Art for a Cause

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[ Joyce Elledge says she took up painting as a serious hobby about eight years ago. Since then, her beautiful art has raised money for the Inspiring Women of Southern Illinois program at Southern Illinois University and the personal fundraisers of local residents like Du Quoin police officer Dan Bell.

"When I give a canvas to someone, I usually get a blank canvas or an easel back," she smiles. "That's how I keep the hobby going."

It's sort of like giving a hot, homemade apple pie to somebody and getting the pie plate back.

To Joyce, "This is kind of my dance."

This coming week, her benevolence and caring for others goes online after three of her paintings were accepted by a very special project called "Art Now", which will auction dozens of paintings online in early October to raise money for autism research.

For more information, log onto artnow@artnowfor autism. com.

How did it all begin? A year after her son was diagnosed with autism, collage and fiber artist Claudine Intner began selling her work to raise funds or research. Last year, she launched Art Now for Autism, an online art exhibit where 100 percent of the sales go to autism.

Last year's event raised almost $4,000 and featured 26 artists including two with autism. Intner says this year she hopes to raise $5,000 with the help of artists from all over the world, including Joyce Elledge of Du Quoin, the only Illinois artist whose work was selected.

Joyce's three donated paintings include "Sunset", "Hat & Chair" and "Tea for Blue." The Elledges even mailed in a $20 donation when they submitted the paintings. For more information, you can eMail the Elledges at elledges@MCHSI.com.

Joyce smiles and says this is a far more serious project than the first art auction she participated in onboard a cruise ship. "I waved my (auction) paddle as I got up and wound up buying a painting."