 I'm sure by now you've seen and heard about the devastation that Helene left in the mountains of North Carolina. While Durham, my hometown, was relatively unscathed, the destruction felt very close to home. mountains have been etched into my heart. In the short three years we've lived in Durham, we've visited Asheville, Hendersonville, Boone, Beech Mountain, Banner Elk, Black Mountain, Canton, Lake Lure and Chimney Rock. We've sent our oldest to camp just west of Asheville, north of route 40. We've ventured out for weekend trips for our son's mountain biking competitions with NCNICA, I've been out in the Black Mountain area for an artist retreat, and most recently took my first camping trip to Catawba Falls with my son. None have been tremendously long stays, but the landscape in WNC is so vastly different from the Poconos of my youth. It's breathtaking in a way that jolts you - it's dramatic, steep, and surprising. It's a place we long to go - especially living in the heat of Durham - to get cooler temperatures and landscapes vastly different from the Piedmont where we live. Now, it's changed. Chimney Rock is mostly gone. Lake Lure is filled with debris. The Lake Lure Flowering Bridge has been hugely compromised. The campground that I stayed at with my son was highly devastated. People are still cut off and isolated, without power, and basic needs. Many are without homes, and many have lost loved ones. I've been watching artists with total losses of studio space and decades of work. And, there's so much more. I've already made a small donation to the NC Artists Disaster Relief Fund, but have been watching to see how else and to whom I'd like to support. The trouble is there is so much need, and my family right now is not in a position financially to support, nor can we spend time volunteering at the moment. So without further delaying, I have two ways I can help through TraillWorks:
Why NC Artists Disaster Relief Fund? Artists have been highly impacted, both in Asheville specific and surrounding towns. NC Artists Disaster Relief is an independent charity that spun off from a support group for the NC Arts Council in 2022. According to their site, . . . "the Arts Council remains an important partner, our administrative costs are not funded with state or federal grants, and we collaborate with many organizations and individuals that help us achieve our mission." Very early on, NC Artists Disaster Relief mobilized to start a fund for Helene. I also chose Triangle Mutual Aid because of their early support with boots on the ground gathering of supplies in the Triangle area. They are an approved organization and are still actively gathering donations and have the support of many local businesses as donation points including ArtPost in Durham, and Maverick's Smokehouse in partnership with Triangle Mutual Aid is now actively seeking clothing donations for the cold weather impending on the region. However and in whatever capacity you choose to help, it's greatly appreciated! Taking a seat right now in the mountains is probably a luxury. I hope that I can help even in small ways to get more to be able to do that. See a few photos below of some of my travels to the mountains:  Jennie at the Flowering Bridge in 2022 on Lake Lure  Jennie's husband and son playing mini golf in Chimney Rock village by the Broad River. The mini golf course is gone and the Broad River Inn is covered with 2' of mud.  Jennie at Catawba Falls, August 2024 which is temporarily closed.  Unfinished watercolor sketch of Catawba Falls, painted on location.  Sunrise from Catawba Falls Campground. They are closed and highly impacted by Helene.
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 I'm thrilled to announce that I'm opening up dog portrait commissions again and supporting the Animal Protection Society of Durham during the month of August. In reviewing my history of making dog portraits, I recognized that I was building momentum in creating more portraits just prior to the Pandemic. With my relocation to NC, I've completed a couple, but haven't been able to promote them. My studio is almost 100% finished (enough that it is operable) and the renovations in our home are complete. Now, as we move into the Dog Days of Summer, I'm ready to officially open them up and donate 10% of the profits of all booked portraits to APS.  Young Ringo, Oil Pastel, Cardboard, 2007 I've been making dog portraits since we rescued our first dog, Ringo, back in 2007. It started with just an oil pastel of him, roughly drawn on cardboard. I adore that drawing and have a dedicated spot in our powder room. At some point when I ran my studio/gallery in Newton, NJ, I began accepting dog portrait commissions, with one of the first subjects coming in for a photo shoot:  As many have already kicked off the holiday season, I'm waiting just a little longer. This year, I'm hosting another version of my #GiveorSave Event. Giving through my work has always been important to me, as is offering occasional opportunities for my collectors to purchase selected works at special prices. This event allows you to choose what is best for you at this time, and falls neatly between Artists Sunday and GivingTuesday. I’ve joined artists, creators and makers across the country for the Artists Sunday, earth’s largest art event, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, November 27th, encouraging consumers to shop with artists. Think of it like Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, or Cyber Monday but for shopping for art! And, you've probably heard of Giving Tuesday, which according to the organization "is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity." To honor both days, I'm going to be offering to my SUBSCRIBERS only, a private window of shopping online from Artists Sunday (November 27th) through GivingTuesday (November 29th). During those three days, subscribers will shop through a password protected link to my site and have the option to either save 25% percent on selected works, or ask me to donate 25% percent of their sale to my selected charity. Subscribers will get an email in their inbox on Sunday morning, at 9am ET (6am PT), with a password protected link to shop my online site privately through Tuesday, along with a coupon code should you wish to use it. If you prefer that I make a donation, simply send me a note in your order. If you miss the window to subscribe and don't get an email Sunday morning, simply sign up on my site prior to Tuesday morning, and you'll receive the link and password soon after. In light of recent events, coupled with my passion for mental health support, I've decided to give donations to The Trevor Project. They are the world’s largest suicide prevention and mental health organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people. Not only do they offer crisis support, but also advocacy, research and education. Some of their stats are shocking - both how a lack of acceptance has a negative impact on LGBTQ populations, as well as how just one supportive person can have a positive impact. According to The Trevor Project, "One accepting adult decreases the risk of suicide by 40% for LGBTQ young people." "The Trevor Project estimates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ young people seriously consider suicide each year in the U.S. and could benefit from our services." PLEASE, become a subscriber to my periodic newsletter by simply filling out the form below. Let's help end hate, and provide much needed support to the LGBTQ+ community. Wishing you a very safe and Happy Thanksgiving, and I'm truly grateful for you! Just a few of my works to be included: As I'm just celebrating a full year living in Durham, NC, after moving from NJ, I'm starting up an opportunity I've done in the past. My SUMMER Give or Save Event runs from 7.10 - 7.20, where you have an opportunity to #GiveorSave with the purchase of selected works through my web site. With each order you can either save 20% off the cost of the artwork or donate 20% of the value to a charity. Here's how!
