Amanda Moeckel Illustration

“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost. The world will not have it." - Martha Graham

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Into the light they go...

Introducing the Rainbow Bridge pet portrait.  

Last week, my family said goodbye to Mimi, our fiesty and sweet Australian Terrier.  A traveler, an entertainer, a lover of "cookies.”  I did this painting for my dad, who was particularly close to her.  It made me happy to imagine her reuniting with her brother Axl, who passed over recently, too.  So here's my fantasy realized in paint :)  

I enjoyed painting this so much, I turned it into a style on MyAnimalArt.com.  If you'd like a Rainbow Bridge portrait of your own animals, you can order there.  Join my email list and I'll send you a 30% off code for ordering this week.  (If you're on my list already, you just got one). You can join by scrolling to the bottom of the homepage and entering your email.

Here are some detail shots:

And some process shots:

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My first #SCBWI Award

This piece won Honorable Mention at the #NJSCBWI (New Jersey Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) conference this past weekend, and I feel so lucky!  

“I will arise and go now” in watercolor, graphite and digital, 11″ x 17.″  

Thank you so much to the Jury.  Hard work is starting to pay off, and it feels awesome.  I had trouble picking myself up off the floor when the venerable David Wiesner, winner of approximately 8,000 #caldecott medals, looked at my name tag and said “Hey, I love your work!”  WHAAAT?!

An amazing conference.  I look forward to attending again next year. 

Here are some process photos. 

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Painting donated to Beagle Freedom Project

You can bid online on the painting I donated to one of my very favorite animal rescue organizations.  Beagle Freedom Project is having their 5th Anniversary Gala on June 4th, but the auction begins online now HERE.  

Here’s the painting and some progress shots.  If you have the means, consider supporting this groundbreaking organization that rescues laboratory dogs and finds them forever loving homes!  

This painting began with inspiration from the documentary “Behind the Bars” which showed the covert rescue of beagles from a medical testing lab in Italy.  It’s called “Stewards #1″ and it’s the first finished piece in my Stewards series, about those of us who feel a deep calling to protect animals.  Acrylic on canvas, 16 x 20.  

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New Release! “Who Rescued Who?”

I’m gearing up for my exhibit at the Taking Action for Animals Conference in June and trying out some new designs.  Did you rescue your pet or did your pet rescue you?  If you like this tote, you can pre-order it for 25% off at ConsiderAnimals.com.  I’m silkscreening them by hand in a small batch, so pre-ordering will ensure you snag one!  

Here are some process pics: 

[amandamoeckel]

Finally moving onto the big canvases with the #Stewards series. Volume up for the music anchoring this project. #inprogress "Going Home." #animalrightsart #veganart #consideranimals #illustration #acrylics #hungarianchantmusic (sorry for the double post- I found a better quality video app!)

[amandamoeckel]

Portrait of Teagan, the One-Eyed Miracle Dog

This is a drawing I just finished of Teagan.  When her mom contacted me for a portrait, and told me her story, I couldn’t believe it.   She was starved and neglected, then shot at close range and left for dead in Mississippi.  Luckily, she was found, rescued by Rocky Ridge Refuge, and given a forever home.

Here's a video about her rescue story, narrated by her forever mom, Nicole, who is the Student Programs Coordinator for the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

"Teagan" 8" x 10" Style: Charcoal

For your own custom portrait, visit http://myanimalart.com/

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I was asked to make a little somethin' somethin' for a very special and influential vegan yesterday. Tell ya more later ;)

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I appreciate you, kind sir.  Today and every day.  Though I’m not quite convinced you were human, may we all look to you to find exactly what we are here to do and MAX IT OUT.

“Rock n’ Roll Suicide” or “You’re wonderful, give me your hands.”

16″ x 20″

acrylic and pastel on wood

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I made the list! Thank you @vegnews!

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Benji was left chained to a tree and beaten in a New Jersey back yard, surviving an entire winter outdoors, before a kind neighbor convinced his abuser to let her start caring for him. She took him for walks, brought him to the vet, and placed a surreptitious ad on petfinder.com, hoping to find someone to give him a kinder home. In August 2014, Greg and Cris saw the ad and convinced the owner to hand him over to them. Now he is a thriving member of their family, and a certified therapy dog. Punish the deed, not the breed. #pitbull Portrait Style: Technicolor on Wood 12” x 12” http://myanimalart.com

[amandamoeckel]

Orders!  Thanks for the love!

Thank you, animal people.  It feels good to be making art that keeps your fire burnin.’   There’s still quite a bit to check out in the ConsiderAnimals Store: tees, prints, totes, books, etc.!

[amandamoeckel]

Met one of my heroes just now. @jvm What a gift to animals. #AR2015 #myanimalart

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Lookin pretty good there, Nicoal 😎 #myanimalart #AR2015

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"Morning Tuna" says Good Mornin! #paintandglitter in sunrise colors. #tunameltsmyheart #tunainterpretations #tunaart #myanimalart

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View this post on Instagram

Making some embroidered wall art. #vfl #sva #svamfai #animalrights #protectanimals #animaladvocacy (at Visible Futures Lab)

[amandamoeckel]

Got my hands on a copy of this timely & page-turning novel about journalism and race relations by Stewart Lytle (for which I happened to do the cover art)! Find it on Amazon.com #ironcityconspiracy #illustration #bookcover

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Second installment of our series about unique ways our students are paying their way through school with art. Amanda Moeckel, 2nd year student, interviewed by Michael Lauritano.

M: Hi Amanda, can you tell us about your side business?

A: It’s MyAnimalArt.com. I’ve been doing pet portraits...