Drop In & Draw at Macy's on Saturday, August 27!

Chuck Jones Center for Creativity will be hosting their free classroom, "Drop In & Draw" this Saturday, August 27 from noon to 3 PM at Macy's South Coast Plaza! You'll find us located on the first floor Women's department at the escalators facing the mall. Do "Drop In"!Our teaching artist will be leading a variety of different drawing activities including light tables and stop-motion animation. 

If you haven't purchased your Shop for a Cause Savings Pass, follow this link to do so! It's just $5, all of which goes directly to the Center and helps fund programs just like "Drop In & Draw!" 

Please note, that Drop In & Draw normally scheduled for Saturday morning at the Center beginning at 9:30 AM will NOT be held on Saturday, August 27. Join us at Macy's instead!

Chuck Jones on the Move!

The World of Oil Tanking magazine, “Connections”, featured the Smithsonian exhibit “What’s Up, Doc? The Animated Art of Chuck Jones” in their August 2016 issue. The magazine is published and distributed throughout the world and both the Minnesota Historical Society and the Huntsville Museum of Art exhibit dates were mentioned. The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity provided photographs for the article along with the Smithsonian.

Macy's Shop for a Cause Savings Passes Benefit Chuck Jones Center!

Find the magic of giving back! From Friday, August 26, 2016 through Sunday, August 28, 2016, shop at Macy's using this Shop for a Cause Savings Pass and receive an additional 25% on most products in the store (10% on electronics and other items).*Shop for a Cause gives you the opportunity to giv back to your community and to help our organization. Purchase a $5 Shopping Pass* for exclusive savings in every Macy's store on Friday, August 26 -- Sunday, August 28, and we keep 100% of the proceeds, plus you can enter to win a $500 Macy's Gift Card.

Click here to purchase your Shop for a Cause Savings Pass!

*Some exclusions and restrictions apply. Savings Pass is not valid on Macys.com. See Savings Pass for details.

Shop Amazon Prime Day July 12!

 When you #StartWithaSmile on #PrimeDay, Amazon donates to Chuck Jones Center For Creativity. Shop for great deals at Smile.Amazon.com!

A Salute to Chuck Jones--Cartoon Museum and the Castro Theater

San Francisco, CA:  The Cartoon Art Museum in partnership with The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity and The Castro Theatre is proud to host A Salute to Chuck Jones, a select screening of classic Warner Bros. cartoons by the four-time Academy Award-winning animator and director. The program will feature 35mm prints from the Jones family archives, spotlighting over a dozen iconic shorts includingWhat’s Opera, Doc?, One Froggy Evening, Feed the Kitty, Duck Amuck, and Rabbit of Seville.Special guests will be on hand to introduce their favorite cartoons and to celebrate Jones’s legacy. Following the program, a VIP reception will be held with our guest presenters in the theater’s upper balcony.  

This screening takes place on Sunday, July 10, 2016, from 12pm to 3pm.  Advance tickets for this event can be purchased through Guestlist.com: https://guestlistapp.com/events/421977

Ticket levels:

Reserved seating (center aisle section) plus gift bag – $17

Reserved seating (center aisle section) plus gift bag and individual membership to the Cartoon Art Museum – $50

Reserved seating for 2 (center aisle section) plus gift bag and family membership to the Cartoon Art Museum – $75

Reserved VIP seating (orchestra area) plus gift bag, family membership to the Cartoon Art Museum, and reception with guest presenters – $150

The Castro Theatre generously sponsors this event, with proceeds benefiting the Cartoon Art Museum and theChuck Jones Center for Creativity.

About the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity

Founded in 1999 by award-winning animator and director Chuck Jones, the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity aims to inspire the innate creative genius within each person that leads to a more joyous, passionate, and harmonious life and world. Located in Costa Mesa, California, the nonprofit Center presents exhibitions, lectures, art classes, and film festivals, all of which spring from its collection of Chuck Jones writing, art, and other ephemera. For more information, visit chuckjonescenter.org.

About the Castro Theatre

Built in 1922 by pioneering San Francisco theatre entrepreneurs the Nasser brothers, the Castro Theatre become a city landmark and host to many Bay Area hits including the popular Castro Theatre Sing-A-Long series. For more information, visit castrotheatre.com.

Cartoon Art Museum • San Francisco, CA • 415-CAR-TOON • www.cartoonart.org

The Cartoon Art Museum is a tax-exempt, non-profit, educational organization dedicated to the collection, preservation, study and exhibition of original cartoon art in all forms.

