Drawing at St. Mary's with the Ink Well Foundation
posted 3.2.10 at 12:00 am
This past Saturday I had the opportunity to draw at St. Mary's Children's Hospital in Bayside, Queens (NY), for an organization called the Ink Well Foundation.
.jpg)
The goal of the Ink Well Foundation is to bring creativity and smiles to kids in the hospital. To quote their website:
We are a group of New York animators and cartoon artists who believe that a child’s creativity may provide a unique defense against hardship.
In our visits to health care centers we reveal the magic behind our films, TV shows, and illustrations while encouraging children to cultivate their own ideas. We hope to share the power of art as self-expression and as a good way to just take a break from trying times and have some fun.
In our visits to health care centers we reveal the magic behind our films, TV shows, and illustrations while encouraging children to cultivate their own ideas. We hope to share the power of art as self-expression and as a good way to just take a break from trying times and have some fun.
What this amazing organization does is bring a group of volunteer professional artists to various children's hospitals, put them in a common area and basically have the artists spend time and draw with the kids. Some artists drew super heroes, some did cartoon characters, a few of us drew caricatures; whatever the kids asked for.
Myself and fellow artists and cartoonists, begining second from left, Sergey Aniskov, Adrian Sinnot, Elizabeth Winter (organization founder), Joe Vissichelli, Howard Beckerman, Ray Alma, me and Timothy Savage, along with some of the kids there that day.
Some of the kids we worked with were dealing with serious illnesses. However, I was reminded that, even with communication challenges, as many had, every kid loves to watch an artist draw, and to receive a piece of artwork made especially for them can be a shining moment in an sometimes lonely and long-term hospitalization.
Joe V., drawin' caricatures
To say this was a gratifying and learning experience would be an understatement. The kids at St. Mary's are there for any number of reasons, be it cancer, cerebral palsy, to burn and accident recovery. I was a little nervous at first, but once I sat down and started interacting with these kids, I realized that they're just normal kids who like to have fun, and don't let a handicap stop them from inspiring and enjoying life.
Me and children's book artist and humorous illustrator Adrian Sinnot.
Some goofing off
Some goofing off
Joe V. drawin' some more
After the event
The Ink Well Foundation is a 501C3 non-profit organization. If you're interested in donating to this great cause, click here and hit the Donate button.
It was a pleasure to contribute to this cause, and I look forward to my next visit. Thanks to everyone involved!
(photos courtesy of Elizabeth Winter and the Ink Well Foundation)
out about
1 Comment so far...
Nice work.
Posted by Beelzebub on March 2 at 11:50 PM
Post a Comment: