Drawing Homes Lost in the LA Fires: A Healing Gift

My name is Asher Bingham, and I am drawing homes that have been lost in the January fires in Los Angeles for free.

This started as an instagram post I sent to my friends, but it quickly went viral and so for the past 2 months I have built a massive project around this concept and am looking for help to fund it.

This journey has been all encompassing, and a lot bigger than I ever imagined. To be able to continue the same dedication to this important cause, I need more financial support. Support not only allows me to dedicate my time to drawing, it also means I can respond quicker, and finish projects faster. I'm running on donations to literally keep the lights on and the kids fed so that I can keep bringing some joy to folks who’ve lost their homes.

At current I have over 1500 drawing requests and they still trickle in daily as news coverage and word of mouth continue to grow. But don't worry, I'm not fully alone helming this massive project.

When the offer started to go viral, I very quickly realized that managing the amount of requests pouring in would require more than just my two hands. So I asked for other artists to volunteer and help draw pieces, and if anyone could help me with spread sheets, DMs and emails. The outpouring of support was awe-inspiring.

We got up and running quickly with a great group of volunteer artists, and a mix of friends and strangers logging requests, all so we could create beautiful pieces of art and get them in the hands of people who just had their lives turned upside down.

In the first 2 months, I myself have drawn over 280 homes, as well as my volunteers another 200. I am working 24/7 on this project, responding to questions, taking requests, managing my team, scanning & packaging the pieces, running to the post office 3X a week and dropping off art to a pick up point for those who would rather collect their piece in person. It's a whirlwind every day, but the feedback is overwhelmingly beautiful.

From those who have received pieces: there are hugs, tears, laughter, and sorrow. These pieces are more than just a drawing on paper, they're a form of healing for many. The many who lost everything, the many who never made it back to see their home one last time, or who thought they would be able to return. We're creating mementos of such beloved spaces I really feel the importance of this project through the responses coming back to me.

Now I'm one of those people that truly doesn't like asking for help but I need to share my backstory to help you understand why I created a Gofundme for this project.

I was a reality TV/Documentary editor for the past 15+ years. But right around the time I had my 2nd born, the writers strike hit & it's been incredibly hard to find work in Los Angeles. With so many people struggling to find work, I decided to start taking drawing commissions and build a business around that so I could find a new way to support my family.

Now I have been drawing for over 20 years as a hobby. It’s really been a life long passion. A project of this scale is my dream job, but it’s bittersweet since it was born from such an awful tragedy. Drawing everyday on something that truly means so much & can help people heal feels so important -- like the challenges I went through put here in this spot for this exact reason.

I know you don’t have to have lost a home in a fire to understand how much this project means to people. Lovers of art and artists are welcome.

Asher