KidLit Cares: Hurricane Harvey Relief Effort by Kate Messner - (This blog post only, written by Barbara DiLorenzo)

I had an entirely different post planned for today, but in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, I'd rather use this platform to promote helping those affected by this storm.

Yesterday I found author Kate Messner's fundraising website KidLit Cares, where agents, editors, authors, and illustrators donate their services, books and art to be auctioned to the highest bidder for the direct benefit of Red Cross disaster relief fund. She coordinated this effort to benefit victims of Superstorm Sandy in 2012. She was successful in raising over $35,000 for their relief! You can read more about KidLit Cares here.

From Kate Messner's website:

People who write children’s books and work in this industry have a wide range of interests and talents. As authors, illustrators, agents, and editors, we do different jobs, and we love and create different kinds of books. But one thing we all tend to agree on is using your powers for good in the world.

We are heartbroken that Hurricane Harvey and related flooding is having such a devastating effect on those in the storm’s path. Today and in the weeks to come, the Red Cross will be serving thousands of families displaced by Hurricane Harvey and related flooding. Those families include so many kids who read our books. We’d like to do what we can to help, and that’s what KidLit Cares is all about.

My Donation

Barbara DiLorenzo is the author/illustrator of RENATO AND THE LION (Viking 2017) and QUINCY (Little Bee Books, April 2018). www.barbaradilorenzo.com
She’s offering a painting of your child with the lion character from RENATO AND THE LION. Barbara will work with you to create the likeness of your child riding on the back of the stone lion.

Opening bid: $100
Auction ends: Wednesday, September 7, 2017 at 10pm EST.

If you’d like to bid on this auction, please visit the official web page for this item: http://www.katemessner.com/kidlit-cares-original-art-from-illustrator-barbara-dilorenzo/

Please also visit the website of the 197 other auction items! Just click on their links to find details and to bid on the items.
http://www.katemessner.com/kidlit-cares-our-hurricane-harvey-relief-effort/

Thank you for your support!

Art for a Cause - By Deborah Cuneo

You know how when you go to a gathering at someone's home, and there's that person sitting on the floor in the corner, playing with the dog? ...That would be me!  I've always  loved dogs, actually all kinds of animals and despite my parents protests, I've been rescuing all sorts of animals, bugs, fish, amphibians, reptiles and rodents, since I was a little kid.

 

Take Me Home - Pencil sketch

Fast forward a few years... Aside from being adopted by multiple rescue dogs and cats over the years, I have always collected for and donated to our local shelters . "Admission" to any of my home parties, is usually spare cans or bags of food for the shelters.  There are still so many animals that were either surrendered because the owners were too sick or too old to continue their care, or were rescued from horrible neglect and abuse, then put into shelters.  Some are lucky to get adopted right away, but some are there much longer and not all shelters have the funding to care for and rehabilitate them for any length of time...and, well...you know how that ends.  I wanted to do more.

 

Dog Sketches - Pencil and Liquid Pencil

So...While organizing all my artwork in my flat files, I discovered that I had a lot of dog illustrations and sketches that I've done over the years, either  as samples for submissions or for different SCBWI events. Looking at that pile of orphaned illustrations, I immediately came up with a plan! A couple of the more involved ideas are already in the works and I will be able to share them with you on my personal blog at a later date, but because I'm in the throes of finishing my book, it's hard for me to do everything right now, so I decided to start small, until the book job is done. 

 

More Dog Art - acrylic/colored pencil/ digital

Character Study - pencil sketch

A couple of months ago, I started  posting one piece of dog art from that pile of illustrations and sketches, on Instagram every Friday.  Once my book is done, I will begin sharing a newly created piece of dog art, hopefully each week. While I work on my drawing skills,  I am also hoping to encourage  people, through my art, to consider the shelters and rescue organizations  when looking for a pet. 

 

Mini Sketch Series - Pencil

 Some of the art is kidlit, some of the posts are more fine arts pet portraits, but all are posted with the same intention...to hopefully lead to placing as many shelter animals as possible,  in a loving,  "fur-ever" home. 

 

Dog Character - Pencil sketch

More to come, so feel free to follow along at:

Website: www.deborahcuneoillustration.com
Blog: Creating Out Loud  deborahcuneo.blogspot.com
Facebook: Deborah Cuneo Illustration

Twitter: @debcuneoart 

 Instagram: @ataleof2studios