Sage, Art Studio Kitty Extraordinaire

Hello there,

Please let me introduce myself.

I am Natalie Eslick, an Australian wildlife artist living just north of Sydney. I work as a full-time artist to honour the wild world and bring a piece of nature into your hearts and homes via original artwork, prints, and education. I am the grateful chief of staff to two rescue kitties, who are the official guardians of this wild studio where I create. Those of you who have followed me for a while know that Sage, all ochre and charcoal hued, had a catastrophic accident, detaching her Achilles tendon. After major and extremely costly surgery, her external pins (fixator) were removed, and she has since suffered ongoing complications and trauma, spending multiple nights in the emergency department of the specialist animal hospital. To get through this crisis, there will be a need for physiotherapy and further intervention to help her lead a long and mischievous life. Her current vet bill total post-surgery and multiple nights in ICU is just over $15,000. Astronomical, I know. She is my kin, and I will do what I can to give her the best quality of life - I know those of you with non-human families, pets, and a love of wildlife know what this means.

I have spent a large portion of my adult life volunteering and raising significant funds for human rights organisations such as Every Woman Treaty, Women for Women International, Kiva, Oxfam, and local community causes, and organising a large-scale art gallery and sale for bushfire disaster relief in 2020. I know the power of community, of sharing the burden, and of helping when we can in any way we can. And so, with Sage's current health crisis, hand on heart, I need your help.

Your help funding Sage's vet bill means I can keep showing up to my art studio, sharing the work and joy and importance of creativity and art, and doing what I can to bring us a deeper connection to the natural world, being a voice for the wild. At present, between the constant care she needs and the deep credit card debt currently funding her medical intervention, I am really struggling to show up for my small business. I am a one-woman show - but I know with the support of this community, I can help Sage get through this bumpy road, and continue to celebrate and share the wild world through the silent poetry that is visual art.

Every donation is so very appreciated. You can also help by purchasing my art, prints, or courses. And if you sign up for my Studio Letter, I will also be releasing details of a "Paint the Wild Party", a live painting adventure we can do together. If you can't help financially at this time, know that I see you, I understand, and I appreciate you, and if you could share this campaign with your friends and community I would be so very thankful.

Sage and I thank you from the bottom of our wild hearts.

With all the purrs, and much love,

Natalie