Building Teamwork Outside the Lines

Do you wonder how to get the most creativity out of your team? Today, organizations of all types need to be even more adaptable and innovative than before to be successful. But, leaders are often unsure of how to get their teams to deliver creative solutions to complex problems.Help your team look at problem solving as well as team building in fresh and highly creative ways. Inspire them to think differently. Take your team to new heights of performance. Experience an innovative approach to team building based on the unique philosophies of the legendary Chuck Jones, one of the most celebrated creative geniuses in contemporary times.

Research has shown that creative activities:

Improve communication, including active listening skills.

Build morale and reduce conflict.

Break down the barriers between functional silos.

Strengthen relationships and foster trust.

Increase creative thinking for solving problems.

Benefit the overall health of individuals.

Core Modules: Team Initiatives & Individual Innovation

INSPIRING INVENTIONS – Use everyday materials to illustrate a concept that is important to your team.

You’ll design and create your own invention inspired by Chuck Jones’ beloved Looney Tunes animation films. Each team will brainstorm, plan, design and build their invention for presentation to the group.

CANVAS COLLABORATIONS – Use fun and imaginative ways to create a team masterpiece on canvas.

You’ll collaborate as a team to create your own unique masterpiece using Chuck Jones’ characters including Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and Wile E. Coyote – or even your own selected image. Each team will present their result and share what they learned about working with others.

ACME DRAWING PROGRAM – Discover your own inner Looney & have fun.

You’ll learn how to draw one of these iconic characters using pencils, color pencils or pastel paints. Anyone can do it!

CREATIVITY WORKSHOP – Learn to unleash your own creativity.

You’ll gain insights into application of the creative process to solving problems through an inspiring presentation by Craig Kausen – grandson of the legendary animation director & creator, Chuck Jones.

… And, we have many more creative tools up our sleeve! There is no limit to our imagination and we will work with you to customize a special program with a variety of exercises and activities based on the specific needs and situation of your group.

The final cost* will be based on selected activities, required staffing and necessary materials. Minimum of 10 participants must be guaranteed.

1 to 2 hours = $25 to $45 Per Person

3 to 4 hours = $55 to $95 Per Person

5 to 8 Hours = $125 to $175 Per Person

*Costs are subject to change without notice.

Announcing Creativity Camps Summer 2016!

Announcing the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity Summer Camp Programs! This year, each camp will be held either at the Art Institute of Orange County, 3601 Sunflower Ave. #100, Santa Ana or at the Fountain Valley Recreational Center, 16400 Brookhurst, Fountain Valley. Register online today at our link for the Art Institute camps and at the link provided for the Fountain Valley Recreation Center!Monday, June 20, 2016 - Thursday, June 23

9:00am to 12:00pm

The Art Institute: 3601 Sunflower Ave #100, Santa Ana, CA 926704

Cost: $195.00

The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity is hosting a week of our Summer Creativity Camps from June 20-23rd!

It's a jungle out there! Explore art through rainforests and their critters. Students will enrich their understanding of the elements of art including: color theory, form, line, shape, space, texture, value, and perspective. There will be sculpting, mixed media, painting, drawing, and more!

Details: Drop off by 9:00am, pick up by 12:00pm. No early-morning or late-afternoon childcare will be provided. Bring a snack, water, and brown-bag lunch. Dress for a mess!

For more information, Programs@ChuckJonesCenter.org or (949) 660-7793 x107

Monday, July 18, 2016 – Friday, July 22, 2016

1:00pm to 4:00pm

Fountain Valley Recreation Center: 16400 Brookhurst St, Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Cost: $195.00

What an intergalactic world! We will use outer space and planets as our focus, and students will enrich their understanding of the elements of art: color theory, form, line, shape, space, texture, value, and perspective. We'll work on sculpting, modeling, mixed media, painting, drawing, & more!

Details: Drop off by 1:00pm, pick up by 4:00pm. No early-morning or late-afternoon childcare will be provided.

Bring a snack and water.

Register today at the Fountain Valley website!

Monday, July 25, 2016 - Thursday, July 28

9:00am to 12:00pm

Art Institute: 3601 Sunflower Ave #100, Santa Ana, CA 92704

Cost: $195.00

The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity is hosting a week of our Summer Creativity Camps from July 25-28th! 

Calling all drawing artists! Learn to develop your own character and give them a facial expression you won't forget! 

