Born and raised in Ephrata, Heather Hornberger is a self-taught artist who has been expressing her creativity ever since she was a child. Growing up, Hornberger recalls making collages and little art projects for her family and friends during her free time. However, it wasn't until her mid-20s when she was working as a nurse that she started painting, which she used as an emotional outlet to deal with stress, anxiety, and depression.

Since then, Hornberger has lived on the island of Hawaii, resided near the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina, and settled among the thousands of acres of forest in the wilderness of the Adirondack Mountains. Over the years, she has worked on organic vegetable farms across the country and even attended massage school. Hornberger's life has taken many paths, with painting coming and going during her travels. After moving to Lititz from a farm in Hawaii in 2017, Hornberger began painting more frequently again.

"The past couple of years have been challenging regarding mental health, and painting has really been a saving grace," stated Hornberger. "When my insides are swirling and I can't seem to settle my thoughts, I turn to the canvas and am able to express what I cannot put into words."

One of the most unique aspects of the creative process, according to Hornberger, is being able to express oneself without having to use words. Painting gives her a safe space to lose herself in creating while being totally present at the same time. Hornberger views the finished product as a snapshot of what was going on in her internal and external environments in that moment in time.

Her newest collection of colorful abstract paintings, titled "Finding Home," will be on display in the main gallery at Mulberry Art Studios during the month of April. The public is invited to meet the artist and view the artwork at the opening reception, which will be held on Friday, April 1, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the gallery, 19-21 N. Mulberry St., Lancaster. This will be Hornberger's first gallery showing.

"I hope that this exhibit challenges the viewer to explore how they find home when the ground seems to be shifting or life gets overwhelming," said Hornberger. "For me, painting brings me home, no matter where in the world I am."

David Fishel's "Esoteric Images - Beyond Photography" will also be on view during the month of April and will open on the same day as Hornberger's show.

The fourth annual "We Love Our Pets" art show will be on exhibit during the month of May, which is National Pet Month. The show will benefit The Sebastian Foundation for Animal Rescue. Digital images of artwork must be emailed by Sunday, April 10, to gallery curator Stephanie Paige Cole at Stephanie.MulberryArt@gmail.com with the word "PETS" and the artist's name as the subject line. For more information, visit http://www.mulberryartstudios.com.

For those who want to pursue art, Hornberger has some advice. "Don't let fear or self-doubt keep you from creating," she said. "Don't worry if it's good or not. Just do it. If it makes your soul happy, just do it. And if people happen to like it, bonus. But creating from the heart is freedom. You can't do it wrong when you are coming from your heart."