Grace French of Soquel is only 10 years old, and she’s exhibiting one of her miniature paintings at The Great British Bake Shop, with part of the proceeds going to the Partnership for Children.
Up next: A show at the Ugly Mug in Soquel on Dec. 11.
Grace decided to paint a corgi after the passing of British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, in September and thought The Great British Bake Shop would be the perfect place to display it. The owners of the shop, English expats Lesley Everett and Chris Swainson, also support Partnership for Children.
Grace points out Swainson has authored two children’s books, “Wilbur and the Ball” and “The Making of Johnny,” available at the bakery, which donates 50 percent of all sales from the books (selling for $12) to the nonprofit.
“I’m going to make more (paintings) with different corgis and different backgrounds,” says Grace, a fifth grader at Soquel Elementary School. “I have a stuffed animal (corgi) and a corgi calendar. Corgis are my second favorite dog.”
She added, “My favorite is the Australian shepherd because I have one named Kate.”
Her corgi painting is on sale for $15, with $5 going to Partnership for Children, a Salinas-based nonprofit that provides transportation and support to families and their children with life-threatening conditions. They’ve been serving Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito counties since 2007.
Grace, who began painting two years ago, has about 10 paintings to her name and plans more.
“I like painting animals because I like animals, they have really cool features,” she says.
She takes art classes at Soquel Elementary and her art teacher, Suzie Blackburn, gives her tips and inspiration.
She loves to paint with her grandmother, Billie French.
“My nanny inspired me to start painting,” Grace says. “When I go to her house, we always do art and then we starting doing watercolors together. I love animals and wildlife is why I paint animals.”
Grace sold a few paintings at the Capitola Art & Wine Festival in September, so she will be working at her easel to create more paintings for the show at The Ugly Mug, 4640 Soquel Drive, Soquel.
She does not have a website where people can buy her art, so if you are looking for a one-of-a-kind Christmas gift, don’t miss that show. It’s Dec.11 from 8 to 11 a.m.
Or if you’re a Corgi lover and have a yen for mince pies, vegetable pasties or shortbread, check out The Great British Bake Shop, 8 W. Gabilan St., Salinas. (831) 356-0005. You can place your order online at www.thegreatbritishbakeshop.com.