Art the Hard Way was founded by Rev. Justin Reddick, an artist, chaplain, educator, and advocate for creative transformation.

Over the past decade, Justin has worked with people from many walks of life—including incarcerated individuals, students, families, artists, and faith communities. Through that work, he discovered a simple truth: creativity has the power to help people make sense of their stories, develop resilience, and imagine new possibilities for their future.

Today, Art the Hard Way creates coloring books, workbooks, educational resources, custom legacy projects, and creative programs designed to help people find meaning, purpose, and connection through artistic expression.

From Correctional Settings to Community Impact

Many of the principles behind Art the Hard Way were refined through years of work in correctional environments, where creativity became a powerful tool for reflection, personal growth, and preparation for life beyond incarceration. Over time, it became clear that these same principles could benefit people facing all kinds of challenges and transitions.

Today, the Art the Hard Way approach serves a wide range of individuals and organizations, including:

Individuals in Transition

Providing practical tools for those navigating major life changes, personal growth, recovery, or new beginnings.

Youth, Schools, and Community Programs

Offering creative outlets that encourage self-expression, resilience, critical thinking, and healthy personal development.

Correctional Institutions and Reentry Programs

Delivering structured, purpose-driven programming that combines creativity, reflection, skill-building, and personal development.

No matter the setting, the goal remains the same: helping people discover purpose beyond the walls that limit them and move forward with confidence, creativity, and hope.

A Legacy of Impact

The principles behind Art the Hard Way are rooted in the success of the Creative Arts Platform (CAP), a groundbreaking initiative launched by Reddick for the Federal Bureau of Prisons in 2016.

For nearly a decade, CAP helped set a national standard for combining art education, personal development, and career-focused training within correctional settings. Through creative exploration, reflection, and skill-building, participants discovered new ways to grow, express themselves, and prepare for the future.

As the program evolved, its most effective principles became the foundation of Art the Hard Way. Today, those lessons continue through a broader mission dedicated to helping people discover purpose, develop resilience, and move forward through creativity.

Since 2016, Art the Hard Way and the CAP program have served hundreds of incarcerated artists through creative development, reflection, portfolio building, and educational programming.For more on the CAP program, see the link below.