Free Art Lessons for All Fundraiser

I am raising money to help fund Free Art Lessons on and offline. My art lessons are written for artist of all ages and skill levels. I want to make these lessons free and available to the public online and offline in a classroom like setting. To do that I will need some help and support. 

My name is Derrick Rathgeber and I am a colored pencil artist. As an artist I have been very successful as I have been featured in a national magazine, I have been shown in galleries local and abroad, and I have won a few showcases. I would have to say through all of it teaching gives me the most joy. I love hosting classes and volunteering my time to help artists of all ages learn new skills, and develop their technique to find themselves as artists. 

One thing I cannot understand is how much art lessons cost these days. On average a lesson will go from $50.00 - $300.00 per student, and not all places will provide the tools the artists need in the class. I myself am low income, and I know others are as well. I don't feel they have to choose. One thing I am sure we can all agree on is that there needs to be more ART in this world. 

So here is what I plan to do. I will host free art lessons for all ages and educational and financial backgrounds FREE of charge. Right now I have 5 FREE lessons online, and I will have many more to come. What I need your help with is the funds to rent a space, art materials, and advertising. Once we get the word out and grow I will have professional artists of various mediums pass on what they know to aspiring artists. I have a vision of having a space where we can teach anyone who wants to learn how to sculpt, dance, draw, sing, and much more. 

Donate today and Support free Art for all.

Visit the Links below for some great examples of my art lessons. 

https://www.pinterest.com/DtheArtist/free-art-lessons/

http://derricktheartist.blogspot.com/2013/08/how-to-color-delicious-pink-lady-apple.html

Derrick the Artist is on the Rise!

http://DerricktheArtist.com

Oh what a fantastic start for 2014. Where would I be without family, friends, and my fantastic art community? Not where I am today I can guarantee that. I have some building to do, and a bit further to climb, but the direction I am going is definitely the right one. 

Over the past few months I have had some ups and downs on the course of my art career. I missed a few promotions here and there, and even more shows, but that is all in the past. It's funny how God works. Just when you feel angry with him, and you begin to think that he is not listening, he shows you he is. Last month I wrote about my anger with the world. How I have given all that I can give, and I felt it was my turn to get some help now that I needed it. When that help didn't come right away I was angry. I felt like a spoiled brat, but at the same time I knew it was good to voice my frustrations. A few weeks went by and although nothing had changed I felt a change in the air. It was like the pressure I placed on myself had lifted, and I forgot why I was angry in the first place. And that's when everything changed. 

The name Derrick the Artist was already on the Rise. This year alone I have already started my first large show. The Annual Artscape in Riverside, CA. This show is big, and runs from February to August of 2014, and in May I have been asked to draw a few pieces for the Riverside Prom, and join the committee. My artwork which is produced using RoseArt brand pencils is going to be see by a whole lot of professional artists all over. I have never been able to pay for the expensive brand name pencils and to me that didn't make a difference. I used what I had, and did not understand the impact that would have on the people around me. 

On this blog you will notice that I give art lessons using the RoseArt pencils. Despite the critics the pencils are a great price range that all people can afford, but to me they output fantastic colors. As I started to make more lessons using pencils that more students, and young children were using I found there was a need for these lessons to be accessible. I have been getting a whole lot of thank you letters and messages asking me to make more, and they like to know that because they cannot afford the high priced art supplies they to can produce award winning art as well. They weren't limited to their budget like myself. I like being there for these young adults and artists who have questions. It feels good, and eventually I would like to set up an artist mentoring program on a volunteer basis as one of my goals. For now I'll continue building, and working for it. 

Another big deal for me that I received recently was a donation on my website by a lady from Kentucky. No kidding I was running out of colors to use, and I was seeking donations to purchase new pencils, and paper. My last black had whittled down, and I kid you not that morning I received a donation that allowed me to purchase enough materials for the next few months. I am usually the one outputting all that I can, and I cannot believe that someone felt I was worth investing in. It really brought my soul back to life, and I was lifted up with ambition to do more. I cannot wait to pay it all forward and giving all I can give, and teaching all I can teach to all that will ask or listen. 

