Arts & Entertainment

Paint Love Seeking Artists, Volunteers to Connect with Kids

Paint Love, launched in 2013 by Decatur acrylic painter Julie Ann McKevitt, connects artists and nonprofit organizations to help youths.

A new community of artists is connecting in Decatur and metro Atlanta--and they're doing it for a good cause.

Paint Love, launched in 2013 by Decatur acrylic painter Julie Ann McKevitt, is a campaign that connects artists and nonprofit organizations for a positive impact on youth. Believing in the strong therapeutic benefits art can have on students, this group places artists, from all fields of study, in non-profit organizations to teach classes and lead projects.

"We want to provide loving environments where creativity allows self-expression, acceptance, and even emotional healing in those we serve," McKevitt said in a news release. "Through our talented artists and compassionate volunteers, we want our students to feel important and loved.”

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Paint Love is currently looking for passionate and gifted artists to volunteer for placements ranging from one-time events to a series of lessons or projects. These professional level artists will cultivate one-a-kind creative environments for students. Paint Love will handle the logistics, and provide artists with support, so they are free to create, teach, and enjoy the experience.

"After an artist volunteers with Paint Love, we hope they walk away feeling as fulfilled as the students they have poured into," McKevitt said.

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In May, Paint Love will be partnering with Kate’s Club, an Atlanta-based non-profit organization empowering children and teens facing life after the death of a parent or sibling. Paint Love artist Kim McGill Stuart will lead Kate’s Clubs’ students through art projects during the organizations’ weekend Clubhouse days.

“We are thrilled about this match. Kim is an incredibly talented artist with a heart for service,” McKevitt said.

Stuart said she lost my mother at 23 and immediately turned to art for solace, which she hopes to share with the young artists.

"The pain of losing a parent never leaves you, so seeing these kids so young with such loss; I hope that I can give them some outlet that will stay with them and empower them to move into the future stronger.”

“The empowerment that Kim talks about is one of the many reasons we started Paint Love,” McKevitt said.

If you are interested in becoming a Paint Love artist or simply learning more about this campaign visit gopaintlove.com.


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