As animal angels go, author and artist, Karen Derrico has more than earned her wings.   The author of Unforgettable Mutts: Pure of Heart Not of Breed and the founder and principal organizer of the Washington, DC Million Mutt March, Karen is tireless in her efforts to increase the public's awareness of the value of mixed-breed dogs, or mutts, as perfectly wonderful canine companions.  With the launch of her newest project, Painting 4 Paws -- Art with a Cause, she is picking up her paintbrush to put paint to canvas to help homeless and other animals in need on an ongoing basis. 

Karen creates her signature soulful pet portraits and other animal-themed artwork through the medium of advanced digital painting tools.  As would a traditional artist, she starts with a blank "canvas" and slowly fills it stroke by stroke using photographs as a guide.  A wireless digital paintbrush replaces a brush bristle and archival inks are used in lieu of paint.  Upon completion, each work is printed on high-grade artist canvas.  Even at close view, Karen's work is virtually
indistinguishable from traditionally-created paintings.  And even better, once a work is created, it can be reproduced again as fine art prints and even on ceramic tiles.

In addition to her commissioned works, Karen's "adoptable" paintings feature rescue animals that hold a special place in the hearts and organizational history of featured rescue groups.  Among her four-legged subjects are a piglet named Tiger, denizen of Farm Sanctuary, and Cheeta, the 72-year old (and counting) chimp star of the original Tarzan movies as well as numerous formerly stray and homeless dogs and cats.  Adopted paintings come with an adoption certificate, a story about the rescue animal, and information on the affiliated organization. 

This month, the recipient organization is the Greater Fredericksburg Area SPCA and the four-legged muse of the moment is a boxer named Samson, the former SPCA mascot who ended his days Happily Ever After as the beloved adopted "son" of SPCA staffer Cheryl Allen.

Karen's gallery showing will launch on Friday, May 6th (First Fridays Downtown) and remain on display through May 29th at the Wounded Bookshop, 109 Amelia St.  Twenty-percent of all sales and commissions received throughout the month will be donated to the SPCA's Capital Campaign for a new, expanded animal care and adoption facility.  Also available for purchase will be an array of decorative tiles that commemorate selected artwork from the show and signed copies of Unfortgettable Mutts.

To learn more about Painting 4 Paws, visit Karen online at painting4paws.com.  For directions to the Wounded Bookshop and additional event information, contact Paul Lewis at 540.373.1311 or www.woundedbookshop.com.
 
The Greater Fredericksburg Area SPCA is a no-kill humane care center serving the City of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania, Stafford and surrounding counties.  To inquire about naming and other donor opportunities for the new facility, call the SPCA at 540.373.9008, extension 22 or visit www.spcafred.org. 
 
Hope Tarr chairs the Building Committee for the Greater Fredericksburg Area SPCA.  When not wearing her "professional volunteer" hat, she writes romance novels with an animal friendly flair.