"Welcome to Missy's World"

 You may already know the widely popular and very unique artwork from artist  Annamarie "Missy" Johnson. Her work can be seen during events with local pet rescues in California to media events in Indianapolis. She loves everything to do with animals and is a huge advocate of rescues and shelters across the country. Missy is a graphic designer and illustrator as well as the creative genius behind Dogs for the PAWS, a national pet rescue awareness site that is inspiring pet lovers to rescue, foster, adopt, volunteer and love pets in need. Dogs for the PAWS is an art and education project that started with 80 rescue dogs from all around the country. Missy paints the dogs' portraits and includes their touching stories of rescue and rehabilitation written by their companions and rescuers. 

 Being a full time professional graphic designer by day and the popular artist and pet advocate that everyone knows and loves on Facebook and Twitter in her free time, keeps Missy hopping.  In "Missy's World"  it's all about the animals. From posting about baby elephants in need in Malaysia to painting a 5 foot tall fiberglass turtle for the South Carolina Aquarium's Turtle hospital fundraiser, you will find Missy working and challenging herself to help in her unique way. She believes all animals deserve respect and love as well as awareness to their needs. With her variety of illustration and painting skills, she can speak out across the masses without saying a word. People are drawn to her colorful and creative style which is gaining national attention and creating a niche artist category all her own.  When she puts paint brush to canvas, there are animals in need and Missy is there to help however she can. She and her husband Jim are pet parents to 5 dogs, 4 of which are rescues. They volunteer with the Carolina Basset Hound Rescue. 

...Being an active advocate for pets and rescue/shelters, Missy has made a large group of friends and fans from coast to coast.  Here is an excerpt from a guest blog post Missy's good friend, Ginny Tata-Phillips, author and pet rescuer, provided to Dogs For The Paws...

 

"Missy herself is a work of art (or a piece of work, if you will)!  She is quite pleasant to look at with a cheerful smile and sparkling eyes.  But put a dog in her lap or her arms or next to Missy and an aura seems to surround them.  Wait!  Is that a halo?  Cuz this angel for the animals is beaming!  She exudes a beauty that ain’t just skin deep, my friend.  Put Missy and an animal in the same vicinity and their souls connect.  Missy is stunning and the soul of the formerly neglected or abused animal just merges with hers and shines on through.  Ask Chamberlain.  Ask Nico.  Ask Wyatt Earp, they will tell you about Missy, because they know.  I always used to say I would not let my girls go out with any boy the dogs did not like.  Dogs can see right through a shining exterior to a rotten core.  What do they sense in Missy?   A heart of gold, my friend, a heart of pure shining platinum even! Dogs For The Paws has a message and Missy has a vision.  Her art expresses it and it is all about love.  It is all about hope.  Rock on Miss Annamarie "Missy" Johnson!   YOU are the Rock Star and we are your most fervent fans! "

 Painting the dogs of the "Paws Pack" as they are called, she captured the hope for the future in their eyes. With the World at her fingertips...through Facebook, Twitter and the blog, she can posts to all her local sites, as well as national sites, groups, events, etc... The project was first introduced nationally by DogTipper.com and it continues to gain popularity and fans.  The PAWS PACK families, as they are fondly known, have written and contributed stories and posts to bring more attention to animals in need  and the shelters/rescues that found these animals.  More and more people are networking  and the portraits and designs are becoming very well known across the country. She hopes to build on the different uses that the artwork and project offers through it's message from a Gallery show-Yappy Hour event to offering rescues and other pet groups programs that they can use to promote their animals in need. 

 Challenging herself to get back to painting, Missy had no idea what this special project would do to her heart and World. Nico the Dogo Argentino, captures your heart with his hazel and blue colored eyes. Missy admits she cried for over 8 hours as she painted Nico's portrait.  Then there is Rosie the puppy mill basset hound, Pete the Pitbull who inspired his family to begin their own rescue and Chamberlin, the sweet black dog left tied to a tree and forgotten. Riley the 13 year old Lab mix who spent his entire life at the end of a chain til he broke free and was rescued. All these works of the heart, have become not just loves of their families and rescuers but a part of Missy's life. She jokes that she kept the Kleenex Company in business during the 503 days it took her to finish the original 80 portraits. She displays the paintings on her studio wall where they can keep motivating her to continue painting and working. 

 Dogs for the PAWS and Missy's stunning artwork have been featured in numerous printed and online publications From FIDO Friendly, DogTipper.com, Lowcountry Dog Magazine, Indy Tails, Wadsworth News, and PeoplePets Online. She has been a guest blogger for everyone from BlogPaws to FIDO Friendly. She is a contributing writer for Life+Dog Magazine.  Her passion and love for animals is inspiring to everyone Missy meets. Dogs for the Paws has brought a huge following to her artwork and message of hope for animals in need. She offers affordable design and illustration that rescues and other pet organizations can use for their events, fundraising and social media promotion of animals up for adoption.  Her work helps the groups stand out at events with unique tshirts and ad promotionals that are sold to raise funds. She is proud to say her unique designs, custom painted furniture and painted windows have helped raise thousands of dollars for homeless pets across the country.