Horace Pippin: A West Chester Native

February is national Black History Month. It is a 28-day-celebration to all those who paved the way so that African Americans can have equal opportunities to live a wonderful, fulfilling life, just like everyone else.

When you think of famous African Americans, names like Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King come to mind. There are millions of blacks who gave their lives to promote equal living. As time went on, African Americans were recognized for their talents and works among communities all over the country.

Horace Pippin grew up in a poor household with very little given to him. He had a passion for art, in any form. He began drawing with whatever materials he could find. Pippin's first big step was winning a childhood drawing contest, which he won and received a set of paints and a box of crayons. This essentially opened the door for him and he was offered the chance to go to art school.

Pippin eventually began to draw and paint diverse subjects to try to gain interest from all different groups of people. He would paint serious subject matters as well as everyday images.

Pippin was a firm believer that artists should not be overly taught. What an artist felt and the way he or she wanted to express it was more important than focusing on theory or technique.

As Pippin himself said, "Pictures just come to my mind; I think them out with my brain and then I tell my heart to go ahead."

If your enjoy art, or want to see some some of Pippin's art, take a day trip to the The Philadelphia Art Museum where his work is on display.