I'm looking to raise money to fund my project, "Painting The American West- In The Footsteps of Edgar Payne and Maynard Dixon".  I'm a professional artist who's tired of waiting to be discovered.  So, my goal is to spend 6 months to a year traveling in the paths of two of my favorite historic landscape painters and painting the places they painted, not in their styles but, in my own.  I plan to create 20 to 30 paintings which will be featured in a museum show.  I will also be creating a book documenting the project and the work created.  It is my hope to highlight the importance of preserving the beauty of the American West, to educate the public about the importance of art in our culture, and to raise my own profile as an artist.  Proceeds will be used to pay for materials such as paints and canvas, etc..., travel expenses, framing, and some living expenses (a painter has to eat).  

I've already begun the planning process, i.e., contacting museums about an eventual show, choosing the first few locations to paint.  But, I'd like to get the actual painting started as soon as possible.  As you probably know, it's extremely difficult to make a good living as an artist and as a man with a family to support, I must avail myself of every opportunity to succeed.  I see this campaign as a way to generate interest in my work and perhaps, create more artistic opportunities for me.  At the same time, I can give something back in the form of reminding people of the importance of beauty in their lives.  

Your support of my project would help make it possible for me to continue supporting my family doing what I love, what I do better than anything else, painting and teaching others to paint.  To express my gratitude I will be offering things like small books of my work, prints of my paintings, opportunities to purchase original paintings at discounted prices, and perhaps a few other things depending upon the size of your donation.  I will also be providing updates on my project as it goes along, sometimes with photos or videos, sometimes in writing.

How grateful will I be for your support?  Being able to make even part of my living by doing what I'm passionate about actually makes me a better man.  Honestly, any words I choose to describe my gratitude would only fall woefully short of expressing how much I would appreciate the people who help me achieve this goal.  Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Rich Gallego

P.S.: To see my work and learn a bit more about me, please visit my website, "richgallego.com"