Ripple

Tricoloured Heron- 3" x 3.5" Pencil sketch on WC paper

Piping Plover - 3" x 3.5" Pencil sketch on WC paper

A few days ago I read about an online project that has been set up to aid in the Deep Water Horizon Gulf Oil Spill.

Kelly Light is a talented illustrator who wanted to do something about this disaster, so she set up a project called "Ripple"... the thought being that one ripple reaches out to many and repeats.

She contacted her art community and asked individuals to create a sketch on a 2.5"x 3.5" format and she would post it to the Ripple blog where each card would be "sold" when a person made a $10 donation to either the The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies or The International Bird Rescue Research Center, two non-profit organizations currently helping in the Gulf.

Well, Kelly's project has been a great success with people adding to it everyday. Every penny raised goes directly to these organizations and since June 3rd, this project has raised over $4,000!

"Tricolored Heron" and "Piping Plover" are my two little contributions. To make a donation and purchase, visit the Ripple Blog for further instructions.

And I would like to put out the challenge to all other artists to donate their own little sketch. As Kelly puts it "We don't have to feel helpless. We can help. Our small actions together will ripple outward. "

Naming Turtles

I'm juggling two jobs right now so painting has been really slow. However, other artists are doing wonderful work and in checking some of my watched blogs, I have to share this one with you.
Steve Worthington is a wonderful sculpture who has a humorous side to his work. He has a current contest running to name this three recent sculptures; a wonderful set of turtles-- And if your names are chosen, Steve is generously giving away a mouse sculpture as a prize!

So I've sent in a few suggestions:

The "H2O" Trio (Beginning of each name spells out H2O)
HOOVER (Outgoing),
TOULOUSE (Steady)
ORVILLE (slightly shy)

Trio in Motion
TURBO (Always gets there first- by a nose)
TEMPO (Steady pace)
TWINKLE TOES (Reminds me of a wall flower )

I think there's still time to send entries in...Wander over, have a look and suggest your own set of names.