Inspire Art Ministry Art Show

It's time to get back to painting! And there's a great show I'm getting ready for. My church's art ministry is having a show at Square One Coffee in September and I'm very excited about the theme: God of this City. I'm still playing with ideas of what I want to do, but I don't have much time left either, so wish me luck in getting it done in the midst of taking care of my newest addition.

If you live in Lancaster, check out the show next month and join us for our First Friday opening reception on September 4th from 6-9pm. Square One Coffee is located at 145 N. Duke St in downtown Lancaster.

It's a Boy!

Here's the reason I've been MIA lately.

Worship through Artistic Means

Tonight is another Inspire Worship night at church. We plan to have easels set up with paints and canvas' available for anyone to paint on, as well as butcher paper on all the tables to draw, write, collage, paint and/or pray while listening to a worship band play.

There's absolutely no need to be an artist or have any experience in art to participate. God has given every single person a creative spirit because we were made in His likeness. Is there a more awesome or amazing artist than God? All you have to do is look at a National Park, a West Coast sunset, a sunrise from Joshua Tree or learn about the development of a baby inside a mother's womb to be in awe of how beautifully everything in this world has been designed and created. That should be enough to know that God has given everyone the same ability to draw from inside themselves their own unique, personal form of expression that can be produced through a variety of artistic means, just waiting to be used and developed.

You'll never know unless you try, right?

INSPIRE WORSHIP NIGHT
7pm
@
NewSong Fellowship Church
609 Prospect St
Lancaster, PA 17603

Scartlet Steps Video

Here's a snapshot of some of the artwork at the Scarlet Steps event.

All photos taken by Leann Brown.

Press!

We got a great article in the paper, as well as a very nice news piece on Channel 11 the night of the event. I've tried finding a link to upload the actual news story, but it's not looking good. I'll keep trying.

I also uploaded all the artwork that was in the gallery, so if you couldn't make it, here's a little glimpse into the artwork made for the event (as well as photos of the rooms on the "Pictures" page).
www.newsongfellowship.net/scarletsteps

And here's my piece I promised to put up. Sorry it's a little late.

Scarlet Steps - Good Friday Service

This week has been a big week for me. On Thursday and Friday night my church, NewSong Fellowship, is hosting their second Good Friday arts driven service called Scarlet Steps. If you live in Lancaster, I highly recommend attending. Check out their website to get tickets and for more information - www.newsongfellowship.net/scarletsteps

Gettin' Crafty

Finding my creativity during this pregnancy has been like pulling teeth, but thankfully I've had a few projects that I've been able to do that have made me find that side again. One recent one was painting a tshirt for my friend's new baby, and another was attending a stamping party. I've never gone to a stamping party, or made my own card like that, but thoroughly enjoyed both! So, I created a card to go with the tshirt I painted and gave them both to my friend this weekend. It felt good to get some creativity back. (Hopefully it all comes back after the baby is born . . .)

First Friday at the Keppel Building

For the last few months, a friend of mine and I have been teaching after-school art classes at a local school through the program HeadsUp. It was a great experience for us and we loved working with the students on the various projects. This next First Friday there will be an exhibit highlighting some of them who were involved in this program with their artwork on the walls. It's a great way to showcase the talent of these young students and get their parents more involved in the process. So, if you're out at First Friday in April, stop by the Keppel Building at 329 N. Queen St, on the 1st Floor. HeadsUp will also be showing off some of their other programs they offer, such as capoeira, hip hop and break dancing, so you don't want to miss it!

Back in the "Art Studio" (living room)

I have another painting project that has kept me busy this week. Our church is holding it's second Good Friday arts event called Scarlet Steps in a couple weeks and I'm working on a piece based on the following scripture passages:

Is 53:12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.

Matt 27:50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.

I've been excited to start working on this painting ever since I came up with a visual of what I wanted it to look like. I was so inspired during worship service one morning that I could fully picture it in my head of what I wanted it to look like. Well, I should have known it never works out that easily, so I've been struggling to return to the painting ever since I stopped working on it a couple nights ago to get some much needed sleep. And here I am with 4 days to go until it's due. I've been praying for all the other artists producing work for this event that God will speak to them through the preparation and production of their pieces and they'll be encouraged and strengthened during this time. But I guess I need to start doing that for myself since it's becoming quite a challenge to even want to look at the piece. I'm so unhappy with where it's at, but I know that God has used my paintings before when I was at this point with the others, so I'll just keep pressing on!

To see the finished product, as well as all the other art pieces being done by 18 artists from the community, get your tickets here online for either Thursday, April 9th or Friday, April 10th.

Just for Laughs - and Too True!

If it's too small to read, click on the cartoon and it will open the original web page.

The Black Show

This weekend at Spill the Beans Cafe in Lititz, I'll have a piece of art on display for "The Black Show." All artwork in the show by local artists will be based on activist themes, so I chose my skateboard art piece called "Trying to Love What I Blame" for it's attention to the pornography business and how it negatively effects a woman and her God given purpose in this world. The show is being executed by an arts collective in Lititz called Zeu, dedicated to the ideal of art created within a community and for a community. They are a small, loose collection of artists who meet once a month to discuss art, culture, group projects, and their own work.


