mvegan5 interview

1. Tell us a little about you and your work. Why did you choose the charities you have chosen for your work?
I am a vegan artist and teacher from California. I live in Be'er Sheva, Israel, with my husband, 2 rescued kitties, and our foster seeing eye puppy. (a dream of you and me's if we ever had the disipline...) I have a BFA in Painting and an MAT in Art Education from the Rhode Island School of Design. I paint and draw images of animals, hoping to express and share my love for nature and all living things. I also love to create jewelry and accessories from vintage and found pieces, turning them into something new, wearable, and beautiful. I founded and lead the street team, Etsy for Animals, stemming from my love for animals, and wish to bring together other Etsy animal lovers in order to network to help animals; http://efaartistshelpinganimals.org . 10% of my shop sales always go to the Etsy for Animals Charity of the Month. (link goes to charity for june) I love being able to vary the animal charities that I help, including giving to causes around the world. I also donate items to charity shops and auctions, including; Etsy for Charity http://etsyforcharity.etsy.com , Handmade 4 Hounds http://handmade4hounds.etsy.com , and Creative Animal Relief http://www.thecreativeanimalrelief.org


4. How do you feel that your art influences the people that receive it?
I am so happy knowing that someone owns and appreciates my artwork or jewelry and hope that some of the love I have for animals and nature will be passed on through the piece. I also hope that the fact that part of the sale helps animals will inspire buyers to also want to help the causes I support, or animals in general.

5. Do you have any artwork that represents the charity you donate to?

My Peanuts and Alladin cards represent my love for horses, I donated to help Etsy for Animals member and horse non-profit, Epic Farms http://epicfarms.com last month.

I donated the original of this painting of rescued pigs http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6168458
to help one of my favorite charities; Farm Sanctuary http://farmsanctuary.com


6. [And our poor link didn't work for her :(. Here it is if anyone wants to tell us how we can improve our beginning charity idea: http://www.arte4phood.blogspot.com ]

I love her to the point nature, how her artwork clearly reflects her cause, and I can't post this without putting a little buzz out for this item:

too cute!!!

Thank you mvegan5 for what you do for all the creatures that mean so very much to us!!! Please do check out her sweet homemade shop and doubling, outstanding applause for founding etsy for animals!!!

*Swoons at getting the opportunity to feature semi-famous etsy people on the you & me show)*

Now, to give my cat some lovin'.....