Anne Leuck Feldhaus Adventures & Art

Steve Dale's Pet World gives a little shout out for Tree House & Anne's Art...

Steve Dale, syndicated pet expert shares photos by Dallas Yanez from Saturday's Stray Cat Strut Event, an annual walk to raise money for Tree House Humane Society. I donated the design they've used for the last few years on the shirts and posters.

Pendants & Portraits for PAWS Chicago Pups!

Join us for shopping and drinks and fun Wedneday night at the studio of Deana Rose at Pendants & Portraits for PAWS Chicago Pups!

PAWS Chicago is committed to guaranteeing life to all animals, regardless of their medical needs. Your support will help PAWS Chicago save more sick & injured animals. 15% of all Sales will go to PAWS!

When: Wednesday, May 11 from 6-9 p.m.
Where: Deana Rose Jewelry Studios – 3856 N. Oakley
Cost: $10 admission (cocktails and apps provided)

*Can't make it? Shop on-line at DeanaRose.com and 15% of your purchase will benefit PAWS.

Homeless Pets Inspire Art by Chicago 7th Graders...

Back in October I volunteered to do an art project with Friends of Audubon School to help raise money for educational programs. This school has no budget for art so it was a treat for the kids and I also got a chance to share awareness about all the homeless pets out there. These nineteen 7th Graders certainly rose to the occasion. Using Petfinder.com to search for homeless dogs in the Audubon zip code, I found over 5,300 within a 100 mile radius. I printed out photos/descriptions/adoption information for 19 dogs and gave one to each student to use as their subject. They each painted their dog’s portrait on a 6x6 inch piece of cardboard and attaching tags with their particular dog’s name onto the painting. I mounted the paintings on wood panels and they have been on display at Starbucks since early November. They will be auctioned off to raise money for the school next Wednesday, December 8th. You are welcome to view them and even bid on line at the links below. Thanks to Amanda Shell to helping out on painting day!

Bid on 'Nine Lives':

  

Bid on 'Adopt A Friend For Life!'

The administrators liked the kids' work so much they used it for the promotional materials for the Auction Fundraiser. Follow the links to see all the other wonderful art available for bidding by kids who worked with other artist volunteers.

Save the Date! October 22: Dog & Art Lovers Night

  If you're in the Chicago area on the 22nd we hope you can help us collect **supplies for the Friends of Chicago Animal Care & Control Foster Program while enjoying Anne's canine inspired ART, WINE, CHOCOLATE (from local chocolatier, Parks Chocolates) and SAVORY TREATS! Don't forget to bring your dog and your friends to meet our special adoptable guest from CACC!

Bring in an *item/supply for Friends’ Pet Foster Program and you will receive a 20% savings certificate off any art or gift purchase!
**Items needed: Leashes, Snap-on Collars (any size), Dog Beds, Treats for Dogs & Cats (New), KMR Kitten Formula.

Please come out and support this group and all these deserving pets...we just adopted our Gracie from Chicago Animal Care & Control and I can tell you there are countless other dogs and cats there waiting for homes. See them here on Petfinder!!

Two tails in the house, again...

We headed down to Chicago Animal Care & Control on Saturday, this is the city shelter, basically ground zero for pets in Chicago, they are open every day for adoption (see their site for hours). No animal is turned away from this facility, which means when the other wonderful rescue groups can't take any more, the only way these pets find homes is for you and me to go down and adopt them. This would not be possible without the incredible volunteers who are responsible for taking the dogs outside, playing with and socializing them, as well as showing them to potential adopters - such important advocates, as they get to know the dogs and can offer feedback to potential owners. Sadly the city, does not provide enough resources, the volunteers are critical. It's so tough seeing all these sweet, innocent dogs, waiting alone in their kennels just wanting a little love and a home.Several caught our eyes and hearts but the one that pulled the strongest, for both Rich and I, was 11 month old pit mix, Poppy. She had been there since early July, very sweet and quiet, yet quite lively when we got her outside. We decided to go home and get Alice. The meet and greet went well...not instant best friends but definitely comfortable around one another and tails wagging. So we proceeded with the adoption, which only costs $65, and that includes the dog license and spay/neuter.  We had our adoption interview with Charles Craft, an amazing advocate for these dogs and the head of the adoption program for the city and Fostering Program through Friends of Animal Care and Control. We had corresponded in the past when I did art work for CACC, so it was an honor to finally meet him. (You can see other adoptable pets on PetFinder.com).On the drive home Poppy (who they told us was originally Pippi, and we just named Gracie!) draped herself over me and melted into my lap with a sigh.It took a bath Saturday with a follow up shower on Sunday to fully remove the Eau De CACC perfume she was wearing.I'm sure she was relieved on Monday to find that bathing was not going to become a daily ritual in her new home!She is a very skinny little girl with a very LONG neck...so long that she can counter surf, this is new behavior to us. Izzy had a few episodes early on...but this girl, you have to keep an eye on! Did I mention we think she might have some Great Dane in her?We have some work to do with Gracie, she and Alice will need some time to bond, but soon, I'm sure she will fit in. This has all been a little bittersweet. It's the sad realization that we are really moving on, left with only our memories of Izzy...as we open our broken hearts back up and make new ones with Gracie.