Details: Drop off by 9:00am, pick up by 12:00pm. No early-morning or late-afternoon childcare will be provided. Bring a snack, water, and brown-bag lunch. Dress for a mess!

Monday, August 1, 2016 - Thursday, Aug. 4

9:00am to 12:00pm

The Art Institute: 3601 Sunflower Ave #100, Santa Ana, CA 926704

Cost: $195.00

The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity is hosting a week of our Summer Creativity Camps from August 1-4th!

What an intergalactic world! We will use outer space and planets as our focus, and students will enrich their understanding of the elements of art: color theory, form, line, shape, space, texture, value, and perspective.

Details: Drop off by 9:00am, pick up by 12:00pm. No early-morning or late-afternoon childcare will be provided. Bring a snack, water, and brown-bag lunch. Dress for a mess!

For more information, Programs@ChuckJonesCenter.org or (949) 660-7793 x107

Monday, August 8, 2016 - Thursday, August 11

9:00am to 12:00pm

The Art Institute: 3601 Sunflower Ave #100, Santa Ana, CA 92704

Cost: $195.00

The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity is hosting a week of our Summer Creativity Camps from August 8-11th! 

Details: Drop off by 9:00am, pick up by 12:00pm. No early-morning or late-afternoon childcare will be provided. Bring a snack, water, and brown-bag lunch. Dress for a mess!

For more information, Programs@ChuckJonesCenter.org or (949) 660-7793 x107

Monday, August 15, 2016 – Friday, August 19, 2016

1:00pm to 4:00pm

Fountain Valley Recreation Center: 16400 Brookhurst St, Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Cost: $176.00

It's a jungle out there! Explore art through rain forests and their critters. Students will enrich their understanding of the elements of art including: color theory, form, line, shape, space, texture, value, and perspective. There will be sculpting, mixed media, painting, drawing, and more!

Details: Drop off by 1:00pm, pick up by 4:00pm. No early-morning or late-afternoon childcare will be provided.

Bring a snack and water.

Register today at the City of Fountain Valley's website

A Special Message from the Chairman

Dear friends of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity,If it were possible for me to stand in front of each of you who contributed to the success of this year's Red Dot Auction, take your hands in mine and personally say thank you, I would do it.

Instead, I must rely on words to convey my sincerest gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to the artists who created such wonderful artwork, to the hundreds of supporters who attended either one or both of the evening events and bid on and won the beautiful artwork created by these incredibly talented artists, to the generous sponsors who helped by underwriting a portion of the costs of the event, to the Center's Board of Directors who help guide the growth of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, and to the Center's staff and volunteers who produced and organized the event.

Please know that I am deeply humbled by the outpouring of love shown to the Center by the people like you who made the two-night Red Dot Auction such a rousing success. Not only for your financial support, but also for your commitment to the vision of the Center, a world where creativity is known in every discipline, by the many, not just the few. With your help we are on the way to achieving that.

We see it in the faces of the children in schools without arts education who spend a workshop hour with our teaching artists, we hear it from the young adults who are on the autism spectrum and their families who join us for an evening of painting, we feel it when those with early onset dementia and other neurological issues discover the joy of their own creative genius.

This is the wealth that creativity spreads when people like you come together in common cause for the betterment of our world.

Thank you with all my heart,

Craig Kausen

Red Dot Auction VI--Preview Night Wow!

The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity's Red Dot Auction Preview night went off in spectacular fashion last night. With live entertainment provided by one of the Center's sponsors, Music Vault Academy, guests were treated to a room full of beautiful artwork in this year's silent auction and food provided by Casa del Lago Events. Artist Jimmy Mulligan did a performance painting that had the crowd all a-glitter and cartoonist brothers, Eric & Bill Teitelbaum wowed with their Chuck Talk on creativity and inspiration. Meanwhile, another sponsor, the Blackwing Foundation, interviewed a few of the attending artists about their process and their inspiration. Many "Red Dots" were applied to works throughout the night with our traditional cowbells ringing out each time one was used. Tonight's the Main Event, tickets are still available online for $25 per, ChuckJonesCenter.org/RedDot or $35 per person at the door. Hope to see you tonight!

Which Artist's Work Will You Go Home with at the Red Dot Auction?

With just two days left before the Red Dot Auction, we wanted to share with you the stories of the artists who have donated art work (or in some cases, more than one) to this year’s Red Dot Auction. This fundraiser, now in its sixth year, benefits the programs of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. Today we feature artist Melissa Phillips. Melissa Mae Phillips (a.k.a., The Cheeky Whale) has been painting, illustrating and designing for nearly 20 years.  She currently lives in Utah with her husband and 2 children. She can be reached via her website wwww.thecheekywhale.com or on all social media: @thecheekywhale.

