About the Project
About Me
Hi, I’m Doug Hunley. I’m the guy who thought up this scheme.
I’ve been a graphic designer for most of my working life, and an artist pretty much always. I studied art in college and grad school, then entered the world of advertising and design. I’ve shown work in galleries and in juried and independent shows.
Some years back, I put on a show to benefit Project Cure in Denver. All proceeds were donated, and we raised around $2500. That felt great, and that has led to Art Into The World.
I’ve never really been a commercially driven artist, and I love the idea of my work encouraging people to help out. What a great way to share my work.
Why are you giving paintings away?
I’m not! I’m putting them to work – helping to motivate others to make contributions to organizations they value. For me, it’s a Win-Win-Win: Charities benefit… Donors benefit – both from supporting an organization they believe in and in getting some artwork as a bonus… and I benefit by getting my works out into lovely homes (which is where they should be!) and in getting greater motivation to make more. Helps clear out my office too.
Can I donate to any charity?
Well, of course you can donate to anything you want. But, because I am giving away MY work, all “Donation Bid” acceptance and awards remain at my discretion. I will not accept participation for political funding, religious organization general funding*, or for funding for causes that are against my principles. I retain the right to refuse any Donation Bid. No funds ever come to me. That said, I love to see Donation Bid for causes that:
- Help people in need
- Help animals
- Help communities
- Improve our world (pretty subjective, I know)
- Educate people
[ *specific initiatives by church groups can be fine – eg. charity efforts, helping initiatives etc. ]
Does my bid show instantly?
Nope. Sorry… it’s a manual process for me. If things ramp up I’ll figure out how to make it automatic. Right now, I’ll update bid numbers ASAP, and certainly by the end of each day.
How much are the paintings worth?
In the market… I don’t really know or care. Honestly, if you are someone who can donate $30 to your chosen charity, that’s perfect. If you are someone who wants to send out $10,000, that’s perfect too. I won’t be offended if someone makes a donation bid of $10. It’s all about how much YOU WANT TO DONATE TO YOUR CHARITY. For me, it’s gratifying at any level.
Are the paintings framed?
No, they’re not – though I do show them with a frame so you can see how nice they look. Fortunately, Ampersand makes a fantastic frame designed to fit these panels exactly. The panels are 12″ square, and about 7/8″ thick. The 1-1/2″ frame is a perfect fit. Just drop the painting in and tighten a few screws. I’d recommend these:
- 12″ x 12″ Maple
- 12″ x 12″ Black
- 14″ x 14″ – I’m looking for a good source