The idea for this show evolved from shared ideas regarding a sort of DIY, broadly defined, support of activism. The themes and nature of the work will span mediums, scope, and style. Zeu and The Black Show are not interested in the promotion of any specific agenda, whether it be political, religious, etc. The purpose of the exhibit is to foster communication, awareness, and discussion within the community.

The opening is this Friday, March 13th at Spill the Beans Cafe at 43 E. Main St. in Lititz, PA.

Last Day to Buy Local Art w/Proceeds to Benefit Habitat for Humanity

This is the last day the "Home Sweet Home" art show will be up at Square One Coffee. If you haven't gotten over there yet, you still have time to buy some great artwork that will warm your home as well as support a great local cause.

All artwork has been inspired by Habitat for Humanity's vision to eliminate substandard housing and provide hardworking families with the opportunity to own a decent, affordable home. Up to 100% of all art proceeds, as well as $1 of every pound of "House Blend" coffee sold will be given to the Lancaster Area Habitat for Humanity.

HOPE International Art Auction

Calling all artists! HOPE International is in need of your paintings and other 2D or 3D media representing the theme “Finding Dignity and Beauty in the Midst of Poverty.”

HOPE invites amateur and professional artists alike to submit their high-quality, original art pieces for consideration for a benefit art auction that will raise money to provide microloans for hardworking entrepreneurs around the world who have been trapped in poverty. Pieces should be internationally-themed and representative of either HOPE’s clients or the countries where they reside.

Interested artists should first submit a completed participation form to HOPE International no later than April 15. Participation forms are available for download at www.hopeinternational.org. All original artwork should be prepared for presentation and sale and cannot be returned to the artists. Artists will receive exposure on HOPE’s website and in promotional materials for The Art of Giving. Works will be auctioned online and at a one-day art exhibition to be held June 5 in Lancaster, PA. Submissions will be accepted through May 1. Participation forms and artwork can be submitted to HOPE International, 227 Granite Run Drive, Suite 250, Lancaster, PA 17601.

For more information, visit www.hopeinternational.org. With questions, please email Lauren at lfischer@hopeinternational.org or call 717.464.3220 x140.

Winter eNewsletter

My Winter eNewsletter is out now and you can view it here. Just click on the below image and it will open in a new window. You may need to zoom in to read the text.

To sign up to be on the mailing list, visit this link.

Banners at Lancaster Museum of Art

I was delighted to be asked to design the Lancaster Museum of Art's outdoor banners this month. The challenge was fitting three exhibits on one banner, but with a banner of that size, it was no problem. The next time you drive by, make sure you stop in and see their next set of excellent exhibits. They're always guaranteed to inspire you.

Mural at HOPE International Office

Today I got to break out the paint brushes again and help out HOPE International by painting a scripture verse at the entrance of their corporate offices. I think it turned out pretty cool! If you've never heard of HOPE before, I highly suggest checking them out. It's an amazing Christian faith-based, non-profit organization focused on alleviating physical and spiritual poverty through microenterprise development.

From their website:
HOPE practices a holistic approach to poverty alleviation. Microcredit and basic business training enable individuals to build businesses and break free from physical poverty. Clients find that their increased income enables them to provide more nutritious and regular meals as well as improved housing and education for their children. But HOPE isn't only concerned with physical poverty. Christ-following loan officers share the hope of the Gospel in the context of relationships, ministering to spiritual poverty as well.

Art Show Tonight at Square One Coffee

I've very excited about this show tonight, not only because it shows off some great handmade pieces by fantastic local artists, but I put up my first baby painting I've done since being pregnant. Not sure why, but it's been harder than usual to get myself to paint these last few months, but I'm glad I finally made myself do it. I found an awesome quote to use on it too, so get the kleenex now.

First Friday Exhibition this Weekend

For the month of February I'll be displaying my latest paintings alongside of fellow Lancaster Indie Art artists for an exhibit with fiber art pieces, handmade journals, original acrylic paintings, photographs and scratchboard etchings. All artwork has been inspired by Habitat for Humanity's vision to eliminate substandard housing and provide hardworking families with the opportunity to own a decent, affordable home. Up to 100% of all art proceeds, as well as $1 of every pound of "House Blend" coffee sold will be given to the Lancaster Area Habitat for Humanity.

The art will be available for purchase February 6-26 at Square One Coffee, with a special First Friday Show this week, February 6 from 6-9pm. All artists will be at the opening, so make sure you stop by this weekend and say hi!

Click images to enlarge flyers.

Baby Registry on Etsy

Wouldn't it be great if Etsy had a feature where you could set up an online baby registry? Well, I set my own one up and am having so much fun picking out handmade items for my little guy. I think I'll have it as one of my registry options for those who want to use it, so to see the start of the list, check out my favorites section.

Prints for Sale in my Etsy Shop

Even though it's taken me longer than I had hoped it would take, I'm very excited to announce that I have listed art prints in my etsy store at annkimmich.etsy.com. Depending on how well they sell, I'll keep printing them, but I thought I'd see what kind of response I got before I went too crazy.