Put it on canvas for Art for the Paws fundraiser

Posted February 21, 2016 10:00 pm

Submitted by Helping Paws Animal Shelter

Helping Paws Animal Shelter is sponsoring the second annual Art for the Paws, a fundraiser and community outreach project in McHenry County.

Artists of all abilities and skill levels are encouraged to participate by creating works of art that do not have to be animal related in a variety of mediums on 6-by-6-inch canvases.

Individuals can obtain up to two blank canvases for a donation of $5 each, and canvases are available from Helping Paws Animal Shelter, 2500 Harding Lane, Woodstock; The Studio Art School, 3316 Pearl St., McHenry; and Fabric, Fiber & Finds, 5150 Northwest Hwy., Crystal Lake.

Completed canvases are due no later than 4 p.m. Monday, Feb. 29. Each work of art will be photographed and displayed on the Art for the Paws Facebook page with the artist's statement, and on the online auction website. A portion of the 300 canvases will be mounted together to form a mosaic that will be displayed at the Woodstock Public Library from March 10 through April 7, and the window of Jaci's Cookies on The Woodstock Square from March 28-April 8. The 300 canvases will be displayed in one large mosaic at a public reception Saturday, April 9, at Mixin Mingle, 124 Cass St., Woodstock.

All artwork will be available for purchase through an online auction with bids starting at a minimum of $25 for each piece of art with all proceeds to benefit Helping Paws.

Sponsors are needed to help offset costs associated with the fundraiser. For information or to sponsor the project, call Michelle Nowland at (815) 338 4400 or artforthepaws@gmail.com.

Helping Paws Animal Shelter is a nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter for stray and abandoned dogs and cats in McHenry County and surrounding areas. For information about the organization, call (815) 338-4400, or visit www.helpingpaws.net.