Will you go home with Melissa's donation to this year's Red Dot Auction? (It's beautiful, sweet, and funny BTW.)  Ticket’s available at ChuckJonesCenter.org/RedDot. Pre-bidding is now available at Heritage Auctions, click here to place your bids

Which Artist's Work Will You Go Home with at the Red Dot Auction?

With just three days left before the Red Dot Auction, we wanted to share with you the stories of the artists who have donated art work (or in some cases, more than one) to this year’s Red Dot Auction. This fundraiser, now in its sixth year, benefits the programs of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. Today we feature artist Ron Ferdinand.Ron was born in 1951 in New York City. “My interest in cartooning began as soon as I could turn on a TV set! Crusader Rabbit, Colonel Bleep and Clutch Cargo were early influences,” said Ron. With the advent of the ’60s and Hanna-Barbera, I was in seventh heaven. The animated Disney films were also a sanctuary from the outside world.” Ron attended The School of Visual Arts from 1971-1973 and The Art Students League in 1974, where he studied anatomy with Gustav Rehburger. In 1981, Ron read an interview with Hank Ketcham in Jud Hurd’s monthly publication, Cartoonist PROfiles. “I sent Hank some pencil sketches of the various characters, and after a few months of correspondence, I was brought on board to work on the Dennis the Menace comic books for Marvel.” In 1982, Ron began drawing the Dennis Sunday page, which he continues to draw today.

Will you go home with Ron's donation to this year's Red Dot Auction? Ticket’s available at ChuckJonesCenter.org/RedDot. Pre-bidding is now available at Heritage Auctions, click here to place your bids

Which Artist's Work Will You Go Home with at the Red Dot Auction?

With just a week left before the Red Dot Auction, we wanted to share with you the stories of the artists who have donated art work (or in some cases, more than one) to this year’s Red Dot Auction. This fundraiser, now in its sixth year, benefits the programs of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. Today we feature artist Naylene Justis.Naylene Justis has been fascinated by drawing since she was able to hold a crayon. She has been equally fascinated with silliness, and so cartoons have been a lifelong passion. She studied animation at Cal State Fullerton where she graduated in 2012. She currently works as a caricature artist at Downtown Disney turning real people into cartoon drawings. When she isn’t drawing cartoons or devouring mammoth novels she can often be found volunteering at the Chuck Jones Center.

Will you go home with Naylene's donation to this year's Red Dot Auction? Ticket’s available at ChuckJonesCenter.org/RedDot. Pre-bidding is now available at Heritage Auctions, click here to place your bids

Which Artist's Work Will You Go Home with at the Red Dot Auction?

With just a week left before the Red Dot Auction, we wanted to share with you the stories of the artists who have donated art work (or in some cases, more than one) to this year’s Red Dot Auction. This fundraiser, now in its sixth year, benefits the programs of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. Today we feature artist Jimm Nawrocki.My current work is mixed media collage with a facial or figurative imagery focus. 

I generally start out with an image that I have manipulated with the computer and print out this image on my ink jet printer.  I then take that image, make different versions of it through additional manipulations, and cut and paste parts of these versions onto the original image to create a new image.  I will also add different elements, tape, googly eyes, stickers, news print, wire mesh, cardboard or whatever, to the image to change it even more.

I don’t know that I have a specific goal or end result in mind when I go through this building process.  I am very much drawn to making the image into something else, pushing it into a different direction, and just seeing what happens.  I want my creation to have a certain ambiguity or uncertainty.  My art should express a range of ideas and give the viewer something to think about.

This is Jimm's sixth year contributing a work to the Red Dot Auction; will you go home with it? Ticket’s available at ChuckJonesCenter.org/RedDot. Pre-bidding is now available at Heritage Auctions, click here to place your bids 

Which Artist's Work Will You Go Home with at the Red Dot Auction?

