Sponsor a Painting Trip - "To Tubac and Back"! And Get a Chance to Win a Painting

Happy New Year to everyone!

Here's an invitation, a challenge, an idea that could help us both.

In late January, I'll be embarking on "To Tubac and Back," a journey to Arizona to paint, visit my dad and his wife in Tubac, and participate in a show in Scottsdale.

I'm going to try something new this time - offer you all a sponsorship opportunity!

Following the model of a CSA - community-supported agriculture, "To Tubac and Back" will work like this:

For every $100 you donate, you get a 10-inch by 10-inch painting from the trip. These sell for $100 ordinarily, and they sell quickly. Your donation ensures that I paint enough of them that you get one.

For amounts over $100, you get 10-inch by 10-inch paintings and a major discount on a larger painting. Discounts apply to trip and non-trip paintings.

Here are some more sponsorship levels:

• $150 - one 10x10 and 5 percent off a larger painting
• $200 - two 10x10 paintings and 10 percent off a larger painting
• $300 - three 10x10s and 15 percent off
• $500 - five 10x10s and 25 percent off 
• Sponsor  me for $1,000, and you will have five 10x10s and 60 percent off any painting, including a commission, up to 36x60. For that amount I'll also come to your house and make you lunch, or groom your dog, shampoo your rugs, fold your laundry... (well, maybe not shampoo your rugs... but you get it. I'll be very grateful!) 

If you'd rather, each 10x10 can be converted into $50 off a larger painting.

Everyone who sponsors me at $50 or more will have the chance to win a painting of their choice, including a commission, up to 36 by 60 inches. 

I'll also display your names prominently on the blog and on my website.

Selection of paintings will be determined by the order of sponsorship. The first person who sponsors me at $100 or above gets first choice of all the 10x10 paintings from the trip. The second person, second choice, etc.

Why do this? Paintings from my trips tend to sell very well - (check out my first Arizona trip, my Outer Banks and Ocracoke trip (starting in October 2011 with "Outside Hatteras"), and Heather's and my Canada trip (starting in early June 2010, with "On Our Way"). Nearly all the paintings from all these trips sold, and most sold very quickly.

Sponsorship ensures that you get a painting from the trip. It helps me figure out how many canvases to bring, how many paintings to make, and how long a trip I should plan. Knowing that I have guaranteed sales helps ease my mind about the cost of the trip, too.

So why not participate? Just click here to reach my blog, The Accidental Artist, click the "Donate" button in the middle of the page, wrestle with the directions, make a donation and you will become a sponsor.  A patron! You'll be helping one of your favorite artists produce stunning new work, you'll be buying a piece for your home or for a gift, and you'll be participating in a fun experiment!

One note: Donations are NOT tax-deductible.

Carrie Jacobson, formerly the editor of the Montville Patch, grew up in New London. She and her husband recently moved from their home in Ledyard to Wachapreague, Va., where she is painting full-time.