R.V. Dog & Art Lovers Night = Big Fun!

We didn't know what to expect for our first ever RVDALN, but it turned out to be a very fun night...lots of people came, several with their 4 legged friends and we collected quite a 'bounty' of supplies for the Chicago Canine Rescue Shelter. Our adorable Guest of Honor, Norton a 5 month old Bassett Hound mix, was not able to stay the whole evening but he made many friends while he was here and I'm confident he will be adopted very soon!Norton: Follow the link for adoption info.
All the generous supply donations that came in from attendees for the Chicago Canine Rescue Shelter.
  We also had complimentary human treats and a visit from the Pepperoni King! This man needs a crown! Vail...that doggy in the window. 

A darling young lady doing her doggy impression.Saying goodnight to Norton and Rachel, one of the wonderful volunteers from Chicago Canine Rescue.

Save the Date....RV Dog & Art Lovers Night!

Mark your calendars for the first ever Roscoe Village Dog & Art Lovers Night!

• When:      Friday, May 21st

• Where:     Anne's Studio & Gallery: 2040 West Roscoe in Chicago

• What:      Bring your friends human and CANINE to join us for Art, Wine and Treats as Anne shares her newest spring paintings and welcomes a Special Adoptable Guest from Chicago Canine Rescue. We will also be collecting *items for their Roscoe Village Shelter.

• What Else: Bring an *item for the shelter and receive a 20% Savings Certificate off any original painting! *Items needed: Garbage bags, Paper Towels & Detergent

Painting Raffle for Chicago Canine Rescue

Orange Smiling Pup © 2009 13x14 Acrylic on Wood Cabinet Door. Retail Value: $300

I started a raffle for this painting last Saturday at the Chicago Canine Rescue Adoption Event, $1 per ticket or 6 tickets for $5. Several of you have asked how you can purchase tickets. I think the best way to do it is for you to donate money directly to Chicago Canine Rescue via this secure CCR Donation Site, then forward me an email with your donation amount and I will put the appropriate number of tickets for you into the Raffle Jar. I will do the drawing for the painting on Saturday, March 20th and announce the winner on my blog and on my Facebook Fan Page.

Will you be mine?

 

   We had 5 adorable Spaniel mix puppies here on Saturday for our event with Chicago Canine Rescue, all from the same litter. They are still too young to be adopted but you can see each one on the Chicago Canine Rescue site and contact them if you would like to adopt! We had lots of people come in (and a few dogs) so it was good socialization for them and they sure loved to be held and cuddled. It was a fun afternoon and the volunteers were wonderful as usual! PS I'm still selling raffle tickets for the painting in the photo above...all proceeds go to CCR.

Sweet Adoption Event with CCR Next Week...

  Our first Adoption Event of 2010 is next weekend, bring your Valentine and your friends to meet PUPPIES available for adoption from Chicago Canine Rescue. Join us on the 13th for Sweet Treats, a Raffle for Art and Gifts and 20% off anything in the shop that has RED or PINK in it!

Chicagoland Tails Feature...

I was interviewed by Agnes Jasinski of Chicagoland Tails last fall and am honored to be featured in an article she wrote that appears in the December/January Issue of the Magazine titled: "Pet Artist Uses Work To Promote Adoption and Rescue Groups", I have included it below. Our (tentative) first adoption event at the studio for 2010 will be on February 13th with Chicago Canine Rescue ...stay tuned. If you know of a group that would be interested in having an event here, please send them my way!

