After seven years and more than 100 dog paintings, Folster is happily accepting the moniker “Carmel dog artist,” even though her walks on the beach have been reduced because of arthritis and a knee replacement. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE / PRURGENT
Carmel, CA, July 27, 2020 — Carmel artist Bonnie Folster never considered herself a “dog artist” per se, but seven years ago she started painting images of the dogs she met on her daily walks on Carmel Beach with her beloved Scottish deer hound Buck.
So she was, in fact becoming one.
After seven years and more than 100 dog paintings, Folster is happily accepting the moniker “Carmel dog artist,” even though her walks on the beach have been reduced because of arthritis and a knee replacement. And, she not only has a new Scottish deer hound, Jack (sadly, Buck passed away two years ago), but she’s moved out of the area. This has prompted her to put nearly all works into the public eye, hopefully to be "claimed by" and given to as many of the families of the dogs she painted as possible.
“I’m very happy they’re finally getting out to people,” says Folster. “It’s very gratifying to have the paintings find a home with the people who love their dogs. And I had fun doing them.”
Max’s has an online gallery page (https://www.maxshelpingpaws.org/carmel-dogs) with images of nearly 100 paintings/drawings (some are acrylic on canvas, others are colored pencil on archival paper). Several of the pieces are on display for a limited time at The Barnyard upstairs in the windows of Building G near the Fire Pit. Similar commissioned paintings by Folster, of varying sizes would normally “fetch” between $100 for the small paintings and pencil sketches, and more than $350 for the larger 8x12 paintings. Recipients can both claim and donate through the webpage. (www.maxshelpingpaws.org/carmel-dogs)
No payment is being requested, however Folster asks that recipients of her artwork consider making a donation in whatever amount they feel is appropriate to Max’s Helping Paws Foundation.
“I didn’t do it to sell, I did it for fun,” she says. “And it just kind of kept going. No one asked me to paint their dog, but lots of people might be surprised and, I hope, pleased, that I did. I hope they will make a generous donation to Max’s for all they are doing in this community.”
About Max's Helping Paws Foundation
Max's Helping Paws Foundation (MHPF) was co-founded in 2016 by Dyana Klein and her husband and veterinary internist, Dr. Jonathan Fradkin, in memory of their pet, Maximillian.
The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports all Monterey County veterinary practices to provide financial assistance to clients with pets in need of both critical short-term or longer-term care for chronic illness. Since it first started providing financial assistance in mid-2017, MHPF has approved $250,000 in financial assistance, and has helped hundreds of pet families give their pets a second chance. MHFP is based in Monterey County and serves only Monterey County.
Max’s Helping Paws Foundation
(831) 704-6473
info maxshelpingpaws.org
26388 Carmel Rancho Lane, Suite D
Carmel CA 93923
Contact:
Marci Bracco Cain
Chatterbox PR
Salinas, CA 93901
(831) 747-7455
http://www.maxshelpingpaws.org | 
