A local artist who’s using his art to raise money for Ukrainian humanitarian relief has created a new campaign.
“When the war began, as an artist and a human being, I was outraged, disheartened and felt helpless,” says John Martin of the Markham Group of Artists (MGA).
“I made a promise that I would use my art to help in their fight, the world’s fight, by creating and selling a piece of art every day until the war was over and Ukraine was victorious,” he says.
For 365 days, Martin created a picture of a stylized heart as part of his Hearts for the Ukraine campaign. Each six-inch-by-six-inch piece features both English and Ukrainian titles and is created using Japanese ink pens on watercolour paper and sells for $25. He launched his Mandalas for Peace campaign on March 30 – the 400th day of Russia’s war on Ukraine – and is creating a mixed media mandala a day.
To date, Martin has raised $5,200 for the Canada Ukraine Foundation Fund for Humanitarian relief, which sends the money directly to the Ukraine to purchase both essential goods and supplies and support the Ukrainian economy. Among other things, the foundation has purchased 11 new ambulances as well as firefighting equipment.
Martin posts a new piece from his Mandalas for Peace campaign every day on Instagram and Facebook under Martinartcollective and reposts pieces still available from his Hearts for Ukraine campaign. Email [email protected] or send him a message through one of those social media platforms to purchase a piece and/or for more information.