Pet artist uses work to promote adoption and rescue groups
By Agnes Jasinski

Anne Leuck Feldhaus was still working a corporate job when she adopted Izzy, the beloved canine who sparked her creative spirit and got her to leave her job and pursue art full-time. Around the time Izzy came into her life, she began doing dog images, paintings, and promotional art for shows put on by rescue groups. Her images were “very funny bright, colorful dog paintings,” she says, that started out as a hobby but became a calling and a way for her to promote pet adoption.
“The first dog images came from her, along with the whole awareness of how serious the problem was,” Feldhaus says about her passion for adoption and Izzy’s influence. “I went to a lot of different places to meet dogs and to find the right one, and had two cats at the time from Anti-Cruelty. … That process really opened my eyes.”
Feldhaus has now been donating art for fundraisers to rescue groups like the Treehouse Animal Foundation and Young at Heart Pet Rescue for the last 14 years. Her work with the rescues has been pro bono, but she also does paintings of people’s pets. Her artwork has been hung up in lobbies, sold to raise money for local rescues, and used on T-shirts and posters to promote shelter events.
Earlier this spring, Feldhaus also opened a storefront studio in Roscoe Village at 2040 W. Roscoe, where she hopes to not only have a presence in the neighborhood as an artist, but to also invite local rescue groups to hold adoption events there. The first event was held Aug. 8 with Chicago Canine Rescue. A portion of any sales at any of the adoption events will go toward the rescue that day. The next event will be held Dec. 12, with pets brought in from Young at Heart Pet Rescue.
“My goal and mission are to give back to our dogs and cats all the unconditional love and devotion they provide us by spreading the word about animal adoption through my art and designs,” Feldhaus says. “Also I truly believe that our pets make us better human beings.”

For more information, visit AnnesArt.com.

Young At Heart...

This is Ginger, she was our guest of honor on Saturday for the Young At Heart Pet Rescue Adoption Event...

As you can see, she is a very sweet, laid back 10 year old Jack Russell Terrier Mix, just right for a family with older kids or senior citizens'. Her owner got sick and was no longer able to care for her, this is the plight of many dogs and cats that the Young At Heart Pet Rescue volunteers take into their homes to foster until new permanent homes can be found. Please visit www.yahpetrescue.com if you would like more information about Ginger or to see more dogs and cats available for adoption from YAH.

Noelle, a great customer and supporter of animal adoption...doing a little Holiday Shopping for her family!

With the wonderful crew of volunteers from YAH. Left to right, Matt Jans, Arlene Burkhardt, Dawn Kemper and Irene Tague and of course Ginger!

YAH Executive Director, Dawn Kemper, prepares for the Raffle Drawing...and below, Jay Hirt, one of our Raffle Winners! And Flipper! Jay's wonderful German Shepherd who is among the very first Pet Portraits in my Portfolio. I did his painting way back in 2000, it's called "Flipper's Full Moon".
If you would like to learn about YAH or to make a donation to YAH, please visit www.yahpetrescue.com

Young At Heart Adoption Event at the Studio this Saturday!

This Saturday, December 12th, we will have some wonderful Senior Dogs from Young At Heart Pet Rescue Available for Adoption and ready to go home with you for the Holidays!

Please join us for Holiday Treats and Libations, a Raffle for the PAINTING below and a Holiday Giftpack. Shop our Holiday Sale featuring 30-50% off on Anne's Older Original Paintings!

What: YAH Pet Rescue Adoption Event

When: Saturday December 12th, Noon-3pm

Where: Anne's Studio, 2040 W. Roscoe, Chicago

Puppies, Art, Community, and a Sunny Day...

We had the perfect day yesterday for our adoption event with the Anti-Cruelty Society at my studio...plenty of sunshine and temps in the 50's...4 very sweet dogs arrived around noon- that's Camry above, she was the spunkiest of the group.
This is mother/daughter duo, Sunfire and Sunbird, they were rescued in Tennessee by artist, Bernie Berlin of A Place to Bark. I've mentioned Bernie before, as I've been involved in a few different projects to help raise money for her rescue efforts, the most recent the Party Animals Book and auction. These girls were so sweet and awfully timid. They were nearly adopted together, really hope that couple will contact Anti-Cruelty and take them after mulling over their decision this weekend. That's Sunbird on my lap and very sweet girl Theresa, they would all make such dear companions. There were wonderful volunteers and folks from Anti-Cruelty on hand to chat with all the people who came by to meet the dogs. Such a great sense of community and caring combined with the joy of being around such endearing pups...! The day was so reflective of all my hopes for combining my art and this space and community with my desire to give more exposure to and hopefully get more homeless pets adopted.
If you would like more information or to go meet any of these dogs, please contact the Chicago Anti-Cruelty Society.

