Wait, What? They’re Throwing Us a Fundraiser?!

It’s been a while! we’ve missed you!

Lately, my hands have been full—like, covered in paint full. I’ve been working on a mural for a new brewery opening in town, and it’s been equal parts exhausting and energizing. There’s something kind of magical about working on location, immersed in the environment, knowing this big, colorful piece of art will be part of a space where people gather, laugh, and raise a glass.

Because of that, I’ve backed off from posting. Not just social media and YouTube, but blogs too. I’ve been laser-focused on the mural and, honestly, it’s been good for me. After taking such a long break from painting, it feels really good to be knee-deep in creativity again. However, a group of amazing people have been working really hard to support us, and I need to share this.

On top of that, Klee is on the mend—thankfully. We’ve still got some healing to go, but things are looking up, and we’re slowly finding our way back into the rhythm of creating together. Emphasis on slowly. We’re not rushing anything this time.

It might still be a while before I’m regularly posting again. I might share more about that in a future blog, but let’s just say this: having a large audience is an incredible thing, and I’m endlessly grateful for the love and support we receive. But sometimes, when you’re not in the strongest emotional place, even one small comment can knock the wind out of you. Let’s just say, we weren’t getting back to normal fast enough for this person.

Honestly, we thought we’d bounce back quicker than we did. We kept telling ourselves, “Just a couple more days, maybe a week,” but life had its own timeline. Sometimes the road back is more of a slow, awkward shuffle than a triumphant sprint. I have no apologies to give. It is what it is.

In the meantime, our creative friends and supporters are hosting a fundraiser for us. So, I’m feeling awkward about writing this… but there are a lot of amazing people I want to say thank you to.

If you know me (and Klee), you know we’re not exactly great at being on the receiving end of support. We create, we teach, we encourage, we lift up. That’s our comfort zone. We’re used to showing up for the creative community, not having the creative community show up for us. To be honest, we are pretty hard headed and stubborn about it to our own detriment sometimes.

As a lot of you already know, last December, Klee was hospitalized and we had to cancel our holiday show. It hit us hard. People have shown up. In the most beautiful, humbling ways. A lot of you reading this are those people, and words cannot express how loved and grateful we feel.

Artists, friends, local galleries, people in other states and countries, even people we’ve never met in person… they’ve reached out, offered help, and reminded us that we’re not alone. Our friend Jamie (a powerhouse of kindness and organization) told us a while back that a fundraiser was being put together for us. Her words: “You’re not allowed to say no—we already started.”

Cue me and Klee standing there with wide eyes, stunned, awkwardly grateful, and honestly on the verge of tears.

At one point, when I was telling her I wasn’t comfortable with it, she asked, “Would you be part of a fundraiser to help artists going through what you guys are going through?”
Without hesitation, I said, “Absolutely.”
And she just looked at me and said, “See? Let them do this for you. They love you guys.”

And that’s when it hit me. It’s about love, community, and the beautiful messiness of being human together. Being vulnerable, appreciative, and accepting the love.

And now it’s actually happening. The “Me and It” Paint N Sip fundraiser are happening in a few weeks. You get to paint your own little quirky monster, sip on something tasty, hang out with incredible humans, and support this crazy creative life we’re trying to keep afloat.

It feels vulnerable and strange. But we have some serious thank yous to give.

To Ernesto at The Manos Gallery – thank you for being such a force for art and for saying yes to every idea that helps lift people up.
To Jamie – our extraordinary friend and gentle bulldozer of good intentions. You never let us hide.
To Rachel – local artist, mega-talent, and literal sunshine in human form. You make everything brighter.
To every artist donating their time, energy, and art – thank you for believing in us. For being willing to lift us up when we needed it, even though we were too awkward to ask. There are so many to name… We are astonished.
And to our Patreon Community – oh my goodness. Thank you for sticking by us through this entire rollercoaster ride. Through the pauses, the chaos, the raw moments, and the quiet in-betweens—you’ve been there. Your support has kept us going when things got really, really hard. We don’t take that for granted, not even for a second.

We still feel awkward. We still feel like we don’t deserve it. But we’re trying—trying to receive with open hands and full hearts.

Klee is finally starting to feel better. The new treatment seems to be working (she’s been off steroids for three days, and so far, so good!). I’m back on mural duty. We’re slowly finding our way back to our creative rhythm. And in the middle of all that, we get this gift—a reminder that we are seen, loved, and supported.

I don’t have fancy words for it. Just… thank you.

— Rafi (and Klee)

Here is more info on the events

🎨 Paint & Sip at The Manos Gallery (Tarentum, PA)
🗓️ Thursday, July 25th at 6:30PM
📍 The Manos Gallery
Come hang with us in the gallery space and create your very own “Me and It” monster with paint, good vibes, and a splash of BYOB magic.

🎨 Paint & Sip at Core Goods (Oil City, PA)
🗓️ Saturday, July 27th from 2–4:30PM
📍 Core Goods
This one includes snacks, laughter, and a Chinese auction with art donated by local legends. Tickets are available at Woods and River Coffee.

Want to get involved? Contact:
📧 Manosgallery@yahoo.com or rachelsart@gmail.com