Emergency Working Artist Project Grant FY21

This funding will help free me up to focus solely on this artistic project by helping cover my living expenses while I create a body of 4 watercolor paintings and accompanying prints and notecards by: -Paying for the archival art paper and archival notecards (the only materials I don't already own.) -Paying my time to: 1) Sketch, compose, outline, and paint 4 originals. Then sign, emboss (with my signature chop), and frame all 4. 2) Take professional quality reproduction photographs, then editing the photos in photoshop (stitch, dust, crop, adjust color, saturation, contrast, and create the final printable image files.) 3) Print, sign, emboss, number, and package the 144 prints [36 of each image] (12) Large 13'x19', (12) Medium 12'x9', (12) Small 5'x7' and 48 notecards [12 of each image] with accompanying certificates of authenticity. These art products can generate ongoing income, and increase my exposure. This project will grow my relationship with ICF and the conservation community. I've done each step of creating, framing, packaging, and shipping originals and museum-quality archival prints and note cards. I own the framing supplies and equipment needed for this project. I framed professionally for many years and always frame my art. I've done large art projects including publishing books, stationery, art prints, note cards, and posters. I created the art for, wrote, and designed, The Book of Cranes, published by Pomegranate. My work has engendered the trust of George Archibald the Co-founder of The International Crane Foundation, he is now an enthusiastic supporter of the project. I'm fortunate to have many connections in the conservation community. I've made over 7,000 museum-quality prints and note cards and have years of experience in photographing, photoshopping, printing, packaging, and shipping my art products. I recently executed this exact type of project with ICF, (sending an original, prints and notecards to ICF) now it is just with 4 originals.I will know I have successfully executed this project when: -I have my completed, signed, and framed 4 original 30'x40' watercolor paintings packaged and ready for delivery to ICF. -I have my 144 prints and 48 notecards (reproductions of the 4 originals) printed, signed, embossed, numbered, in their archival sleeves, accompanied by individually signed certificates of authenticity packaged and ready for delivery to ICF. -I receive confirmation from Rose (ICF Gallery Manager) that the 4 Original Crane Paintings and corresponding 144 Prints (36 of each image, 12 Large, 12 Medium, 12 Small) 48 notecards (12 of each image) have arrived safely. An additional signpost of success (this one's outside of my control) is when the first sale of my art products or originals are made through the ICF physical or webstore. My products that they currently have in stock made a sale on the first day they were announced and have sold consistently since.