So as I am on the rise be sure to continue watching to all that I am putting out. I built a shop to sell my artwork on great gifts. The proceeds go to adding more options and building the Artist Mentoring Network. I will be seeking artists who are willing to chime in voluntarily to help young artists, and student artists.My comic Strip Twisted Fate will be growing, and becoming an animated Flash comic by 2015, and my art lessons will continue to grow. Possibly a book by next year as well. Finally new large pieces of artwork to share with the world. I hope you will continue to join me as I grow as an artist with you. Remember to visit my webpage for news and updates on everything. 

I want to see all of you Rise with me as well. 

Thank you for reading, 

Derrick Rathgeber

Don't Let Life Hold You Back.

It's been a while since my last post. There has been a lot going on in my life that has put a strong hindrance on my ability to focus on my artwork, and website. As most of you know I don't make a living off of my work, one day I would like to, but for now it is a fun hobby. I enjoy all the feedback, the chance to share lessons with you all, and of course any advice I can give.

I feel lately that I needed some advice and help, and I wasn't getting that in return. I reached out, and got nothing. I'll admit part of me was really bitter and spiteful. I ran scenarios in my head wondering how convicted killers could get donations in the thousands for the best lawyers, or how people come together to build a brand new home for someone that already has a nice trailer home, because they felt it was too small for them. I didn't understand and I was going down a really dark road in my head. I think the nail in the coffin was when I asked a company I have been supporting all this time with free lessons, and promoting their products with my artwork completely blew me off. All the plans we made in the beginning for a duel artist pencil sponsorship and advertisement went right out of the window after they got what they wanted. A free art lesson from an artist that used their pencils because it was all he could afford. It's not the first time I have been burned by the big corporations either, but that is many other stories, and I don't want to be that guy anymore. I am done reliving failures, or believing I have have failed due to my situation.

Regardless of where I am in life I have to remember that others are either in the same position I am in, or worse, and I have to remember that they look up to me. I felt recently that I let those people down because I cracked under pressure. I stopped drawing, and I stopped making lessons. I just froze up. Just know I am still here, and I have more work to show. I have more help to give, and I look forward to helping again. I am sorry I was gone for a while, but I am back, and I don't want to let life interfere with my love for art ever again. I may need some help with that.

I just need to know that what I do here, and on the web is worth it. I pour hours into the lessons, and I don't ask for money like other sites or artists do. If it helps you learn a technique that improves your work that is my payment. In time I will eventually make a book, but for now I just like to help out because I know there are artists that cannot afford to pay for lessons. The same for my comic strips. They make me laugh, and I am happy to know that it made someone laugh. And my artwork, I plan on drawing some more again, in fact I set up the paper for a new piece today. It will be a black and white and that is okay with me. I am going to stop placing rules on my artwork, all that did was hold me back, and make me unhappy.

After all of this I am in a better place. Looking back on what I wrote I feel that I needed to get somethings off my chest if I were to continue. I am going to start drawing for me for a while, and I promise to share new lessons. In fact my daughter gave me the idea for the next lesson. She wanted to learn how I draw trees so fast and realistic so look forward to that in the near future. My next piece on the other hand, you'll just have to tune into my Facebook page for updates, and work-in-progress images. What I can't give out all the details right? I didn't go away for good, but I did fall asleep for a bit. Thank you for sticking around and supporting me through it all. I have learned one all powerful lesson in all of this.

Support doesn't always come in the form of a dollar sign. Your kindness, comments, likes, and just all around support for my work. It helps make everything I do worth it, and I cannot wait to do more. I am not going to let life's obstacles hold me back anymore.

Thank you,
Derrick Rathgeber
http://Derrickr.webs.com
http://Facebook.com/DerrickRathgeber
Donations Accepted