Fourteen-year-old Tabetha Harrington of Boothbay Harbor has combined her love of painting with her love of animals in a project to raise money for the Lincoln County Animal Shelter: animal portraits.

“I start with a color printout of a dog or cat at the shelter, then glue it to a canvas,” Tabetha said. “Once it’s glued down, I go over the picture with colors that roughly match the color on the animal. A bright background and my artist signature complete it.” 

Tabetha originally came up with the idea of animal portraits by talking with June Rose, who runs the Boothbay Region Art Foundation.

“June was telling me about a lady who did portraits of people by using this technique, painting over an actual picture,” Tabetha said. 

“June inspires my work, and I think that’s why I like working with bright colors so much,” Tabetha said. “She’s always wearing them and she has such a cheerful personality. Besides, bright colors are fun to work with.”

Tabetha’s work also inspired a friend of hers, 13-year-old Chelsie Graves of Boothbay Harbor. Chelsie is also doing animal portraits with Tabetha in her basement studio.

“Animals in the shelter need all the help we can give,” Chelsie said. “I’m glad I can help.”

Tabetha has strong feelings about adopting dogs. “It’s a commitment for life,” she said. “It breaks my heart to see people abandon animals when they move, or just decide they don’t want them anymore. I’m kind of obsessed with dogs. I feel bad I can’t help all of them but I can’t just sit back and not do something.”

Tabetha and her family are currently discussing adopting a new dog in September as one of their dogs, Moose, a Great Dane mix, recently died. 

Currently, Tabetha is working to save up around $500 for the adoption and supplies she’ll need for the new family member.

“Ten dollars from each of my paintings I sell goes into the adoption fund, as well as money I make from my business, ‘A Girl’s Best Friend Dog Sitting.’ 

“I’m also looking for work like shoveling snow, raking leaves, and being a companion to the young at heart,” Tabetha said. “I also do personalized poems and custom animal portraits.”

Chelsie is also earning money for the animal shelter through her baby-sitting business, which she runs after school during the week (except Tuesdays) and all day on the weekend. Half of the money she raises goes to the shelter, and the other half she sends to kids in Guatemala through the Rotary Club.

“The first time I sent them money, they bought shoes and socks and food and had a celebration,” Chelsie said. “I got about 100 letters from the kids, I was overwhelmed.” Chelsie said she plans to visit Guatemala and meet the kids in two years.

To hire Tabetha for work, or if you are interested in purchasing a piece of her artwork, call 207-315-0049. For Chelsie, call 207-380-5657.

During last October’s “Walk for the Animals,” an event that raised money for the Lincoln County Animal Shelter, Tabetha took in over $2,000 and was the top earner for the cause. 

“She’s amazing, she does so much,” Tabetha’s mother, Barbara Brown, said. “I’m very proud of her.”