Sunflowers for Ukraine: How one Southwest Florida art group is helping the war-torn nation

After working on their paintings for a month an art club in Southwest Florida is selling their work to support Ukraine.

All of the paintings include sunflowers, Ukraine’s national flower.

“We heard about Ukraine and Russia, they invading Ukraine and broke our hearts and we just wanted to do something. And what we could do is paint,” said Carole Levi, art instructor at Grandezza Piccassos.

So Levi and her students joined the fight with their paint brushes.

“It felt good to be able to do something, it felt good to be able to help a fight, you know. And like I said, this is the only way we know how to help,” Levi said.

This is the first time Levi’s students painted with a purpose.

“Everybody is feeling very fortunate to be able to paint, that’s the way we can contribute,” said art student Peggy Reckards. “I never thought I could paint let alone do this.”

Each painting sold this week at Grandezza Country Club in Estero.

The group raised $4,500 for Ukraine.

“We’ll have to go home and paint some more,” Levi said.

If you would like a sunflower for Ukraine painting, you can order one by emailing Carolelevi@gmail.com.