Puppies! Anti-Cruelty Adoption Event at my Studio on November 21st!

Have you been thinking about adopting a dog lately or maybe getting some bold beautiful new art for your walls? On the 21st you can do both! We will have pups from the Anti-Cruelty Society on hand for you to meet, a Raffle for Art and Gifts and 20% off all of my Original Paintings!

Bid now on Art Auctions to Benefit a Place to Bark!

Last spring Jill Beninato of Sit, Stay, Smile Pet Photography invited me to be a part of a zine called Party Animals: it features the artwork of 21 different artists from across the country. The proceeds from the sale of this zine will directly benefit the animals at A Place To Bark animal rescue. All work was donated by the participating artists and the original pieces are up for auction right now and end late Monday night...the 20th! This is my piece up for auction HERE and it is actually the first painting that I created in my new Roscoe Village studio back in May:

This is all especially meaningful not only because animal adoption and rescue is near and dear to my heart but most of Bernie's dogs are rescued in Tennessee and she transports them here to Chicago to the Anti-Cruelty Society to find them homes. I had the pleasure of meeting Bernie last summer - her commitment and mission to rescuing animals is pretty awe inspiring.

So please check out these auctions, they end late Monday night depending on your time zone. Remember ALL proceeds go to benefit animal rescue sanctuary A Place To Bark. You can help buy purchasing the Party Animals book and/or bidding on the Art Auctions.

Below is a list of the artists who participated please visit their sites and their auction pieces.

Jill Beninato www.sitstaysmile.com
Bernie Berlin www.aplacetobark.blogspot.com
Suzi Blu www.suziblu.typepad.com
Rebecca Collins www.artpaw.com
Wendy Crumbley www.2dogstudio.com
Ingrid Dijkers www.ingriddijkers.com
Manon Doyle www.hoochiepoochiestudios.com
Sarah Fishburn www.sarahfishburn.com
Rice Freeman-Zachery www.voodooandzen.com
Heather LaHaise www.heatherlahaise.com
Melissa Langer www.pugnotes.com
Maija Lepore www.maigirlz.typepad.com
Anne Leuck Feldhaus www.annesart.com
Tamandra Michaels www.heartdogstudios.com
Kim Rae Nugent www.kimraenugent.com
Linda O' Neill www.abbycreekstudios.com
Nancy Schutt www.gooddogart.com
Jill Marie Shulse www.jillmarieshulse.blogspot.com
Kelly Snelling www.soulhumming.typepad.com
Carla Sonheim www.carlasonheim.com
Kathy Weller www.wellerwishes.com

You can get your copy of the zine here and remember, ALL of the proceeds go directly to helping the animals at A Place To Bark!

And I promise, Grand Opening Photos coming soon...it was a wonderful evening! :)

Video & Photos from Berks Humane Show...

Berks Humane Furry Friday Art Show & Walkathon Kickoff in Reading, PA featured my canine and feline works on August 14th. Scroll down to see some video of the show which will be up until September 9th:

CCR Dog Adoption Event at Anne's Studio 8/8/09

At long last...here are photos and hopefully some video from our Adoption Event with Chicago Canine Rescue on August 8th. It was fun afternoon, very hot and windy...but lots of puppy love. We had four very wonderful young dogs here: Kyle, Mickey, Shirley and Jill. None of them were adopted that afternoon but many people stopped and took cards for the shelter which is located just a few blocks away at 2227 W. Belmont in Chicago. To learn more about each dog click here. We also let people know that fostering was also an option, this takes a little bit of the edge off when people are unsure how it would go with their other pets, etc. That's how we started with Alice, and we had such a happy ending. I just heard today 8/18 that Kyle and Mickey are in foster homes and will mot likely be adopted!

Kyle, Shirley and Mickey with wonderful volunteers from CCR.

 
Jill, A coonhound mix.

Kyle a shepherd mix...

 
Suzy taking donations for CCR's upcoming Mutt Strut on September 12th.

 

 

Love Dogs & Art?

On Saturday from Noon-3pm I will be hosting a Pet Adoption Event for Chicago Canine Rescue in my Studio & Shop at 2040 W. Roscoe in Chicago. For added fun there will be a CCR Bean Bag Toss Game set up on the sidewalk outside the shop...dogs, games, cookies and lemonade...come on over and bring the kids! Also a portion of every sale during the Event will be donated to Chicago Canine Rescue.

