Rescued cow inspires painting by Abbotsford woman using art to raise money for flood relief
The devastation from the recent floods in Abbotsford inspired one Sumas Mountain resident to use her artistic skills for a good cause.
Shaina Conn lives above the flood-stricken Sumas Prairie and was touched by a photo circulating online of a man who rescued cows in his boat.
"I saw the little cow's face and I just felt the need to create some art with it," she told CTV News Vancouver. "That's always something that I've turned to in my life when I feel strong feelings about things."
Conn put her paintbrush to paper and created a portrait of one of the cows on the boat. She wasn't sure what she would do with it at first but eventually decided to put it up for auction on the Abbotsford bidding wars Facebook group.
"I thought it might get $20," she said. "But people just started bidding and it just kept going higher and higher and it was amazing to see that."
The painting sold for $410 and now she plans to sell prints of it for $15 each. All of the proceeds will go towards disaster relief efforts through the Abbotsford Community Foundation.
Conn said she's overwhelmed by all the support she's received from her painting and so far she's raised more than $1,500.
"I had somebody in Mission offer to sell some of the prints at her art gallery," she said.
"It's just incredible to see where this painting went, I wasn't expecting any of this but I was hoping to do something with it that was going to contribute to the farmers and the devastation."
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Mary Cranston.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trudeau acknowledges charges in Nijjar killing, calls for commitment to democracy
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has acknowledged the charges laid Friday in relation to the murder of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Princess Anne lays wreath at B.C. veteran's cemetery; receives 21-gun salute
Princess Anne paid tribute to veterans buried at a cemetery in British Columbia today, laying a wreath to honour the more than 2,500 military personnel and family members buried there.
Mystik Dan wins the 150th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in a three-horse photo finish
Mystik Dan won the 150th Kentucky Derby in a photo finish, edging out Forever Young and Sierra Leone for the upset victory.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.