Carol and David lost their home – a fundraiser
Hi everyone,
Carol and David Marine of Daily Paintworks and their 6 yr. old son Jacob lost their home in a terrifying fire yesterday out near Bastrop. Their entire subdivision was wiped out (up to 300 homes) and the fire is still spreading – it’s currently 16 miles long, 6 miles wide, has covered over 35,000 acres and is moving south towards another town. Today’s forecast of more high winds is bad news for surrounding areas.
[UPDATE: A neighbor confirmed late Monday afternoon that nothing of their home survived. It's just dirt and ashes. Over 1,300 homes have burned and the fire is only 30% contained as of Thursday, Sept. 8. Please see the end of this post for an update on the astounding outpouring of support from the online community -- and artists in particular.]
They lived in a cute, little house in the middle of a beautiful pine forest, which is kind of an aberration in Texas. Rolling hills, tall towering trees, orange pine needles everywhere on the ground. All of which made for a lot of tinder, due to an extreme drought and the highest temperatures ever recorded in the state for August.
Here’s an older picture of their house right after they bought it, before they added on a woodshop and studio for Carol. Jacob is a bit bigger now:
My 16 yr. old daughter Maddie and I were visiting them, along with two of Carol’s friends, Karen and Randi. We were sitting around their big table, swimming in beading supplies, laughing, talking–when a neighbor came over and told us we had to leave right away.
At first, Karen and I went out to the backyard to see and were making jokes about how David had paid off a neighbor to say that, just to get all these crazy women out of his house. We couldn’t see anything over the tall trees. Then Randi went out front and we heard her saying, “Oh my god. Oh my god!”
When we stood in the front street, we could see huge clouds of billowing smoke. There wasn’t even enough time for them to take more than their computers. I backed my car through their front yard and up to Carol’s studio, but we didn’t take anything more than a few small paintings of Carol’s. They lost all her art that filled their house.
Carol took their small car and David hooked up their pick-up to their camper, so luckily they have that. They’re currently in a campground and will have to decide where to go from here….
When we finally left, the smoke had changed to black and was much bigger. It was incredibly frightening. Here’s a video that someone shot on YouTube:
They had good insurance, but it will take time for that to all kick in, so I’d like to help them in the meantime.
Please consider making a donation below to help them get back on their feet.
.
It’s true, the most important thing is that they’re safe. They are my family and I love them all dearly. But my heart aches for everything they lost – all the mementos, all the memories, their sense of sanctuary.
Thanks for your help. And please say prayers for everyone that lost their house, dear pets, or is still in harm’s way.
With love,
Jennifer
[As of mid-day on Friday, Sept. 9th, only five days after the fire, over 300 kind and generous people have donated almost $18,000 to help Carol and David. That's right: almost EIGHTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS!!! You have no idea what this means to them, folks. No idea. They have been moved beyond words and have cried about this more than once -- in a good way. 
As of Sept. 20th, the fundraiser was closed, with over $21,000 raised!
Carol and David say thank you, thank you, thank you a million times over for this wonderful expression of love and support from fellow artists and fans of our book.
To see all these incoming links from art blogs far and wide, to see the names of so many studios and even other daily painting sites online, honestly, it's blown their minds. It's really something to be proud of. Y'all are part of something really special....
You've all helped turn a gut-wrenching experience for Carol and David into something affirming, amazing and beautiful.... They can never thank you enough and they will never forget this!]
Thank you so much Jennifer for organizing this. We all want some way to help those, the Marines, who have helped all of us, and now we can.
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you for setting up this fundraising site for Carol and David. What heart-breaking news. How I wish New Orleans could have sent over the drenching we just got from the tropical storm. All the pictures I remember seeing of Carol’s studio christening and their lovely home in Bastrop make this all the more poignant. Please let them know that there is an army of us out in DPWland who are praying for them as they rebuild their lives – wherever that may take them. May God be with them and Jacob.
Sending many healing thoughts and prayers from New Orleans,
Patti
Patti Adams
Exactly one year ago today, I lost my entire studio, home – everything, in the Four Mile Fires above Boulder. We got out in just 20 minutes with our dogs and our lives. One year later, we are living in an orchard and I have 9 new paintings.Life is “re-weaving”. My heart absolutely aches for Carol and David. I have only recently discovered Carol’s wonderful paintings and have found great inspiration and joy from the wonderful emails. Thank you, Carol, for sharing your amazing work with us.
I know life is unbelievable and raw right now, I wish you peace, and all good things. I know you will find your way through this awful time.
Sending hugs to you and your family.
Jennifer, thanks for setting up this site, I will find out where to send a gift card.
Thanks for making it easy to help, even in a small way!
Could there be a more perfect example of “you reap what you sow”? Look at Carol’s last blog entry before the news of fire! What else? It’s her’s and David’s call to help raise funds for the tragedy in Africa!!! The Marines were in the process of giving what they will now be receiving. Love, caring, generosity. Full circle. Beautiful example for all of us!
I took Carol’s workshop in August in Wisconsin. I fell in love with her! She is a remarkable woman, a fantastic artist and is an incredible teacher. We all had the best week together, all because of Carol. I am glad to donate to help get Carol, David and Jacob back up and running…prayers to all in Texas!
Beth Bathe
Thanks for setting up this fund raising; glad to help! We wish Carol & David all the best, to prevail despite this hardship.
I was so sad to hear this about one of my favorite people. Our thoughts and prayers are certainly with you and your family. We learned so much at the March workshop at Dena’s and I’m glad for the chance to give to you after you give so much of yourself! Suzanne (I guess I need to find you another green bottle)
My prayers go out to Carol and her family and everyone who lost their homes or animals or loved ones in this horrible fire.
