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FRANKFORT – Artist, speaker, and author, Dr. Synthia SAINT JAMES taught a three-day master’s class at Kentucky State University with the goal of achieving a mural encompassing the arts. The classes began Tuesday, March 21, and lasted through Thursday, March 23. This is SAINT JAMES’ third visit to Kentucky State University.

In October, SAINT JAMES came up with the idea to create a painting, and then have students create paintings of the same size with the intention of forming a collage of artworks. The painting she created is about four principles of the arts: drama, music, painting, and dance. She wanted students to paint something with the same theme of “the arts.”

SAINT JAMES said she hoped the students would draw inspiration from her work and create their own image of the arts.

The mural will be on the first floor of the Carl M. Hill Student Center. Her goal is to have students finish their paintings by April 7, so she could have it custom framed and hung before commencement in May.

Synthia SAINT JAMES is famous for numerous works of art. She created the first Kwanzaa Commemorative Stamp in 1997, as well as the Forever Kwanzaa stamp in 2016. She designed the cover art for “Waiting to Exhale” by Terry McMillan and “Acts of Faith” by Iyanla Vanzant. Her work has been featured internationally at United States Embassies. More recently, she has been creating paintings for private collectors, corporations, non-profit organizations, colleges, and universities.

“I would like to continue the relationship with the students here,” SAINT JAMES said. “People already know I feel at home when I’m here. I feel very comfortable here.”

She created the painting celebrating Kentucky State University’s 130^th Anniversary. It was unveiled on campus on May 18, 2016.

– Shantel Booth