“DRAWING for Endangered Species” School Workshops in aid of the BORN FREE FOUNDATION

"Drawing for Endangered Species Workshops" Brochure cover by Jane Lee McCracken

“Drawing for Endangered Species Workshops” brochure cover by Jane Lee McCracken and Jack Lowe Studio

This week sees the launch of an inspirational school workshop project ‘Drawing for Endangered Species’ which shares my great passion for drawing and animals.  25% of each workshop fee will be donated to the Born Free Foundation in aid of the vital work they do for wildlife.

'Chimpanzee', Jemma aged 8, East Lothian, black Biro drawing

‘Chimpanzee’, Jemma aged 8, East Lothian, black Biro drawing

Children possess a natural passion for drawing and interest in animals.  In creating an art and educational based workshop, I hope by enthusing children to express themselves through drawing, to create a domain where individual interest and awareness of threatened wildlife and habitats thrives, and continues into adulthood.  Schools give fundamental education to children about the environment and my workshops are designed to respond to individual school curriculums.  I believe teaching children about environmental issues just as I was fortunate enough to be enthused as a child, helps secure a broader understanding for preserving beautiful habitats and wildlife each generation has the privilege to inherit.

'Brown Bears', In Homage to the Last Great Carnivores of Eurasia', black Biro drawing by Jane Lee McCracken

‘The Orphans’, Brown Bears, In Homage to the Last Great Carnivores of Eurasia’, black Biro drawing by Jane Lee McCracken

The workshops are inspired by my recent drawing series ‘In Homage to the Last Great Carnivores of Eurasia’.  Bringing a small pop-up exhibition of my Biro drawings to the classroom and encouraging students’ drawing skills, the workshops also explore positive ways children can help save endangered and threatened species through an interactive science based discussion. Students are then given the opportunity to celebrate the beauty of endangered species through an expressive drawing session using colour Biros.

Year 5, St Peter's Roman Catholic School, Scarborough with their artwork produced during 'Drawing for Endangered Species' workshop

Year 5, St Peter’s Roman Catholic School, Scarborough with their artwork produced during ‘Drawing for Endangered Species’ workshop

Endangered Species badges for each student using an image of their drawing made during workshops are also included.

Endangered Species badges with artwork by Year 5, St Peter's Roman Catholic School, Scarborough

Endangered Species badges with artwork by Year 5, St Peter’s Roman Catholic School, Scarborough

For bookings and enquiries or to receive a brochure with further information about workshops please contact jane@janeleemccracken.co.uk

A huge thank you to brilliant art teacher Mrs Haddington of St Peter’s Roman Catholic School, Scarborough for all her help with this project and to Head Teacher Mrs Louise Finlay, her staff and the students of Year 5 for so generously welcoming a pilot workshop to their school and for all the beautiful artwork they produced.  Also to Jack Lowe Studio for all the hard work and help completing the brochure design.

And an enormous thank you to the Born Free Foundation for supporting this project.  For further information about the Born Free Foundation and the inspirational work they do please visit their website at  www.bornfree.org.uk

'Siberian Tiger', 'Ice Fox' and 'Tiger', limited edition archival pigment prints

‘Siberian Tiger’, ‘Ice Fox’ and ‘Tiger’, limited edition archival pigment prints

In conjunction with this project I will be donating ALL profits made from the sales of the three limited edition archival pigment prints above, beautifully crafted to order by Jack Lowe Studio, to the Born Free Foundation.  Prints are priced at £40 each plus postage – for further details please visit my shop.

 

A Year in Pictures – Art Muse LILY takes Life in her Stride

Lily, star of many drawings by artist Jane Lee McCracken reveals a year in her life as an art muse, what she will be eating for dinner this Christmas and her special Christmas wish.

LILY CALENDAR DECEMBERLILY CALENDAR

IMG_0089January – “I love snow! I like to run at it with my mouth open like a snow plough so I can eat as much of it as I can in one go.”

IMG_4595February – “This is one of my favourite drawings where I got a big starring role as the white wolf. I liked modelling this cool i-pad cover too!”

20130906_215602 (1)March –  “Early rehearsals began for this year’s nativity! (I put my ears back when I’m happy so could wear Mary’s headscarf with ease)”

IMG_0474April –  “I have to do a lot of sitting around during modelling shoots.  I just go to sleep and boom wake up for the camera”

IMG_8913May –  “In my recreational time I love to lie in the garden amongst the flowers and sleep.  I often dream about rabbits and barking at other dogs”

IMG_1098June –  “I love to go to the pub, particularly the beer garden of the Olde Ship in Seahouses, Northumberland”

IMG_1231July –  “This year I was centre stage in an exhibition at The Mercer Art Gallery, Harrogate, England and went down to trip the light fantastic and meet the people of Harrogate who were very nice”

IMG_7296August-  “Summer brings clover and I love to lie in it and pretend to catch bees!”

IMG_1264September-  “This is the year that I learnt to open the back door and let myself in and then I wanted to let myself out again as the football was on!”

IMG_4665October –  “Cuddling my playmate is a very important part of my daily routine and now the mornings are dark I find it increasingly difficult to get out of bed for walks, I’d rather just have hugs”

IMG_4413November –  “Atka’s my pin-up boy, I’d love to meet him one day!”

LILY CALENDAR DECEMBERDecember –  “My friend Joe Bason made me this Christmas bow-tie, isn’ it gorgeous?! I love wearing it when I go to the shops with my owner, it goes with my Red Dingo collar! (Thank you also to my friend Juliet of KimonoKraft Love you Long Time http://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/KimonoKraft for being the inspiration behind my calendar!)

So Lily what will you be eating for Christmas this year? –

“I just can’t resist it, I’ll be having a bowl of my favourite food, Chappie and then a whole Dentastick after my owners have eaten their Christmas dinner.  But probably when they’re not looking my Granny and Auntie Karen will sneak me roast potatoes and maybe some Haribo Starmix as I love them!”

Have you got any special Christmas wishes? – “My owners bought me from a breeder who didn’t tell them that Northern Inuits can never be left on their own, plus they didn’t do enough research about my breed before they bought me.  I’m lucky, they love me very much, but it’s hard work making sure that I’m cared for 24 hours a day.  I get very distressed if I’m left on my own.  If you can’t give proper care to specialist breeds like me give a rescue dog who’s not a Diva a loving home instead.”

LILY CALENDAR HOWLING 2

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