***UPDATE*** Thanks to your support, Augie Love is now fresh off the printing press and available to buy here! ***

In lockdown, I picked up the the watercolours and found solace in nature on Wurundjeri Country. 

As part of a nature journal, I began painting the flora and fauna (mainly birds) and shared this on social media. I got a lot of joy from the way family and friends on social media responded to the images I was creating. 

Last year, I decided to print the local water colour paintings of birds onto a tea towel. I put the word out to see if anyone would like one so I could print a bulk order. I was expecting 20-30 and was stunned when I got over 100 pre orders. This lead me to local market stalls and I've since sold almost 400. I also made a series of greeting cards and have been overwhelmed at how far my artwork has roamed.

which brings us to now...

Augie, our golden labradoodle came to us as a puppy and has inpired my latest series of watercolour art. 

His love, friendship and loyalty has swept us off our feet. He has become our 'a chosen family member'. He sleeps on our daughter's bed, he eases anxiety and gets us out to our beloved creek. I always thought that having a dog would be a lot of responsibility, would be nice and great for the kids but I didn't anticipate how good it would be for my soul too. 

The series of watercolours of Augie also highlight the beautiful bond each of us in our family share with him. It didn't feel right to put Augie on a teatowel so I'm taking another leap and, with your help, planning to self publish an illustrated picture story book about friendship with Augie as the cheeky protagonist.

By supporting this campaign, you can get one of the first copies of this picture story book or purchase any of my other artwork. If I reach my fundraising target, I'll have all I need to get this project to the printer for its first edition print run!

Any extra funds will help me distribute the book even wider - to libraries, local markets and you never know... worldwide?

Thanks for all those who have supported my creative adventures to-date. It means a lot!

First edition print-run

ISBN & bar code & new members fee : $144

Printing costs - 100 copies: $1,000

Postage costs: $100

Pozible fees: $36

Total: $1,280

Stretch fundraising target

Printing costs - 100 extra copies:  $1000

Market stall fees: $300/ year

Public liability insurance: $250/ year

Sub Total: $1,550

Total: $2,830