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.