In the Greater Cincinnati area, a brushstroke is more than a burst of color—it’s a symbol of hope. Founded in 2012 by Mari Knight and her husband Lou, Purposeful Painting blends art and local love through Co-Creation Artworks™. What began as a heartfelt holiday gesture—using their Christmas funds to help struggling friends—has blossomed into a thriving nonprofit organization. In 2024, through creative classes, corporate team-building events and fundraisers, Purposeful Painting provided more than $125,000 to support single, working moms facing hardships.
For Mari Knight, the drive to uplift others stems from her own journey with single motherhood.
“I understand waking up in the middle of the night wondering, ‘Do I get gas, or do I pay my phone bill?’” she recalls.
Her empathy fuels the mission of Purposeful Painting: to bring relief and encouragement to mothers navigating similar struggles through the creation and sale of co-created paintings.
With a background in real estate and design, Knight channels her skills to help others create meaningful works of art. Purposeful Painting’s collaborative art model offers a unique experience for businesses and individuals alike, fostering teamwork and creativity.
“Some pieces have five or ten people working on them,” Knight says. “The business will take the piece back and hang it in their office as a symbol [of that collaboration].”
So how does it work? Interested participants—whether companies, small groups or individuals—can contact Knight through her website to share their vision. She then provides a customized quote, and attendees paint alongside her or one of her rotating local artists.
The concept extends beyond corporate walls with some individual customers seeking personal expression or the therapeutic benefits of creativity.
“We have co-creation artwork for individuals and small groups too,” Knight adds. “Everyone starts on their own piece, then moves to the next. It’s no longer just yours. It becomes a community piece.”
This process fosters connection, collaboration and a shared sense of accomplishment, with funds from these sessions directly supporting single moms facing challenging circumstances.
“Recipients are then nominated by word of mouth or through Purposeful Painting’s website, and I personally vet their needs,” Knight explains.
Local partnerships make these acts of compassion possible, helping with essentials like utility bills, unforeseen car troubles, clothing and groceries.
Knight shares a touching story: “One lady needed tires and said, ‘I think I can just get away with one or two.’ The tire store told me she needed four and gave them to me at cost—balancing and rotating for her.”
While Purposeful Painting’s heart is in Cincinnati, its impact stretches far beyond. When severe flooding hit North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, Knight helped a young woman in Asheville.
“One of my friends told me about her friend—who’d been handed her neighbor’s baby, right before the young mother was swept away by the floodwaters,” she describes. “This woman was struggling to make ends meet...I sent her money right away."
But the need didn’t end there. When Knight learned the baby had digestive issues that required special formula, her network quickly mobilized.
“A friend posted about it in her Facebook group,” Knight explains, “and someone’s brother—who happened to live in Asheville—found the exact formula the baby needed.”
Knight reflects on how the story unfolded, how one phone call had a snowball effect of kindness.
“It’s amazing how connected the universe is,” she says. “Our impact truly stretches everywhere.”
Whether you’re in Cincinnati or beyond, every donation or session helps lift single mothers both locally and regionally. Visit the website to learn more, nominate a single mom for assistance or book a collaborative painting session.
PurposefulPainting.org | 513.967.3131