Gina Garding is a long-time supporter of Art 4 Shelter. “I’ve been donating paintings most years since about 2018,” she says. She heard about Art 4 Shelter through her former painting teacher, Kat Corrigan. Gina says that Kat’s excitement and passion about the fundraiser were contagious, and she enjoyed creating art at an Art 4 Shelter painting party Kat hosted in her studio. That gave her the confidence to contribute, even as a new-ish painter. Now she’s an Art 4 Shelter Featured Artist.
Gina works with numbers during the day as a statistical programmer and finds an outlet for her creative side through painting. Inspired and encouraged by her mother, who encouraged her to take a painting class as an adult, Gina has been creating art for about eight years. She paints mostly with acrylic and has been exploring gouache recently. She especially enjoys painting small still lifes and interiors, some of which she has generously donated to Art 4 Shelter again this year.
To Gina, Art 4 Shelter is a tangible way to do something she loves for a great cause. She also believes that the direct connection to Simpson’s extended-stay shelter is very meaningful for the artist and for the buyers.
“It’s really lovely—the one-to-one relationship that Art 4 Shelter keeps between the starting price of a painting ($35) being the exact same cost as providing a night of shelter for someone experiencing homelessness.”
She also appreciates that the art sale keeps artists anonymous, so that people purchase art that most speaks to them regardless of the artist’s level of fame or establishment. When asked what she would say to an artist who’s unsure about contributing, Gina is encouraging.
“Don’t worry about if it’s ‘good enough’ or ‘the right kind of art.’ This is a large event that draws in a huge crowd, and it will appeal to someone! Your work will be out there making someone’s world brighter.”
She says that the number of attendees is freeing when she creates for Art 4 Shelter.
“Knowing there will be such a varied cross-section of art appreciators helps free me up to try new ideas and techniques. It helps me shake the annoying voice that sometimes pops up in my head about my perceived ‘target audience’ and what they may or may not like. I think there’s a special beauty and confidence in a piece that the artist painted for themselves, essentially (even with the end plan of donating it…) I learn and grow with the pieces I do for Art 4 Shelter.”
As a fun way to create for Art 4 Shelter, Gina has challenged herself to submit one painting for each letter of the alphabet. She’s been documenting her process on Instagram. In the spirit of Art 4 Shelter, Gina’s paintings will be displayed anonymously at our public art sale and exhibition…but until then, you can follow along at #alphabet4shelter.