Choosing organizations to support has been a challenge recently - mostly due to the wealth of needs in our world right now, and my struggle to narrow it down to one non-profit. So, I've selected four organizations that will earn donations from me through sales of my work this month; if you choose to donate, you select the charity:
Just a Taste of What's Included "Take a Seat" series of works, featuring chairs in unlikely locations, painted in vividly calm watercolors.  "Garden Watercolors" series of works journaling the changes in my gardens.  "TraillWorks Yoga Mats" featuring snippets of favorite TeaScape watercolors.  Giclées and Prints featuring some of my favorite paintings and original linocuts. You'll also find my Note Cards and a sampling of Throw Pillows. Please keep in mind, I'm an individual artist who is also currently on the mend from various nutritional deficiencies (I talk more about this in my latest newsletter), so I'm filling orders slowly. I'm in the business of providing good service with high quality work, but that means that it might arrive slower than you're used to. If purchasing anything - please contact me with any concerns about delivery timing. I hope my work brings you joy and aids a little more financial support to organizations doing important work. NEED A REMINDER of the event? SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletter.  Spicy Sweet Seat, Mixed Media on Nujabi Paper, 5" x 7", ©2020 Jennie Traill Schaeffer I've had personal struggles with mental health - both myself - and people very close to me in my family. I have seen first-hand how mental health support can move people towards and through recovery. But, that mental health support all too often is limited, out of reach - and even more so Black communities due to a variety of barriers. Last week, I stumbled upon The Loveland Foundation, Inc. searching for mental health organizations that focus support on the Black community. As I browsed through their site I was taken by their mission to provide Black women and girls funding towards therapy sessions. They are a relatively local organization, based out of Newburgh, NY. but aim to reach a national audience. They have partnered with Therapy for Black Girls, Open Path Collective, National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network, and Talkspace, as well as networks and service providers that match their mission. Founded by Rachel Cargle in 2018 when she successfully raised $250,000 through a social media campaign for her birthday. Their current goal is to hit $600,000 to offer over 5,000 hours of free therapy. This is just one way that I can be an ally to the Black community. My own TeaScapes artwork - which focuses on meditational environments in watercolor - has grown out of my experience through a personal mental health crisis. The making of art can be a therapeutic modality, as well as a vehicle towards mindfulness. It is my hope that the end result of my artwork also assists in a peacefulness to the collector. Throughout the month of June, I'm aiming to raise $480 (which equates to 4 therapy sessions for an individual) through sales of my work to benefit The Loveland Foundation, Inc.'s Therapy Fund. 50% of profits from sale of my original art and 20% of yoga mats / functional art will go to The Loveland Foundation, Inc. If you decide you'd rather donate directly to the fund you can do so through this link. Please join me in this initiative to help women and girls within the Black community.  Jennie Traill SchaefferTeaching artist from NJ making art, raising kids and helping people find mindfulness through making and collecting art. |
Jennie Traill SchaefferDeemed the Kitchen God's Artist by NJ Savvy Living for my sainted appliances, I'm now known more for my vibrant, meditational paintings of chairs set surprisingly in landscapes. Since relocating to NC from NJ, mothering my two sons, and caring for our rescue pup, Cider, took the lead. Now, that my Durham home studio is renovated it's open again for virtual art coaching and the resumption of my personal art and commissions. The work I make is inspired by my joy of teaching, exploring nature, and traveling. On The Teaching Artist Blog, I share my approach to teaching and educate my readers about my creative process. Join my VIPs for First DibsWORKSHOPS
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