Bits ’n’ Pieces: Hazel Dell artist paints for good cause

“Wild Things: Animals A-Z” by Hazel Dell artist Anne John.

Hazel Dell artist Anne John has donated work to charities in the past, but she decided to do something a little different for the Free Clinic of Southwest Washington’s September auction.

John created a three-paneled mixed media piece, “Wild Things — Animals A to Z,” which will hang in the new Vancouver Community Library. The piece features her grandchildren and other area youth, as well as at least one animal for every letter of the alphabet.

John, 60, left space in the painting for two additional children, and those spots were auctioned to help raise money for the clinic. The chance to be included in a piece of public art went for $700, and Jennifer and Don Rhoads of Vancouver were the highest bidders. John will paint their children, 12-year-old Donnie and 7-year-old Giovanna, and add them to the canvas.

“Wild Things” measures 124 inches wide by 48 inches tall. John created it in just two weeks. Beyond the time crunch, the biggest challenge was coming up with animals whose names began with certain letters.

“The X is a pig named Xeronna because I couldn’t find any animals that started with X,” John said. 

Vancouver mom runs to good health

Amanda Fulfer didn’t start losing weight with a particular goal in mind.

“The first little bit happened because I wasn’t working, we weren’t eating out, and I was walking,” said the 37-year-old stay-at-home mother from Orchards.

She began losing weight in 2005 but started seeing more significant progress in January 2006, when a key discovery put her shape-up efforts on the fast track.

“I just realized that I really liked to exercise,” she said.

Fulfer began her exercise regimen with walking and picked up speed as her endurance and confidence increased.

During one walk, she thought, “I wonder if I could run?” Now she’s an avid runner.

Fulfer’s first run was the 2006 Race for the Cure in Portland, and her first marathon was the Newport Marathon in Newport, Ore., in May.

In all, Fulfer has participated in 11 runs, and planned to do the Portland Marathon on Sunday.

Thanks to her active lifestyle, Fulfer has lost 170 pounds. Her children help strengthen her resolve. “I wanted to make sure I was going to be around for my kids,” she said. “That was my motivation.”

Bits ’n’ Pieces appears Mondays and Fridays. If you have a story you’d like to share, call Features Editor Elisa Williams, 360-735-4561, or e-mail elisa.williams@columbian.com.