Aurora: Taos, NM

Rescue Cat: Aurora

Shelter: Stray Hearts Animal Shelter

Aurora's PetFinder.com Profile

Aurora's Shelter Painter Shop

The Painting:

December 21, 2010

Aurora is the third cat I have painted as part of this project. She has the most beautiful golden eyes and dilute calico coat, doesn't she? She's had all her vaccinations and is ready to be someone's new best friend. :)

I'll check on her periodically and update this post when she's adopted!

Products Available (or coming soon) in Aurora's Shop

1. Poster
2. Bag
3. Mousepad
4. MINI Print (Postcard with my banner & her info on the back)
5. Magnet
6. Keychain
7. Postage Stamps
8. Christmas Ornament

More to come! If you would like something that isn't available, just let me know :) 


Remember, a percentage of my artist royalties will be donated to her shelter (Stray Hearts)! Artist royalties range from 10-20% of the purchase price.  100% of artist royalties will now be donated for all products except posters/prints.  For prints, the donation will be 80% of my royalties.  

Hospital

Thursday I spent about 9 hours in the hospital (mostly in the emergency room) for abdominal pain. Not fun, but I'm okay! Though sadly it's put me off schedule for the Shelter Painter project. The next painting IS coming, though. Hopefully I can sit down a while tomorrow to work on it, and I'll try to have it finished by Monday.

I'm not sure anyone has noticed my little project here, or if anyone would notice that I'm off schedule. Still, if anyone is reading this please do stick around! There are many more paintings to come. 

Beka 

What comes after painting #3?

This week, the third painting will be born and the original project will be complete. Three paintings, three shelters, three locations. So what next?

Nominations
If there's a no-kill shelter* here in the U.S. that you would like to see become part of this project, you can nominate them! In fact, please, please do. And let me know, maybe just a few words, why you think this shelter should be included. Did you adopt your favorite pet there? Does the shelter need supplies or repairs? Do they have a great rehabilitation program? I would love to know.

You can also nominate pets! Cats or dogs, as long as they're listed online. Because donated royalties will benefit the shelter, all pets included in Shelter Painter must be housed in no-kill shelters*. Don't forget to include a link to the pet's online photo and profile.

Click HERE for the official nominations list and instructions on how to send in your nominations!



* NOTE: If you're unsure about a shelter's no-kill status, go ahead and submit the nomination anyway. I'll check it out, and if the shelter is no-kill I'll accept the nomination

That's all for now. Still trudging through finals!

Bek

Third painting coming & SP reception

End of semester papers are delaying the third painting until the middle or end of next week. The joys of being a graduate student, right? So for the next few days I'll be chained to my laptop, typing like a mad woman and drinking coffee more than I breathe. Should be interesting!

On another note, so far the responses from shelters have been fantastic.  The Cattery plans to link to the Zazzle store from their website, and the Helotes Humane Society will include the Shelter Painter project in their winter print newsletter. I'm so honored, thrilled, and honestly very relieved.  When I started this project, it was on a whim--a sudden urge to turn sad, depressive feelings into something beautiful and helpful.  I didn't ask these shelters if they would like to be involved.  Maybe I should have.  But I was so ready to create in that moment; I couldn't wait.  So I'm very grateful for the warm, generous reception that I and the project have enjoyed.  Not only have people embraced the project, but they have shared pieces of their own lives with me and have asked about Bridget and our experiences growing up together.  It's been wonderfully cathartic to share these stories, and has made the anniversary of her death bearable.  

Thank you for your support!

Beka

Charlie: Helotes, TX

Shelter Cat: Charlie

Shelter: The Helotes Humane Society of Texas

Charlie's PetFinder.com Profile

Charlie's Shelter Painter Shop

The Painting:

December 8, 2010

Charlie is the second cat I have painted as part of this project. I fell in love with his beautiful blue eyes immediately. Strange that they didn't make it into the painting, huh? Then I read his profile: 

Charlie is a rescued male kitten with a handsome orange coat and white gloves ala Michael Jackson. He's 8 weeks old, almost two pounds, and full of energy. When he grows up he wants to be a soccer player. He has some paw-perfect shots already, and no ball is safe when Charlie is on his game. He loves to sit on your shoulder when you read or watch TV, but you'll have to turn the volumn up because his motor runs non-stop. Charlie is friendly, gentle and ready to play. He'll make a great family pet.

