Brooklyn Artist Draws Up Coronavirus Funds For Animal Shelters

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — Brooklyn artist Laura Connelly never raised money for a cause, much less gave away her art for free. But the coronavirus pandemic changed that — and she's glad she did.

Connelly recently raised about $12,000 on GoFundMe for five local animal non-profits. Her path toward drawing 1,252 custom artworks began as she watched as New York City shut down as the coronavirus outbreak spread.

The world could use a little brightness in the dark, Connelly thought. Luckily, much of her illustrations are of pets — people's "little babies," she calls them — and a little free joy never hurt anyone.

"I'm sitting at my desk, with a hot cup of tea and waiting for your dms with your pet photographs," she wrote on Instagram.

Portraits and positive stories flowed in and out of Connelly's inbox. It went so well she decided to expand it for two weeks, before considering something that made her more than a little nervous — asking for donations.

Animal shelters, like other nonprofits, saw need boom as the virus spread. Connelly, despite her nervousness, decided to step up and help.

She set up a GoFundMe offering free pet portraits in exchange for — if people were able — donations going toward five animal nonprofits: Foster Dogs, HeartsandBones, Social Tees, Animal Care Centers of NYC and Mr. Bones and Co.

It started slow for a week, but word spread.

"My Instagram literally exploded," she said with a laugh.

"The donation amount was crazy, it was almost doubling every day,” she said.

By the end, Connelly, who lives in Williamsburg, received portrait requests from across New York City and from Canada and Europe. She worked 14- to 15-hour days, finishing up dozens of portraits in a day. Donations hit $11,576 of a $500 original goal.

"I'm really happy that I did this," she said. "I think it changed me. I never raised money before."

Connelly looked back at how she felt before she began fundraiser — nervous, unsure about giving away her artwork for free. She said beyond the money she raised for a cause dear to her heart, she wants people to know it's worth taking the jump and starting a fundraiser of their own.

"If it feels right to you in your heart, just go for it," she said.

Connelly's artwork can be seen on her Instagram and website.