With less than two weeks until the Red Dot Auction, we wanted to share with you the stories of the artists who have donated art work (or in some cases, more than one) to this year’s Red Dot Auction. This fundraiser, now in its sixth year, benefits the programs of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. Today we feature artist June Valentine-Ruppe. June was born and raised in California where she continues to pursue her love of drawing, illustrating and painting. For over 20 years she has illustrated more than 120 collectable children's books for Publishers such as Disney, Random House, Scholastic, Golden Books, Lyrick and Publishers International. In these books, June illustrated licensed Characters including: Sesame Street Characters; Disney Characters, such as the Fab Five, Little Mermaid and Winnie The Pooh; Lamb Chop and Friends; and Barney the Dinosaur, among many others. But, according to June, “ my real love has always been painting on canvas, which gives me the freedom to create my own original art work. I love bringing interesting characters to life”.

Will you go home with June’s work at this year’s Red Dot Auction? Be there to find out. Ticket’s available at ChuckJonesCenter.org/RedDot. Pre-bidding is now available at Heritage Auctions, click here to place your bids.

Which Artist's Work Will You Go Home with at the Red Dot Auction?

With less than two weeks until the Red Dot Auction, we wanted to share with you the stories of the artists who have donated art work (or in some cases, more than one) to this year’s Red Dot Auction. This fundraiser, now in its sixth year, benefits the programs of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. Today we feature artist Jeffrey Speiser.Jeff Speiser’s talent for art was recognized at an early age. His kindergarten report card noted that he was the “best male artist in the class.” (Thanks to his mom for holding onto his report cards for all these years). Jeff attended Cornell University where he majored in Film and Animation. During and after college, Jeff worked as an assistant animator and layout artist for Sesame Street, Reading Rainbow, MTV Animation and on the Academy Award-nominated short, The Chicken from Outer Space. Today, Jeff continues to work in design and marketing where he has completed projects for brands like Disney, The Walking Dead, Marvel Comics, the NBA, the NFL and more. Jeff lives in Celebration, FL with his wife Julie, son Connor and daughter Willow.

Will you go home with Jeffrey’s work at this year’s Red Dot Auction? Be there to find out. Ticket’s available at ChuckJonesCenter.org/RedDot. Pre-bidding is now available at Heritage Auctions, click here to place your bids.

Which Artist's Work Will You Go Home with at the Red Dot Auction?

With less than two weeks until the Red Dot Auction, we wanted to share with you the stories of the artists who have donated art work (or in some cases, more than one) to this year’s Red Dot Auction. This fundraiser, now in its sixth year, benefits the programs of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. Today we feature artist Andrea Rosales.Andrea is an illustrator, graphic designer, concept and comic-book artist with a passion for visual storytelling and a love for infusing her art with a sense of whimsy, vigor and puns.

While growing up in Portland, OR, Andrea cultivated her love for art over the course of many rainy afternoons. Having recently graduated from Loyola Marymount University, Andrea is now based in sunny Los Angeles, CA working as a freelance graphic designer and illustrator.

She has exhibited her work at CTN Animation Expo in Burbank (2014, 2015) and at Rose City Comic-Con (2015) in Portland, OR. Currently she runs her online art shop, Good Walrus Goods and is working on Nine Twilights, a web comic adventure series which fuses magical girls and Norse mythology together. (NineTwilights.com)

When not drawing, Andrea loves to watch old school cartoons, read comics and enjoy a hot cup o' cocoa.

Will you go home with Andrea’s work at this year’s Red Dot Auction? Be there to find out. Ticket’s available at ChuckJonesCenter.org/RedDot. Pre-bidding is now available at Heritage Auctions, click here to place your bids.

Which Artist's Work Will You Go Home with at the Red Dot Auction?

With less than two weeks until the Red Dot Auction, we wanted to share with you the stories of the artists who have donated art work (or in some cases, more than one) to this year’s Red Dot Auction. This fundraiser, now in its sixth year, benefits the programs of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. Today we feature artist Jamie Martin. (Jamie takes private lessons at the Center with its teaching artist, Denise Dion-Scoyni.)Jamie Martin is a 9th grade student and has a passion for creativity. When he was just under two years old you couldn't keep  him from his Lego's if he had an idea he had already begun working on. Jamie loves animation and everything that goes into the creative process from beginning to end, there isn't any detail that escapes his interest. He is really honored to get to participate in the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity’s Red Dot Auction. Jamie has really benefited from the classes he has participated in at the center,and hopes to continue his artistic growth. He loves the Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote, and Marvin Martian.

Will you go home with Jamie’s work at this year’s Red Dot Auction? Be there to find out. Ticket’s available at ChuckJonesCenter.org/RedDot. Pre-bidding is now available at Heritage Auctions, click here to place your bids.

Which Artist's Work Will You Go Home with at the Red Dot Auction?

