Hours For Art Telethon Pledges

Listening to these pledges has really made my heart swell.

I hope they have the same effect on you. The Hours For Art April 2011 telethon has ended, but you can click here to sign up on my mailing list so you don’t miss the next round.

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Abby Kerr has pledged 2 hours a week for fiction and poetry.

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Rhonda Douglas has pledged 10 hours this week for her writing.

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Brenda has pledged 3 hours a week on Monday afternoons for her mixed media visual art.

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Lisa Verdi has pledged 5 hours a week on Thursdays for her labyrinth-building artistry.

Chris Anthony has pledged 2.5 hours a week via Skype.

Christie Halmick has pledged 4 hours on Fridays for writing. Christie emailed:

My name is Christie Halmick. I am a fiction writer.

I am going to devote 3 hours each Friday morning to writing fiction or journaling. I will be doing this instead of answering work (my day job is graphic design) emails or doing client projects. I have this already blocked out on my calendar.

Also on Wednesdays, when my daughters have gymnastics I’m going to read fiction (instead of business books)! I know that when I read my writing improves and my stories flow… my mind is prepped, I guess.

This will give me 4 hours per week to devote to writing.

I am tremendously thankful for your blog.

Kriste Bennet has pledged 2 hours a day for her art. Kriste emailed:

I draw and paint and recently I have started writing. It will be wonderful to have someone to be accountable to or to just know I am committing to doing something to further my artistic talents.

I don’t know what else you need to know but at least I will start working on my art today. I have time set aside already.

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Laureen Marchand has pledged 16 hours a week for painting. Laureen, you are inspiring!

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Liz Danforth has pledged 4 hours a week for the next month to her creative writing.

Dave has pledged 2 hours a week of shared art time with others (love that). Dave emailed:

I am a watercolourist and (currently) former blacksmith. My wife and I own a small Fair Trade shop and gallery in a rural college town in Upstate NY.

Art for me has always been a solitary activity. I have a strong tendency towards being a hermit in a cave.  My pledge is at least 2 hours a week of shared art time with others. I plan to do this in two ways.

The first is to host open drop-in art sessions at our shop after hours. Sumi-e and watercolour are the first two such groups. We will also be hosting “Lessons with Laura” art for school kids featuring a local arts educator. We also have an upcoming reading by our local poets group.

The second way I will be fulfilling my pledge is by spending more time doing art with my two daughters. The younger is an art fiend and loves nothing better than diving into a pile of art supplies and creating. The older inclines more towards the literary arts. I plan to encourage her to write some haiku to share at the poetry reading.

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LaVonne Ellis has pledged half-an-hour per day to her writing. Even though she’s scared.

Riv has pledged 7 hours a week for art. Riv emails:

My name is Riv, and I make metalwork jewelry.

I’m lucky enough to have a “day job” that leaves me with enough time and resources for my art, but like Brenda, I don’t always follow through–some weeks I’ll spend 20 hours in the studio, others none.  So I’m committing to two nights a week that I’ll go right to the studio after dinner, without getting sidetracked by the internet.  That’s six hours a week.  And additionally, I want to pledge an hour of knitting and/or reading time a week to restore and inspire me.

That’s 7 hours a week for my art.  I know where to find that time, and this commitment means that I’ll give at least that much time to my art no matter what.

Thanks so much for running this–I’ve really enjoyed thinking about how I can dedicate myself more seriously to my work of the heart in a way that works for me.

Rachel Gordon has pledged 2 hours a week for drawing. Rachel emails:

There is something that I’ve tried and let fizzle out and I think this will give me the extra boost I need to regenerate.  The artistic identity that I usually give first is that of photographer, but that is only a part.  I’ve been learning to draw for 1 1/2 years now and am also a performance artist and fiber artist and more.

My pledge relates my drawing.  I pledge 2 hours a week – 1/2 hour on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evening to spend on my drawing.

The April 2011 edition of the Hours For Art telethon has ended, but you can click here to sign up on my mailing list so you don’t miss the next round.