A dad's hilariously bad animal illustrations have raised thousands for charity, as reported by <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/21/uk/hercule-van-wolfwinkle-charity-artwork-scli-intl-gbr/index.html">CNN</a>. Speaking to the outlet, Phil Heckels, a 38-year-old father from Worthing in England, said that his heartwarming art project started about six weeks ago. It was then that the amateur artist showed off his painting skills while trying to get his six-year-old son to make a thank you card for family members. Related - This woman was left speechless after discovering that her grandmother's painting was worth a fortune: [[jwplayerwidget||https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/AOrKhd7j-Q0L14jDU.mp4||AOrKhd7j]] Heckels drew their pet dog, a black labrador named Narla, to use as a source of inspiration for his son. He then posted a photo of his work to Facebook, joking in the caption that he would sell it for £299 (around $390 USD), per CNN. [[facebookwidget||https://www.facebook.com/portraitsbyhercule/photos/a.109411180891705/109411107558379]] "It was pretty c**p," said Heckels. To his surprise, though, he was actually flooded with offers for his paintings. By the end of the day, seven of his friends requested drawings of their own pets. And just a few days later, he received a number of messages and commissions. [[facebookwidget||https://www.facebook.com/portraitsbyhercule/photos/a.109411180891705/141576634341826/]] When Heckels isn't making hilarious artwork inspired by animals, he works full-time in commercial real estate. In any case, the busy dad has since set up a Facebook page under the pseudonym Hercule Van Wolfwinkle in order to officially offer his artwork services. "Extremely realistic pictures which will grace any household," the heavily ironic tagline on the page reads. [[facebookwidget||https://www.facebook.com/portraitsbyhercule/photos/a.109411180891705/140946367738186/]] "I genuinely try quite hard to try and draw them," he said, before pointing out that he didn't even study art for any sort of high school qualification. To Heckels, the main pull of the project is that it's fun. "I'm just having a laugh with it," Heckels told CNN. "People seem to be enjoying it and I'm certainly enjoying it." When one of his clients insisted on paying for a painting, Heckels refused to accept any money into his own personal pocket. [[facebookwidget||https://www.facebook.com/portraitsbyhercule/photos/a.109411180891705/140937694405720/]] "I can't take any money for it so give some money to charity," Heckels said he told the client. Heckels then set up a <a href="https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/portraitsbyhercule">JustGiving</a> fundraiser for Turning Tides, a homelessness charity his family has supported for several years. The fundraiser has made nearly £17,000 ($22,000) at the time of writing. "It's an absolute basic human need to have a roof over your head," he said, adding that he will continue drawing as long as people donate towards the cause and he still enjoys the project. [[facebookwidget||https://www.facebook.com/portraitsbyhercule/photos/a.109411180891705/140191924480297/]] Since starting the project about six weeks ago, he has drawn around 220 portraits and still has "well over 1,000 requests". "It is like a little bit of fun and a little bit of light when there isn't much to be cheery about at the minute," he said. "I would die a happy man if I could spend the rest of my life doing this."

Dad's adorably bad pet paintings have raised thousands for charity

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