Renee Decator wants to paint a brighter future for impoverished families continents away.

The possibility of using her art to help others struck her during "Creature Comforts," Decator's show last year with fellow artist Suzanne Clements.

The exhibit focused on how animals affect our lives. One of Decator's paintings, "My Mother's Sister Was a Cow," was inspired by Snowball, a milk cow that helped Decator's mother and her family through the Great Depression.

"My mom grew up in West Virginia and told me how, as a little girl, she was so attached to Snowball," said the Indialantic artist. "I knew from my mom how important that cow was to her family."

The mail brought Decator an idea to put Snowball's painting to good use.

"Shortly before Christmas, I received a catalog from World Vision, an organization I was familiar with because of a child my family sponsored from them 30 years ago," Decator said. "I thumbed through the catalog to discover pages of animal 'gifts' that could be purchased for impoverished families around the world."

One of them was a milk cow.

"Almost immediately I thought about Snowball and my mom," the artist said.

Now, Decator wants to repay Snowball's favor by selling the painting the cow inspired for $500, the exact amount necessary to purchase a cow from World Vision.

"I want to sell the painting and use the proceeds to buy a cow through World Vision," she said.

Decator's bright, optimistic looking work seems the perfect trade to bring hope to a struggling family.

She has no intention of stopping at just a cow, either.

Decator said she hopes the concept encourages her many artist friends to create works of camels, goats, sheep and all the other creatures World Vision provides to help families gain independence.

"I can see a future show of artwork portraying lots of the animals that could change lives," said the artist.

The project is also Decator's way of honoring her parents, who are both in their 80s.

According to Decator, her parents have consistently and quietly helped others throughout their lives.

"I want to do this to follow their example of charity," she said.

It's a win-win situation for whoever purchases the picture of Snowball.

"You can help buy a cow for a poor family, and you're also getting a painting," Decator said.