Our dog Alice was saved by CCR back in 2004, her entire new born litter had been found in an alley next to a dumpster. We took her in as a foster at 12 weeks old and of course became 'foster failures' when we decided to adopt her. She has been such a joy and we know that she has helped to keep Izzy active and engaged in life after all these years.  So...if you have been thinking about adopting please come and see some pups and if you've been thinking of buying some art, do it on this day so a portion of your sale will benefit the dogs!

Stray Cat Strut

Coming up May 30th, Tree House Humane Society’s Stray Cat Strut  which helps educate the public about the plight of stray cats. The event also raises money for the rehabilitation, care and adoption of the cats housed at Tree House. Follow the links to register. I donated the logo design for this annual event which is celebrating it's 4th year.

Fear...

Fear is what has motivated me most of my life....I just realized the other day that I have finally made a shift in my thinking when I saw these words:

Fear Regret, Not Failure.

It was actually the fear of not facing fear and making a change that pushed me to take this new risk/opportunity/challenge and that translates to fear of regret. Life had gotten a little too predictable. I want to connect with and be more a part of the community bringing my love of art and people and pet advocacy all together. I've worked with many different rescue groups over the years but really at arms length, donating artwork for fundraisers and designing posters & t-shirts for events but not being present and interacting directly at the events. I want to use this space to make art and to publicly connect and help support these groups - hosting adoption events, etc. as well as share my art process and possibly even teach kids to do their own pet portraits. 

Border Collie Rescue T-Shirt Design #2

I recently completed t-shirt design #2 for Great Lakes Border Collie Rescue, they wanted me to incorporate agility images...looks like fun, something I should probaby get busy body Alice involved in. I'm working on a warmer hued version of this as well since reds, oranges and yellows seem to pop a bit more with the silk screen process which uses CMYK inks (cyan/magenta/yellow/black) vs. the RGB (red/green/blue)  color scheme seen on your computer screen and in my fine art print reproductions. I offer greatly reduced rates on illustration and design work for non-profits and rescue groups. Please feel free to contact me if you would like discuss a project for your group or to see a fee schedule.

My Personal Copy of the Dog's Rule Fatbook

Bid on a Dogs Rule Fatbook Now! Hurry, auction ends tomorrow, Thursday November 20th! All proceeds benefit A Place to Bark...

 

This one of a kind project was started by Jill Beninato of Sit Stay Smile Photography and includes work by the following artists:

Manon Doyle of Hoochie Poochie Studios , blog
Jill Beninato of Sit Stay Smile Photography, blog
Jamie Pflughoeft of Cowbelly Photography,
Leigh Jackson of Noisy Dog Studio, blog
Moira McLaughlin of Dream Dogs Art, blog
Melissa Langer of Pug Notes, blog
Linda O’Neill of Abby Creek Studios, blog
Rebecca Lansdowne of Art Paw, blog
Nicole Mlakar-Livingston of Nicole Mlakar-Livingston Photography, blog
Wendy Crumbley of 2 Dog Studio, blog
Bernie Berlin from A Place To Bark, blog
Anne Leuck Feldhaus of Anne Leuck Feldhaus Studio Ltd., blog
Kathy Weller Wellerwishes Pet Portraiture, blog

Dogs Rule Fat Book Auction!

Back in July I blogged about the pages I was creating for the Dogs Rule Fat Book. This project was a collaboration of 13 dog artists who each contributed an original work of art. 

We each received one of these treasures, all masterfully crafted & bound by Jill Beninato of Sit, Stay, Smile Pet Photography. Later this week I will share photos of my copy. 

But TODAY...the 14th Book is up for Auction on Ebay and available to YOU! All proceeds will benefit A Place to Bark, a rescue in Tennessee run by our fellow artist and tireless animal advocate Bernie Berlin. She saved and placed over 575 dogs in her first 2 years of operation and will add 400 to that number by the end of 2008. 

Watch the video below to learn more about A Place to Park and to see this incredible book:

Adopt a Pet this Weekend!

Friends of Chicago Animal Care & Control is hosting the 2nd Annual Adopt a Pet in the Park event on Sunday, September 14th in Lincoln Park. With all the bad weather and foreclosures this summer, pets need homes more now than ever before!

Cant make it? Visit PetFinder.com to see animals available for adoption in your area. Just type in your zip code and type of pet you are looking for!