You are a good friend to set up this fund, isn’t facebook wonderful sometimes! I’m glad to help a little.
As a community we help each other and that’s what life is about and Carol exemplifies that in all of her work helping so many.
I wish for them all that they need to rebuild wherever they choose.
Terry Meehan
I’m more than happy to help too so big thank you for making this possible! Hopefully it will all end up being a huge blessing!
Dear Carol and family:
I can’t even imagine what it must be like to have lost so much. Thankfully, you and your family are well.
Your workshop I attended in Jacksonville a year or so ago was so great, it has very positively affected my work and I am forever thankful.
I have sent a contribution to help, even if in a small way, to start recovering, and my thoughts will be with you ! Denise.
I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Carol yet, but know of her through my talented friend Laurel Daniel. Our home is on the opposite side of Austin, and very near a smaller fire that took homes in Steiner Ranch. As a painter, I found that all I packed were the two dozen family scrapbooks. After that, I had room only the most precious: children and pets. We are saddened by Carol and David’s loss, and grateful to have a small way to help. My husband has done the same thing for a musician friend of ours who lost everything, even his beloved dogs, in the Bastrop conflagration. We will keep the Marines in our hearts and prayers.
After following Carole’s work for a couple of years I feel like I know her! Carol, I’m sorry that you & your family have lost your home, and I wish you the best in getting back on your feet. You are a very a warm and wonderful person.
I’m so very very sorry for Carol and David’s loss.
Carol,
I am so very sorry for your loss, but I am so thankful you all made it out OK. Please know you have a lot of people who are concerned and care about you and your family. You guys will get back on your feet. I watched a couple of videos about the fire and it was so frightening! – I can’t imagine what it must have been like to be in it.
Just hang on… each day will get better. Thanks for the update, and please keep us posted on things.
hugs!!!!
Valee
Know that love and healing thoughts are coming your way. I am so sorry for your loss.
So sorry to hear this about Carol. I hadn’t checked her blog in a while so it was pretty shocking. Hope she and her family can rebuild quickly. Our thoughts are with her.
I’ve never even met Carol, but the generosity of her blog says so much about who she is. I send my wishes that she and her family, and all those who have been impacted by these terrifying fires, find safety and comfort.
All of our hearts go out to Carol, David and all their neighbors. It was wonderful of you to organize a fundraiser for the Marines. Will the funds raised ever be published? I think it’s a fabulous idea and with the internet and all of us following Carol’s blog and the Daily Paintworks blog it should be an incredibly successful endeavor.
It is hard to imagine what this means to a family and an artist. My heart goes out to Carol, her family and the others who have lost so much, especially in these difficult days. If Carole has her favorite books she lost, maybe I have can replace some out of my library. Praying that Carol and her family will be blessed beyond expectations.
Carol, David and Jacob we hold you in our prayers as well as all the others in Texas who have experienced these devastating fires. So glad Jennifer that you have set up this site so we can reach out to help. Sending a huge hug to the Marine family.
Thank you so much for setting this up.
“Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.” PSALM 30:5
The Marines are in my heart, thoughts and prayers. I truly can’t imagine what they are going through. My prayers will be for their comfort through such a difficult time.
I am so sorry to hear about this. I’ll be thinking of this family and hoping they recover from the loss quickly!
Thank you, Jennifer, for setting up this site. I have never met Carol & David but I’m so grateful for David’s techy tips and sales advice on the DPW site and for Carol’s blog – her ART! Wishing all of you peace during this transition.
My thoughts are prayers are with you and your family.
Betty
I’m pleased, but not surprised, at the donations for Carol and David (and Jacob)! I was talking to my husband about it and he asked what I had donated… and I was not surprised at this either, but he told me to double it. When people lose everything…. how can you not give everything you can?
So wonderful that you set this up for Carol and David. I just discovered their terrible loss. I admire both Carol and David, have followed their contributions to the art world. I wish the family a wonderful future in Oregon. Glad I could help out in a very small way.
Yes, Jennifer, thanks for organizing this easy way to give back to Carol and David. She has inspired me in so many ways over the years and so appreciate her passion for art, people and ways to make the ordinary so special.
wow. Thank you for sharing this site and ways we can help the Marine family. I don’t know them, but of them and Carol’s beautiful work. What a loss. Thank you for making it easy for others to help them.
Thank you for helping us help. I am in the middle of creating my blog and joining Daily Paint Works. I have been watching Daily Paint Works for several months and was just getting ready to jump in. I love Carol’s work and I thank you so much for letting us help.
I am a firefighter and you’d think I’d be used to this by now, but since I am mainly in the woods I rarely see the human side of this terrible side of fire. I am determined to make more of an effort to protect my house in the woods. I wept through the entire youtube video. Thanks for making it possible to donate easily.
Sharpe
Your art has inspired me so much. I love grabbing a minute to read your daily blog…I savor it like my morning java. I am still in shock to hear about what happened, I can not imagine how you and your family feels. Purple skies lay ahead. You are in my thoughts.
I listened to Carol’s interview on Artists Helping Artists and was very inspired. Check in on her work every so often–hope to take a workshop some day. She is gifted and she, David, and Jacob will come through this whole, especially with all the real help and good wishes.
So happy to donate to your family – you have been so helpful to me. Glad to hear you’re moving to Oregon too………….because, it seems as though it’s what you always wanted to do. Isn’t that what they call fate?!