Words Matter Military Series

In the Fall of 2014, I launched my art career. I have chosen to use my gift to surprise families with portraits of their lost loved ones. One mother said, "I brought their daughter's light back to them."

Since then, I have continued to give back through my Words Matter exhibit. This exhibit is for mental health and suicide prevention. I draw portraits of people lost to suicide and, after enough donations are raised, I GIVE the original portrait to the family and keep a copy traveling with the exhibit.  I also draw people who are still living, fighting, and willing to share their stories.

This exhibit continues to grow and travel costing a lot of money. I have had to limit the portraits I draw each year and limit events I attend because I just can't afford to spend all my income on this. They have been stacked away, in my home, for far too many months this year. SO, I'm asking for donations to help me get these portraits into a public space more often...and eventually even on permanent display. 

The Military Edition. The current Words Matter Exhibit will continue to grow through the addition of Veterans, and non-military personel, but...I was specifically asked to create a series that focuses solely on Veterans. At it's launch, there were 10 Veteran portraits. Your donations to this point have funded their creation. In order to do more, I must have funding to cover my costs and time (darn those bills). It takes many hours to draw the new portraits. Your donation helps me focus on the exhibit and not worry about having to make money through other forms of art. PLUS, I will be able to take the portraits to more events with your donations. Even taking this exhibit beyond the Treasure Valley.

Funds will help me cover the costs of continuing the exhibit and working towards a new permanent display space for the exhibit.

Your donations allow me to give portraits to families who have already lost too much.

Just a few things I will purchase with your donations are...
       If I exceed my goal, I will purchase display walls to allow for more work to be on display (5 panels average $1500 - I could use 10) - there are currently 39 portraits in the exhibit (with the military and civilian editions combined)
        Frames for more portraits
        Copies so the originals can go home
        Shipping for portraits to go home
        Travel expenses for exhibiting the art

$25 will help with travel costs to show the exhibit
$50 covers the cost of one frame
$100 covers shipping portraits to out of state families
$500 covers the creation of a portrait, framing the original, making and framing a copy to keep with the exhibit, and sending the original home

Your support means the world to me and to all the people that it helps through Words Matter. The more people who see this exhibit and read the stories, the more lives we can save. 

Just to be completely transparent... for a commissioned portrait the size that I am drawing for this exhibit, my current price is $1000 for an UNFRAMED drawing. As you can see, I have greatly reduced what I am asking just to GIVE to these families. After all expenses, I am not even making minimum wage in this endeavor. But, my husband and I feel it is important, so as long as you all continue to donate, I will continue to draw and travel with the portraits.