Art the Hard Way was founded by Rev. Justin Reddick—an artist, chaplain, educator, and longtime advocate for the creative potential in every person.

We create coloring books, journals, workbooks, educational resources, and custom projects that make creativity approachable and purposeful. Some people come to the work for reflection or relaxation. Others are navigating grief, recovery, incarceration, transition, or a new beginning. Whatever brings someone to the page, we believe creativity can help them understand their story and imagine what might come next.

Where It Began

The roots of Art the Hard Way reach back to the Creative Arts Platform, known as CAP, which Justin launched within the Federal Bureau of Prisons in 2016.

For nearly a decade, CAP gave incarcerated artists access to meaningful instruction, creative freedom, exhibitions, portfolio development, and opportunities to be recognized for their work. It demonstrated what can happen when people are treated as artists—not reduced to their circumstances or past mistakes.

The program eventually ended, but the lessons remained: people grow when they are given room to create, their stories deserve to be taken seriously, and meaningful work can emerge under even the most difficult conditions.

Where the Work Is Going

Today, Art the Hard Way carries those lessons into a broader community. Our resources are created for individuals, families, artists, educators, counselors, chaplains, churches, schools, community programs, and correctional settings.

The audience has grown, but the purpose remains the same: to create thoughtful tools that help people reflect honestly, develop resilience, and discover purpose beyond the walls that limit them.

Click the link below to learn about the story of the former CAP program, its participants, exhibitions, partnerships, and continuing influence on this work.

To learn more about the creative process at Art the Hard Way, click the link below.