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I get many requests for donations, and I have always wanted to be able to agree to all of them. But in the past, donating a pet portrait meant committing several weeks to a month of my productivity, and I had to place serious limitations on my donations. My heart always said yes, but my head had to say no most of the time.

That’s still the situation – however, with the dog-a-day project, I’ve been able to say yes a bit more often. I still choose my affiliations carefully, limiting them to organizations I have had a personal connection with. There’s no better feeling than knowing I’m helping out in some small way.

This particular painting came about from a gift certificate donated to the Boys & Girls Club. My boys have enjoyed their club membership for years, and when I was approached about helping with their annual fundraiser, I was delighted that this time I could say “yes!”

So here is Maddie, a 6” square of poufy fur, bright eyes and a big ole happy grin. Loose brushwork everywhere but in those eyes. She is like a little ray of sunshine.

Thank you to the Cavanaugh family for supporting the Boys & Girls Club and giving me the opportunity to paint Maddie.

And more thanks to Liz Yeats of PAWS with a Cause who stopped to visit this morning. Liz has several dog-a-day paintings in her personal collection, but today she was picking up a few to be auctioned at the June 8th PAWS with a Cause benefit gala “Voices of Independence” (held in Troy, Michigan). It was wonderful to visit with Liz, hear her personal story about how she got involved with PAWS, and to take some time away from the easel to connect with one of the many amazing people I have met as a result of the Painting a Dog a Day project.

PAWS with a Cause is an organization I am proud to support. If you are interested in more information about the benefit (Sue Thomas is the keynote speaker!) please call Sue Brooks at 248-844-5656.

Thanks, as always, for looking.
And for sharing these paintings with your friends and family,
Kim



Kimberly Kelly Santini
http://www.turtledovedesigns.com/
distinctive pet portraits
& 4-legged paintings

http://www.paintingadogaday.com/
come. sit. stay.
enjoy the art.

Founding member of the Canine Art Guild
http://www.canineartguild.com/
the gateway to canine art on the web

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