Local artist Rick Mintz has got his latest fundraising calendar ready for sale with proceeds going to the BC Children's Hospital Foundation that helps more than 3,000 children from the north each year.
This year's calendar theme is backyard birds.
Mintz creates his art by referencing photographs he's taken himself.
"So the photos are pretty much all taken in my backyard," Mintz said. "And then I paint or draw the pictures I create for the calendar."
There are two images that are the exception to the backyard location and that's one of a blue heron at the Nechako River's edge and the other is a blue jay and that photograph was taken in Newfoundland when Mintz was on vacation.
His favourites in the calendar are the northern flicker and the yellow warbler.
"Two years ago, the northern flicker was sitting out on our birdfeeder when it was 35 below and he probably sat out there for about an hour and he was always fluffed up and I've had people tell me that they're not that fat," Mintz laughed, knowing that when it's that cold outside birds ruffle their feathers to keep warm.
Mintz created the image of the flicker using acrylic paints, which he works in most often because it's easier to get the details. Mintz said he spent about 40 hours on the flicker art piece while the warbler in charcoal took about 10 hours.
"You can get some pretty good details using charcoal as well," he said.
Mintz drew the yellow warbler in front of his suet feeder in the backyard and used charcoal so that he could emphasize the details of the bird's feathers while making sure the suet feeder was well in the background of the work, he said.
Mintz is already planning next year's calendar and the theme will be old cars found in the bush.
"I've already got three of them done now and I think I will continue on that route," Mintz said. "I think it's something that's interesting to people so that will inspire them to buy the calendar."
Mintz continues to be inspired to create the fundraising calendar because so many children are helped at the hospital located in Vancouver each year and as the chairperson of the local Community For Kids committee, which fundraises for the hospital locally, he felt this was something he could do himself to help the effort.
Each calendar sells for $20.
Calendars are available for sale at Studio 2880, 2880 15th Ave. To meet the artist Mintz will be at Omineca Arts Centre, 369 Victoria St., on Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to sell the calendars.
Mintz would like to extend an invitation to those who might like to volunteer for the Community for Kids to contact him. It's a great way for parents of the children who have to go to BC Children's Hospital for treatment to give back.
For more information call 250-964-9182 and for e-transfer information for out of towners wanting a calendar email rmintz@shaw.ca.
