DOWAGIAC — Walking around her studio — a loft, filled inch to inch with paints, canvases and brushes — Dowagiac artist Kandy Grady showed off some of her newest work.

The one she is most drawn to features two figures around a fire, their faces blacked out, wearing robes made out of pages from hymn books and other printed paper. The image depicts the story of Nicodemus, a biblical Pharisee who meets with Jesus at night to learn his teachings.

“This series is all about shining a light on God, not on me,” Grady said, outlining the figures in the painting with her finger tip. “That’s why I’m so excited to share this with others.”

Grady was recently chosen to exhibit her art in the Hess Gallery at the Buchanan Art Center, 117 W. Front St, Buchanan. The gallery will feature Grady’s series “Simply Faith,” a multimedia series that depicts biblical stories and themes. The gallery, which will display her art for one month, will take place in April 2019.

“One of the jurors said that as soon as she saw my paintings, it brought her joy,” Grady recalled, sitting at her work station, a mountain of paintings behind her. “That’s the goal of them. So, to know that it is actually inspiring people and bringing them joy that keeps me inspired to keep creating them. … I’m hoping to bring them to a wider audience through this gallery.”

Grady originally had planned to have a juried interview for a smaller gallery in the Buchanan Art Center, but after the interview, she was offered a larger gallery which will hold around 70 paintings. Though she only has around 20 pieces in her “Simply Faith” series at the moment, Grady is confident that she will be able to fill the gallery by April, hoping to add a number of biblical depictions, including the story of Noah, the story of Moses parting the red sea and the story of Daniel and the lion’s den.

“If I just keep listening to God and what he wants me to do, I will get there,” Grady said. “I’m so grateful to the Buchanan Art Center for giving me this opportunity. I want to give it my best.”

Grady’s “Simply Faith” series began with a one-off painting. Once she posted the painting on her social media accounts, the piece had a strong positive reaction from her followers and was sold the same day. From there, Grady felt a calling from God to continue to the series.

“I saw this interview with Lenny Kravitz once, where he said that he dreamed his entire album, which made me realize that I wasn’t the only person this had happened to,” Grady said. “It sounds crazy, but it’s true. I try to open my mind, especially before I go to sleep at night, and listen to what God is telling me. I know that what I am working on is what he wants me to do.”

As an artist, Grady said the upcoming exhibit will be a boost for her career and is an honor to work a gallery that is larger than any other she has shown at before.

“When I first heard I got the bigger gallery, it confirmed for me that I was going in the right direction,” she said. “It is encouraging and will keep me going. Artists, we have our doubts when we create something because it is hard to put ourselves out there and we put ourselves out there and get a negative response, it feels personal. So, when we get a such a positive reaction, it’s a really great encouragement.”

However, Grady said she is most excited about the exhibit because it will allow her to share her “simply” faith with a wider audience.

“I’m so grateful for this opportunity,” she said. “I think this series has such a positive message, and I want to share that. I want to inspire others.”

Grady is currently seeking sponsors for her exhibit. To contribute, visit: gofundme.com/simply-faith-exhibit.