Being an artist is more than making art for purchase or personal enjoyment. With our talents comes a responsibility to use them, at least sometimes, for worthy charitable causes. Donating work, especially for art non-profit fundraisers, is something most artists have done at one time or another. We’re asked more that we’d like, but we give as much as we can. Every once in a while we are asked to actually create something new. Because it can take up a lot of time, often we decline. It may be worthwhile to rethink this knee jerk reaction…
When I was asked to do a birdhouse for the 20th Anniversary of the Jacksonville Woodlands Association, I said yes. I’ve done art birdhouses before and they are really fun to make and decorate. And I support the work of the Woodlands Association. I find it refreshing to work in a different way with different materials. It’s like a breath of fresh air, and a clearing of the ol’ creative tubes… a way of looking in other directions that may impact the way you see your usual art. It may be pushing your boundaries, but haven’t we decided that its good to do this occasionally? I also enjoyed putting to use many little items I had collected over the years. Much better for them to be seen on a birdhouse than gathering dust in my already cluttered studio.
