Meet the Studio Artists & Judge

Meet the Studio Artists | Experience Maranatha 2025

Every year we see several students whose God-given creativity and dedication elevate them to Studio Artists. These are students who are inspired to use their talent through various mediums and expressions in visual art. Check out their work on display and learn more about the artists below! 

Lauren Busch

My work as an abstract oil painter is profoundly influenced by my Christian faith and the conviction that we are all entwined as characters of a larger narrative that God has scripted. My use of bright colors and playful forms is inspired by the joy and innocence of childhood—echoes of God’s lightness and delight we experienced growing up and the struggle of transforming into functional adults while still bringing parts of our childhood into our everyday lives. This year is actually the first year I started painting, I put my creativity into other fields which didn’t facilitate the same feeling I get when I paint. Discovering my style and voice through my art has been challenging, but playing with color and shape allows me to evoke wonder, emotion, and questions. Abstract art, much like faith, is not always intended to be fully comprehended at first glimpse; it necessitates time, contemplation, and a readiness to receive revelation.

McKenna Brinkely

Art is sacred. It creates connection, whether that be from people, or God. I express parts of myself through my art; I give subtle hints and clues to who I am. The art I create communicates in ways my words could never achieve. With pencil as my tool, I reveal how eyes never lie.

Lenaya Brooks

My series of artwork reflects how God invites us into the divide beauty and sacred rhythm of creation.  Through each piece, I aim to demonstrate the strength of women divinely intertwined through seasons and landscapes of nature.  I used watercolor, pipe cleaners and acrylic paints, which show that we move like water, bend in all sorts of ways and spread out under pressure.  Drawing from the complexity of our emotions, womanhood emerges in my work—capturing both the struggles and triumphs of life’s most defining moments.

Katelyn Erickson

In my artwork, I painted and drew several types of flowers that I personally love and admire for their beauty. I mainly used oil paint because I enjoy how rich and vibrant the colors turn out, and how I can blend them softly to capture the delicate nature of petals. Creating art is therapeutic for me. When I paint or draw, I feel calm and centered. It’s a time when I can focus, relax, and express myself in a way that feels natural and peaceful. Through this series, I hope to share that sense of peace and appreciation for beauty with others.

Antonio Ernster

My artistic works explore the mysterious depth of the ocean and its creatures.  I created pieces that are a reflection of my fascination with the sea, as a symbol of tranquility and a vigorous force of nature.  The fluidity of the water, the vibrant colors of the coral reefs and the silent grace of marine life all serve as inspirations in my artistic process.  My pieces are meant to evoke a sense of wonder and respect for the vast, undivulged chasm, that is the sea.

Emilie Harvey

When I am making art, I feel most alive—whether working in two dimensions or sculpting reality into space. I see the world through the lens of artful creating and quiet detail. Horses have long captured my imagination as they embody majestic power and quiet wisdom. In my recent series, I explore the spirit of the horse through oil paint and clay, capturing both the serene gaze and the wild heart.

Celia Hill

My art is inspired by the nature around me and God's creation. I love creating different things in different forms of art. I've created things with different kinds of paint, glass, and even pens and pencils. I find my inspiration in things and then create it in a different way.

Halle Huffman

Art helps me capture beautiful things in a still moment. It is a way for me to interpret life around me, understand the colors, and be able to remake that on a canvas. Painting with oil paint is the best medium to capture the beauty I see. Being relatively new to oil painting I still have a lot to learn about the techniques of oils and how to make my style come to life. I love painting nature, especially landscapes and anything to do with the ocean because I get to recreate God's beauty on a two-dimensional canvas.

Sophia Klassen

The art series I created is meant to show the different love languages and their uniqueness.  To embody these multifaceted love languages, I used a variety of tools; collage, acrylic paint and sculptural materials to showcase the meaning of love in new visual forms.  This reflects my personal journey of giving and receiving love through 5 different love languages.

Israel Roueche

Art to me is about freedom.  It gives me the space to create, express and capture emotions in a way that words can’t.  I’ve always been drawn to bold dramatic colors and dynamic compositions because they let me channel my thoughts and feeling in a way that feels raw and honest.  My series is focused on exploring the stages of senioritis.  As a senior, I deeply relate to the rollercoaster of emotions that come with this transition. Excitement, exhaustion, and nostalgia all play a part in this experience. Using Posca markers on large canvases gives me space to fully reflect what I and so many of my classmates are feeling.  I want others to look at my work and feel understood.

Addison Novack

Art, is a way I relieve stress. Just as flowers grow and show beauty, my family has helped me grow and reflect beauty to me. Using various painting methods, my work shows the people who have helped me grow. I hope my art helps people feel something and find inspiration from my work.

Kaedynn Picknell

Art is so many things, I use art to express my feelings, tell a story or portray something meaningful. Each piece in my collection has its own story behind it and like I've stated, for some, it's just another piece, but to me, it's a memory. By creating a piece that responds to memory, you preserve that memory for life in the form of something beautiful. I love art because of its beauty and creative nature and hope the viewer finds that same connection. 

Angela Salguero

As seen in my self-portrait, my art exposes the rollercoaster of emotions within myself.  Art helps me calm those feelings. My art series showcases many art mediums and themes giving you a picture into my mind.  The process of challenging myself with a new art form, is as important to me than completing work. I would like the viewer to know that they are not alone in the chaos and challenges of the world. 

Emily Yang

My art is a reflection of my culture expressing the stories and experiences that shaped me. Much of my work has been in ceramics, each piece carrying the weight of memory and connection. My greatest inspiration has always been my mother. The stories she told me as a child, the ones that put me to sleep, became the heart of my creations. Through her words, I found a doorway into my heritage, my family, and the joys ingrained in our cultures. In my art, I strive to capture the same richness and intricacy that her stories held. Every design, every detail is painstakingly chosen, meant to echo the beauty, complexity, and emotion of those tales. I want my pieces to invite people to look deeper, analyzing the narration and scenery. Just like the stories that inspired them, my artworks hold layers, words, lives, and stories waiting to be heard.    

Meet the Experience Maranatha Art Judges

Carmen Ferguson 

Carmen is a photographer from rural South Dakota who loves to travel and capture the natural beauty of the land and its people. As a kid, she won ribbons at county and state fairs for her photos. In college she enjoyed exploring black and white photography and had several works published. 

Tom Payne

Tom studied industrial design and sculpture at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. He graduated with an art education degree in August 1990. Tom's sculptures are crafted from various metals and found objects which bring his whimsical fish imaginations to life. He also creates drawings of skeleton-like fish (dead fish) using pen and ink.

Tom's works have been exhibited and won awards in various shows throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin. In 2016, he was exhibited in the Minnesota State Fair fine Arts exhibit and earned fourth place in the sculpture division. His works have also been purchased and shipped throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe.

Tom can be found on social media platforms- TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook under the handle- "Dead Fish Art". Also, at his website- Deadfishart.com- one can view an impressive gallery of works and order a custom piece.