Too cute. I hope someone adopts this little guy soon! He sounds like a special and very entertaining dude. 

I heard from the shelter today. He has been adopted! But there are more kittens and cats, if you're looking :)

Products Available (so far) in Charlie's Shop

1. Poster
2. Bag
3. Mousepad
4. MINI Print (Postcard with my banner & his info on the back)
5. Magnet
6. Keychain
7. Postage Stamps
8. Christmas Ornament

More to come! If you would like something that isn't available, just let me know :)

Next painting, great therapy!

I'm so excited about this. I've already started the second painting, this time an orange tabby kitten. He's so adorable--I'm sure he'll find a good home soon. Reading about him and looking at his photo, I was inspired to experiment more with color, and I think the result is really going to look nice. Bright oranges, cool peaches, vibrant blues... Fun fun fun to paint.

This project was born not 72 hours ago, and it's amazing how different I feel. Sunday, December 5 and the days leading up to it were dull, sad, sometimes even depressing. I didn't know what to do, I didn't know how to feel, how to react. But as I painted Willa, that weight got a little lighter, When her painting was done, I didn't feel any of those heavy feelings. They were replaced by sparks of excitement, nervousness, hope. 

Yesterday, I woke up feeling down again, but not nearly as much as before. Those feelings gradually slipped away with each click through PetFinder.com for my next subject. As I lifted my pen to paint, excitement again. Almost too much to contain. And today, I woke up and didn't feel down. I woke up looking forward to what the day would bring. I'm so thankful for Shelter Painter. Already this project has helped me, and I hope it will help cats too. 

New painting tomorrow or Friday!

Beka

Willa: Corpus Christi, TX

Shelter Cat: Willa

Shelter: The Cattery of Corpus Christi, TX

Willa's PetFinder.com Profile


Willa's Shelter Painter Shop

The Painting:

December 5, 2010

It's been a year since my cat, Bridget, died. In her honor, I selected Willa to be the first adoptable pet featured in this project. I love Willa's eyes; they remind me so much of Bridget--strong, green, and brilliant. She's a playful, shorthair adult cat who has been spayed and house-trained. I hope you find a home soon, sweetie!

Willa has been adopted!

Products Available (so far) in Willa's Shop

1. Poster
2. MINI Print (Postcard with my banner & her info on the back)
3. Bag

More to come! If you would like something that isn't available, just let me know :)

Introducing Shelter Painter

Introduction

A year ago today my beloved cat was diagnosed with advanced bone cancer and died peacefully at the vet's office. To say she helped me survive some very difficult times in my life would be an understatement. Without her, I truly doubt I would be alive today. Her death was devastating and left me struggling with depression, but over the last year I've realized that the impact of her life is so much more powerful. I want to find a way to give back somehow, and I hope I've found it here. Let's give it a try!

Premise

Shelter Painter is a blog/Zazzle store devoted to no-kill and foster animal shelters and pet adoptions. The artist will search pet adoption websites for inspiration, paint a pet, and post the painting on Zazzle.com. 80-100% of the artist's earnings will be donated to the shelters. As an artist, I make 10-20% of the purchase price for any item I sell. Donations will be 80-100% of artist profits.

For example, a poster may cost $11.20 (without shipping costs). As an artist, I receive 20% of this price, or $2.24, a a royalty. 80% 100% is donated to a shelter.

I'm also hoping to raise awareness and possibly help (in my own small way) to find homes for these beautiful pets.

The Blog

Why blog? I want a place to talk about my loss, the beauty my cat brought to my life, and about the adoptable pets I decide to paint during this project. Your feedback, questions, and comments are welcomed and I look forward to hearing from you! If you're more of a reader than a commenter, I want you to know that I appreciate your support as well. Thank you for reading, and have a great day!

Bek