniture pieces, or collage art, or getting out to see what I've missed!) Don't worry, I'll be up and at-em in a few days. Just in time to begin gathering all the information from everyone who pledged for the dog book. Yippie. Follow your instincts folks. Do what makes you happiest. Really!

I'm Still Scratchin' And Other Stuff And Such...

5 more days to raise funds to create the book of scratchboard drawings of rescued dogs. Click on the link to see what it is all about. I'm very excited about this. Can hardly wait to get started!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1547701634/dog-scratchin-book-stories-and-drawings-of-rescued
Meanwhile, I'm back out on the trail in Manchaca TX, visiting friends, taking care of some business and just hanging out. I attended the Animal Trustees of Austin's big Petcasso Fundraiser tonight and had a great time. I got to celebrate my birthday surrounded by a lot of fine folks who love animals, what more could I ask for? The artwork I created brought in $3500.00 for them so I'm feeling pretty proud! It's a great thing to help animals, and to help the people who take such great care of them is a bonus. Today was my birthday, and I was happy to be around such a loving crowd. What more could I ask for? I have everything I need...and there is always enough. That's my mantra. I hope all y'all are having a good 'fools day'. It's late and I've got to get some sleep...more travels coming up.

Kickstarter Dog Book Project Keeps Going

A few things to report today:  The Dog Scratchin' book project at kickstarter continues. See it here. Currently at 71% funded. It's an amazing thing. Come up with an idea, present it, fund it and make it. Oh how I love this. Here's a great thing, I will be getting the boards from Ampersand Art in Austin, TX. I frequently teach scratchboard classes for them, and have licensed 6 of my designs with them, so we are closely associated. They are really nice folks, and they make the best art boards. They will provide these boards and therefore, I can put more $$ into the book itself.  What's my ultimate plan or vision?  I see the book spinning off other products. Cups, tee shirts, calendars, greeting cards, dog accessories. All these things which can then be used for fundraising purposes by various rescue groups. Why am I doing this? The short answer is, because I care about these animals. There are so many of them, waiting in shelters or foster care. Many who never make it out into a loving forever home. I'm not in a position to adopt any right now(which is hard). Also, because of this economy I can't give heaps of money to them. But, I can make my art and give that. Believe me, I get a lot from the making of the art. I just finished a large piece for the Animal Trustees of Austin Petcasso event April 1st.  (not shown here, it's a secret until the event. Will post image after that) What I get from this is, two tickets to the event, a nice meal, good company, a shout out, and a bit of applause. They will auction off the piece and the money goes to them. But, the absolute joy I had this past week working on this piece, it was worth every minute for me. It's hard to explain this to folks not in the creative industry. Although I love the finished piece and I'm happy and proud to put it out there, (and in fact, most every new piece I make is my new favorite!) it was the process of making it that gives me the greatest satisfaction. While creating art I go into a special zone. I'm at peace, I'm excited, I'm engaged, I'm unaware of the time passing, I'm outside of myself, I'm so in touch with my inner self.  All these things happen while making art.  Now, I don't get it the same every time while making art. Sometimes a piece just doesn't work,it's frustrating, maddening, and no matter how much I work at it, it doesn't succeed. But I think if I got it every time the 'magic' would become commonplace. Here's to having magical, special experiences!! Love- my- life!