With less than two weeks until the Red Dot Auction, we wanted to share with you the stories of the artists who have donated art work (or in some cases, more than one) to this year’s Red Dot Auction. This fundraiser, now in its sixth year, benefits the programs of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. Today we feature artist Krissta Passanante.Many Items and scenes from my childhood still inspire and influence me to this day. As the daughter of a successful Hollywood set builder, I have always had an infatuation with old-fashioned theaters and props. Folklore and fairytales also instigate most of my work. Taking inspiration from my hometown in Utah, life and nature often collide in my paintings. I have always believed that my art should portray that which can only be imagined. As a result, my paintings and illustrations often materialize scenes that draw in surrealistic or dream-like qualities. I want the viewer to be able to think about the work and observe it as if they were the painter themselves. I hope they can imagine themselves in the fantasy world I have created.

Will you go home with Krissta’s work at this year’s Red Dot Auction? Be there to find out. Ticket’s available at ChuckJonesCenter.org/RedDot. Pre-bidding is now available at Heritage Auctions, click here to place your bids.

Which Artist's Work Will You Go Home with at the Red Dot Auction?

With less than two weeks until the Red Dot Auction, we wanted to share with you the stories of the artists who have donated art work (or in some cases, more than one) to this year's Red Dot Auction. This fundraiser, now in its sixth year, benefits the programs of the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity. Today we feature artist Bruce Berglund.Bruce Berglund started drawing by the time he could hold a pencil. One day Bruce's mother noticed him ignoring a new coloring book she had just given him. When she asked why he wasn't using it, Bruce commented, "I don't want to color someone else's drawings". He started oil painting at age 12 and at college he pursued Advertising, and Graphic Design achieving degrees in both. In 1985 Bruce relocated to Southern California where his steady illustration work won him notoriety as one of the top illustrators in Orange County. Bruce went on to open his own design studio (Berglund Advertising Design) in Costa Mesa in 1989. A portion of his current commercial portfolio including: illustrations, logo designs, advertising and web concepts can be seen on his newly launched website: www.BerglundAdvertisingDesign.com. To view his oils (not yet displayed on his website), contact Bruce directly at: 714.545.4948.

Will you go home with Bruce's work at this year's Red Dot Auction? Be there to find out. Ticket's available at ChuckJonesCenter.org/RedDot. Pre-bidding is now available at Heritage Auctions, click here to place your bids.

Which Artist's Work Will You Go Home with at the Red Dot Auction?

Dan has described himself as an artist trapped in a deputy sheriff's body, as described in a 2012 Press-Enterprise article entitled, "Sheriff's Deputy Doubles as Artist." While he prides himself on the work he does for his community in uniform, his true love is, has always been, and will always be, creating art. He has been creating artwork in one medium or another since he can remember, literally since the age of 4. He looks forward to a day in the very near future when the artist in him can break free at last so as to devote his full time to his passion, which, of course, is art.Dan is a self-taught artist in every sense of the term. His keen, inborn ability was recognized very early on during his school career. Every instructor he had recognized his natural abilities and would challenge Dan to try many different mediums, including acrylic painting, water color, pen and ink, pencil renderings, and stained glass. There was no challenge too great. Finally, his instructors had to admit that there was nothing they could teach him. It was as if he was just born with a natural understanding of how the paint works to perfectly blend colors and create shading surpassing anything they had ever seen.

Dan has mastered the ability to create digital art on an iPad using his finger in place of a brush, resulting in amazing custom portraits and other interesting subjects which he then converts to Giclee prints on canvas or paper. The true-to-life resemblance and attention to detail he brings to each piece will have you asking, How does he do that?

Dan has done many commissioned pieces throughout the years and has donated countless pieces of art to churches, college jazz band calendars, the Leukemia Foundation, and the Juvenile Diabetes Walk, to mention just a few.

Dan Bowden's passion for his art is stronger than ever before, and his commitment to his art has become the very definition of who he is. He describes it as the driving force which fuels his creativity to new levels each day.

Those who have seen his artwork often comment on the vivid detail, depth of color, and hidden gems to look for in each piece of art, as he incorporates the Dove of Peace in all of his work.

Upholding peace in his community as a deputy sheriff by day and creating unique images of peace for his community by night, Dan Bowden is a gift to us all to be appreciated for years to come. www.danbowdenfineart.com

Will you go home with Dan's artwork at this year's Red Dot Auction? Get your tickets at ChuckJonesCenter.org/RedDot. Pre-bidding is live at HA.com/759.