Elaine Chambliss Dogan used to build bridges.

Now, she is painting them, as seen in her work “Come Unity.”

“In the background is a silhouette of a bridge that brings people together,” she said.

The professional drafter-turned-artist joins a group of other Black artists at The Studio@620 at their art show, “Green Book of Tampa Bay”

It’s an organization started to help African-American businesses and artists gain more exposure.

“Painting is very therapeutic for me,” says Myiah Moody, a St. Petersburg artist who goes by Myiah Pink. 

Art is the way Pink makes sense of the world. It’s so central in her life she not only wants to live it, she wants to teach it. 

“And a lot of people, when I talk to them, they feel the need to say, ‘oh, I don't know how to paint. I don't know how to create.’ And I feel like everyone has a creative bone in their body because we are creative as humans.”

Chambliss Dogan says the support of an artist peer group has emboldened her, and she also wants to inspire other would-be creators. 

“That they receive a message on my art for themselves that inspires them to change something, that makes them want to dream, want to feel like they can achieve their dreams and not be afraid to be to be an artist,” Chambliss Dogan said.