By Josh Mitchell/Informer Publisher

A Columbia mother and son are putting on a joint art show at the Second Street Bean Coffee Shop in Columbia tonight from 7-9 p.m.

Lisa White and her son, Isaac, are calling the exhibition, which will include a variety of drawings and paintings, “Like Mother, Like Son.” Some of Isaac’s work includes pictures of Chris Farley and John Belushi and Batman, while Lisa’s work is more domestic with family portraits, flowers and fruit.

Lisa has had some 200 of her paintings published and sold nationwide, while Isaac is an art education major at Delta State University.

The exhibition at Second Street Bean will include hors d’oeuvres and live music, said owner Paris Schepemaker, who hopes her business can become a destination for more artists in the future.

“There is a lot of talent in Columbia, and I would like the coffee shop to be an outlet (for artists),” she said.

Second Street Bean will begin extended hours in August, open until 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 p.m. on Fridays. The first Friday of each month will be an open mic night for those who wish to perform.

White began painting 17 years ago when she wanted a portrait painted of her daughter in an Easter dress. Paying for the portrait would have been expensive so she decided to do it on her own using a tepee to make a canvas. She started teaching herself how to paint through books she checked out at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Now her work is published in places such as dishes, rugs and napkins, said Lisa adding that the people of Columbia have been really supportive by buying her prints. Lisa was a math major in college and now teaches polymer science at the Carl Loftin Career and Technology Center. She has been awarded by the South Mississippi Art Association in Hattiesburg for her work.

Lisa said her signature work is her portraits. The key to a good portrait is making it look realistic while at the same time making it interesting to look at, she said.