JEN KELLER ART

After donating a piece of work to Hello Bully for their art show fundraiser this past weekend I felt inspired to create a illustration showing the true nature of this misunderstood breed. I already had a "dress-up" image in mind that I wanted to do and now the breed was set. It saddened me so much while doing visual research the horrible images that would pop up of these dogs - and it's no wonder they are so abused, overbred, and mistreated. My response... Meet Petunia the Pit Bull and her little girl Patty! Like Ferdinand the Bull, Petunia would much rather play dress-up and have tea parties with her little girl, than be thrown into the ring and forced to fight. Her favorite food is a mixture of tea cakes and steak but she's not very picky. She loves to romp with Patty in the fields and try to make new friends (though she can be a bit overzealous) and napping on the plush "throne" together (or as we like to call it - the sofa)... Look for more images...

Recently I was contacted by Hello Bully in order to donate work for their Lovers Not Fighters Gala Benefit . Hello Bully is a Bully Breed Rescue Organization located in Pittsburgh. The mission of Hello Bully was described perfectly to me by their Gala Artwork Coordinator, Shiri Ransley... The goal of Hello Bully is to keep the American Pit Bull Terrier out of shelters. We educate the community about the breed, and work with foster dogs to make them candidates for adoption in loving, responsible homes. We offer free or low cost training consultations and free/low cost spay and neuter... Most recently, we have been asked to work with the Humane Society of the United States, with their agents that investigate dog fighting. Our most recent rescue mission with them was in Ohio, where they uncovered a very large fighting ring/breeding operation. Our volunteers worked for 2 month setting up their temporary shelter, and then staying on to care for 80+ Pit Bulls that were confiscated. I...

A sample for an educational publication about the Industrial Revolution in the United States. And I thought my "day jobs" were rough! These factory girls make cleaning up exploding silly string at the novelty gift store in high school seem like a piece of cake.