Feeling down and helpless about the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico? You're not alone. Illustrator Kelly Light was working in her studio in early June and tuned into CNN when images of birds struggling and dying in oil-drenched beaches started coming in.

Light spent the evening thinking about similar catastrophes of the past decade and how this time she could help. That's when she took action by doing what she does best-creating art. "I picked up a paint brush and painted a little ink drawing of a pelican," says Light. "I did a sketch card because it's a tiny little original piece of art. A little thing I could do quickly."

Just like that, Light launched an ingenious campaign. Her Ripple blog lets donors from all over the world purchase $10-$50 artist trading cards--and all of the funds go directly to two nonprofit organizations: the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies and The International Bird Rescue Research Center, both of which are helping wildlife victims of the Deep Water Horizon Gulf Oil Spill.

"I had the idea that this should be about "small acts" that anyone could do-an artist can do a quick sketch-and most people could afford to donate $10," says Light, who posted the first image on her personal blog, and it immediately sold. "I did a few more-and they sold. Soon a few illustration pals emailed that they would like to do it as well. So I put up

A sketch card by Katherine Blackmore.

the "Ripple" blog to have a place for us to post, and it started to grow, just on its own by word-of-mouth, online." Mo Willems sent in nine sketch cards.

In one week, the blog listed more than 100 sketch cards and made more than $100. Once Light emailed Penelope Dullaghan at the artists' blog Illustration Friday, Ripple turned into its theme of the week, and suddenly there were 640 more sketch cards available for sale. "Initially it was a small group of friends-all illustrators and animators that I know," explains Light. "Added to that was a group from kidlitart--a weekly Twitter chat of illustrators. And from there, it became 'Six Degrees of Mo Willems.'

Other participating illustrators include author/illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka, who recommended animators Tom Warburton, Bob Boyle, and comic book creator, Jeff Newman. Light's agent Mark McVeigh helped write an email appeal, and Priscilla Burris of the Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators sent email blasts to her own list. Now Matt Phelan and Melissa Sweet have enlisted. And Willems has already sent nine illustrations.

One of Mo Willems's nine contributions.

"I didn't know [Willems] was from New Orleans until he wrote me," says Light, adding that when the award-winning artist posts a sketch, it sells immediately. "His sketches make you smile and break your heart at the same time. They come from someone who truly loves that area." While regular sketch cards sell for $10, the "Great American Illustrator" cards go for $50. "As more well known illustrators offered sketches, I took the opportunity to raise more for the nonprofits per sketch," Light says.

So far, Ripple has sold more than 800 sketches and raised over $8,000.00. What's in store for this grassroots effort? Ripple now operates with the help of a few volunteer friends and an intern. "My only plan was the deal I made with myself when I did the very first sketch--I'll do it as long as the oil keeps flowing," says Light, who would like to see $10,000 raised for the two organizations. "I got some emails from a woman who was down cleaning birds. She said it takes three days and three bottles of Dawn dish detergent to wash one bird. I started to think of each $10 sketch card as three bottles of dish detergent to clean a bird. It put it into perspective."

The hope, Light says, is that the word keeps spreading and others keep purchasing the artwork-and if not, it's just amazing to "witness how these artists have captured how so many of us feel-the anger, the sadness, the hope-we're holding on to,"

A piece by Michael Fleming.

says Light. "I've been an artist all of my life, and running Ripple has finally driven home to me why art is so important. Sometimes we need an artist to look, so we can see."

Interested in purchasing a sketch card? It's easy. Along the right side of the blog, there are instructions and links to the two nonprofit organizations that you can chose from. Choose an unsold card along with its number, and cc' Light at ripplesketches@verizon.net with the donation confirmation and your address. Light then sends the artist the address, and the artwork is mailed to you.

"It's been wonderful to have so many want to help. And it's been heart warming to read all of the emails both from the artists and the people donating," Light says. "I've said it many times since this began, it's not about the politicians. It's not about the corporation. It's about the animals. We're mostly illustrators for children. We stay in touch with what inspires kids, and the sea. And its inhabitants are a source of wonder for them, and the kid inside all of us. We also teach kids to clean up their messes. I think we all can help to clean up this one."