Monday, November 26, 2012

Christmas Gifts Festival - Tracy Ahrens


"Ellie"
Today's artist for my Christmas Gift Festival uses graphite to create her art.
illustrator.  If I didn't know better, I'd say that's my Aunt Connie Barker in this picture.  Anyway, meet Tracy.

Tracy Ahrens of Momence, Ill. has been a journalist and editor for newspapers, magazines and Web sites for over 20 years. Currently, she's a freelance writer for the Chicago Tribune and the American Red Cross Greater Chicago Chapter. Her monthly humorous column on raising her pets can be seen at Tails Pet Media Group’s web site -www.tailsinc.com.
"Pooper"

Tracy's won 51 writing awards statewide, locally and nationally. She is a member of the Illinois Woman’s Press Association and the National Federation of Press Women.

For years she's volunteered for animal rescue groups including the Kankakee County Animal Foundation, which she co-founded in 1994. Further, Tracy is  an artist, creating graphite pet portraits. Her illustrations have been showcased on note cards for the Kankakee County Animal Foundation in Kankakee, Ill. She's donated portraits for fund-raising events at Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago, the University of Illinois Wildlife Veterinary Clinic in Champaign-Urbana, Ill.; Critter Corral guinea pig rescue in Steger, Ill. and Crossroads Shih Tzu rescue based in Joliet, Ill. In the past she offered pet portraits through the University of Illinois Small Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital to help raise funds for their Humane Connection Fund. Several of her pet portraits are currently on display in the Small Animal Clinic at the UofI.

Her portrait of a cat titled “Jackson Brown” is on permanent display at the Cat Fanciers’ Association Foundation cat museum that opened in June 2011 in Alliance, Ohio.

She is also a recommended illustrator through Infinity Publishing.

Tracy has written two children’s books, “Cloud Jumpers” and “What if the Moon” through Guardian Angel Publishing, and two non-fiction books titled “Giant Hero” (Infinity Publishing) and “Raising My Furry Children” (Weaving Dreams Publishing, 2011). “Raising My Furry Children” features a guest story by Steve Dale and proceeds are going to the American Humane Association and American Brittany Rescue. Her most recent published work is a book of poetry titled “Nature will heal” by Finishing Line Press (2012).

See www.tracyahrens.weebly.com and www.raisingmyfurrychildren.weebly.com for more information.
"Louie"

3 comments:

Cat and DOG Chat With Caren said...

We have reviewed Tracy's books and just adore her. She is as kind and gentle as the magnificent books that she writes and drawings that she creates.

Tracy Ahrens said...

Thank you Caren and Cody and From the Dog's Paw. I'm proud to have shared my art with everyone via this blog. I look forward to hearing from viewers in the future. Remember - love all creatures.

Tracy Ahrens

Allen Pearson said...

Thank you Tracy for sharing with us!! Beautiful work!!