My 365 Project - ACEO Sketch cards for Charity

For every day of 2012, I will be drawing one ACEO sketch card. Every single one will be for sale - ALL proceeds to be donated to charity at the end of 2012.

My charity of choice is a local foundation called Alternatives to Violence, who is currently raising money to build a safehouse. This safehouse will provide a secure shelter to women and children who have recently escaped physical and sexual abuse.

With the safehouse, 312 individuals every year will receive crisis intervention, counseling, safety planning, advocacy and shelter.

Together, through art, we can help make a difference.

The Plan:

♥My cards will range from $5 to $11 depending on subject and detail. 

♥Only my costs(Etsy, Paypal, Material fees) will be deducted and the rest will go to Alternatives to Violence(ATV) at the end of the year. 

♥I will share every card I create  - that means a new piece of art to see and share every day, through my DeviantArt, Facebook, Twitter, Etsy and Tumblr.

♥I will be drawing various subjects, including portraits from the casts of Supernatural, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Sherlock, Star Wars & Firefly. Also musicians such as Michael Jackson, Tokio Hotel, Jared Leto, Lady Gaga and lots more. And whatever else I can think of!

-Send me requests, I will need lots of ideas!

♥At the end of each month, I will tally up how much we have raised and let you know which cards from that month are still available for you to purchase for charity.

My 365 project will be done in addition to all my usual art creations and commissions, so this is going to be a busy year! I’m looking forward to all there is to create and capture and inspire. I’m looking forward to the challenge and all I have to learn. But more than anything, I’m looking forward to helping families find a new beginning, find hope, and a future with new light.

Visit ATV and read about the safehouse project details at:  AlternativesToViolence.org

Portfolio Process –Step Two

Now that my portfolio has arrived (And I love it!), it’s time to focus on the art! I wanted to wait until I had the portfolio in my hands so I could measure the actual sleeves. I need to be confident in ordering the right size of prints. It’s nice to know that the measurements given for a portfolio are for the actual size of art you will need, not the outside measurements!

The portfolio I chose has 24 8x10in clear sleeves. Which can be doubled to front and back views to hold a total of 48 pieces of artwork.

Maybe you’re like me and that number, even the 24, is incredibly daunting. Sure, I could fill it with everything I’ve ever drawn… but the concept of a portfolio is to showcase your best work. The crème de la crème, so to say. That can be a tough one from the artist’s point of view. Every piece is special on a personal level. So how to you choose?

• The first thing I looked at is a piece’s availability to the gallery/shop I hope to contact. If you have the original(especially if well-framed) make sure to include it. 
• Another great place to start are any pieces that you have available for prints. Not only is this also a plus for the gallery/shop … but if you think it’s good enough to create prints, then it’s good enough to be included in your portfolio.
• ‘Round out’ your portfolio. Don’t choose works from just your favorite medium. The people you are meeting with want to know what you can do! Make sure your portfolio is as diverse as you are.
• MOST important? Be you! I was tempted to fill my portfolio with landscapes and still life works. But my love has always been in portraiture. Include what you love, not what you see already in the gallery. Why would they want to see more of the same? Include work that is unique to you.

Now that I have my portfolio and a selection of art (I pictured a few of my considerations up at the top!) It’s time to start hunting for the best price and quality in prints so I can start putting everything together!