Several months ago, I decided to start taking an active roll in wildlife conservation by donating a painting to HOPE FOR WILDLIFE, this amazing rehab facility located just north of Halifax, Nova Scotia.   Hope Swinimer, it's founder, rehabs about 3500 animals annually with most being relocated back into their natural habitat.  

The painting, "Twighlight Loons", was auctioned for $1500 at their annual open house last August.   That worked out to be about 11% of their total donations that day.  

I just received this lovely card from Hope personally.  She does that...thanks each person individually!  For me, I am thrilled beyond words.   This will be an annual donation i hopes that each year she will be able to get more and more money for the paintings.

I have also offered to do portraits of some of the animals in for rehab.

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Yesterday we opted to go kayaking on a nearby lake so did not get much done, but I did manage to correct the drawing and proportions of the two rear antelope.  Often this happens, that you sketch out basic positions only later to realize they are too big/too small.   All part of the painting process.   

Another on-going theme I have observed over my own shoulder is that an artist gets to a particular part of a painting, has issues to deal with, and then, along comes that voice saying, just quit for now....  Almost without fail, if you push on, you work through the issue successfully.

Anyone out there know what that voice is, always speaking out at unwanted times?

Today i will push hard as i must finish this painting by Thursday at the lataest.

Happy painting.

PS.  Almost forgot,  I have  joined a nearby pleinair group which goes out painting every Thursday.  Super fun to have yet another opportunity to paint outside!