Forest of Life Project

The Forest of Life Group Art Project: Patricia Allingham Carlson is an art educator and artist who wished to create a work of art that would be meaningful to many people.This project was started over 8 months ago as a way to bring people together, creating an art work to help in some way. Patricia held a vote to determine the theme, and The Forest of Life was chosen. As a private art instructor for children, Patricia had her students contribute art to the painting. Friends and family were then invited, and eventually people on her Facebook fan page. The canvas was first coated with acrylic paint , then pressed with waxed paper while wet to set up some suggested patterns. Children, adult friends and former art students have added on their ideas. New artists and friends were invited through the social network sites to send a sketch they'd created to be copied onto the canvas. Over forty-five people have since added on to it, with their ideas ranging from tiny lady bugs to flowers and leaves, and from colorful animals to overall compositional structure. Participants were from many states in the US, from Canada, Great Britain and Hungary. Ages of contributors ranged from 6- 87. Goal: The painting was photographed, and the image will be used to create prints, cards, mugs, t shirts, binders, aprons, hats, pins, many other products. These are made available for purchase at this special Forest Of Life store at Zazzle.com. All proceeds will be sent directly to The Environmental Defense Fund, whose goal is to help the earth for the good of all. The canvas itself has been donated to The Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the painting is full of animals and light, many created by children. To Patricia Carlson's many young art students, current as well as former, "I am proud to have your efforts shown here and hope you are proud of your work for this fund. To those others of you who have added your artwork, expertise, and time, A BIG THANK YOU!!! You helped make the world a little bit better."