(Verse 1) Morning light through blinds, coffee between our palms, You speak in quiet confidence that settles calm. Old stories folded in my pocket, pages burned, Then you arrive and make my heart yearn.
(Pre-Chorus) We move through rooms creating memories of a lifetime, Simple yet the most perfect paradigm.
(Chorus) You make me feel young and free again, Like remembering how to breathe, on you I depend. This love rewrites the definition of love that I thought I knew You’re the one who makes me feel anew.
(Verse 2) Evenings filled with honest talk, the kind that runs deep, We have a love that others think is so mystique. No fairy tales, but a rare find Who knew love that feels so sublime?
(Pre-Chorus) We trade our guarded edges for softness and trust, Two people shaped by separate storms, now robust.
(Chorus) You make me feel young and free again, Like remembering how to breathe, on you I depend. This love rewrites the definition of love that I thought it knew You’re the one who makes me feel anew.
(Bridge) There’s bravery in showing scars and faith in taking risks, The quiet courage of being known and lost in the abyss. Once a nightly prayer, an answered call You are the one who can heal it all.
(Chorus) You make me feel young and free again, Like remembering how to breathe, on you I depend. This love rewrites the definition of love that I thought it knew You’re the one who makes me feel anew.
(Verse 1) I wore the nights like winter coats, stitched with borrowed memories Walked sidewalks made of echoes, carrying yesterday’s flames. Rain learned all the secrets I tried to hide beneath my armor But every puddle let out a silent screaming murmur.
(Pre-Chorus) There’s a map beneath my scars, a compass carved in skin, But these torn memories will never take over and win.
(Chorus) I am a garden after storms, roots that learned to thrive A lighthouse helping others survive. What broke me taught me lessons, what bled me gave me life, I bloom in places wrecked by storms, I lived through the strife.
(Verse 2) There were mirrors made of paper, torn and scattered on the ground, I taped them together and showed I can rebound. Ash turned into chalk to write the lessons for my path, And every line became a road that led me through the wrath.
(Pre-Chorus) I learned to count the quiet, to trade my fear for hope, I’m no longer walking on the long tightrope.
(Chorus) I am a garden after storms, roots that learned to thrive A lighthouse helping others survive. What broke me taught me lessons, what bled me gave me life, I bloom in places wrecked by storms, I lived through the strife.
(Bridge) When the world insists on hate and loss, Forgiveness is a river that flows in thoughts. Hope is not a fragile vase but reality, Life is anything but a tragedy. Every bruise is just a poem folded in the pain, And every step I take is louder and I remain.
(Chorus) I am a garden after storms, roots that learned to thrive A lighthouse helping others survive. What broke me taught me lessons, what bled me gave me life, I bloom in places wrecked by storms, I lived through the strife.
(Outro) So let the clocks keep counting all the hours, I’ve learned to dance in the showers. When night returns, I’ll be the North Star, and this’ll be another story in my memoir.
(Verse 1) I built my walls to protect my homeland Stone by stone, so no one reached the command Too close to the fault lines that were stressed Where love once lived, but is now oppressed
Every promise turned to smoke, Now we’re wearing the mourning cloak So I drew my borders deep and intensified A fortress where my ghosts reside.
(Pre-Chorus) I’ve sealed the gates because of you Now no one will ever get through
(Chorus) This heart’s a Maginot Line, No more possibilities of war crimes Built from endless sleepless nights I’m my own white knight You can keep trying to impede But love’s a war I’ll never need. I’m fortified by my own design Behind the Maginot Line.
(Verse 2) You say it’s time to reunite, But I’ve seen the dawn betray the night. Every tender word’s a white lie, Every touch is a battle cry.
I don’t trust your battle fight, You hint at the need for requite. I’ve learned that love’s a losing game, Where every victory ends inflames
(Pre-Chorus) So I raise the walls again, My heart is wearing thin.
(Chorus) This heart’s a Maginot Line, No more possibilities of war crimes Built from endless sleepless nights I’m my own white knight You can keep trying to impede But love’s a war I’ll never need. I’m fortified by my own design Behind the Maginot Line.
(Bridge) Maybe someday it’ll crumble down By then, it’ll be a ghost town But not tonight, I protect my own Not with the unknown
(Chorus) This heart’s a Maginot Line, No more possibilities of war crimes Built from endless sleepless nights I’m my own white knight You can keep trying to impede But love’s a war I’ll never need. I’m fortified by my own design Behind the Maginot Line.
(Verse 1) I woke beside the heavy tomb, A whisper left, impending doom. Your scent still haunts the bitter air, But you’re found nowhere.
They said love dies, but it’s a decree It burns like a burn in third degree I flew through the graves of what we were, Digging for truth in the dirt and blur.
(Pre-Chorus) Every heartbeat you caused to leap I unearth in the places buried deep
(Chorus) I’m the crow in distress Pecking at the lies, I have to assess Your ghost still lingers in my bones, As I reminisce at the gravestone Love’s not gone, it’s just transformed Cold and black, just like the great storm.
(Verse 2) Your eyes were candles in the storm, Now hollow glass that won’t stay warm. I trace the crime of love’s last breath, Every touch, a clue to death.
I follow trails of broken tales, Your voice in the wind, your scent in trails In the ruin, I found your memory, Written in soot, like an abandoned penitentiary.
(Pre-Chorus) You taught me how to live with this bloodstain Now I wear your memory like a rugged terrain.
(Chorus) I’m the crow that is in distress Pecking at the lies, I have to assess Your ghost still lingers in my bones, As I reminisce at the gravestone Love’s not gone, it’s just transformed Cold and black, just like the great storm.
(Bridge) Do you feel me in your afterglow? Does it take you in with the undertow? I found the heart you buried deep, It beats for me with a weep.
(Whispered) I am your reckoning, your requiem’s ping The truth is, I was your everything.
(Final Chorus) I’m the crow in distress Pecking at the lies, I have to assess Our love’s a corpse that won’t decay, It feeds the dark, it holds the deepest dismay. Even the grave can’t make me forget The crow still asks, “How is the regret?”
Guided painting classes have become popular in recent times, thanks to companies who are developing art classes locally and nationally. Within the Killeen and Harker Heights area, there are two popular companies that offer such classes. How are they alike and different? Which one is the better choice? Let’s take a look at what each location has to offer.
Tap Tap Art Studio History
Tap Tap Art Studio is a local small business. It was developed to help promote the arts locally, outside of regular primary and secondary classes. The company initially started its location in a bus. Eventually, its popularity grew, and they now have a physical location. Tap Tap Art Studio focuses on all aspects of art: from music, painting, pottery, and more.
Painting with a Twist History
Painting with a Twist is a national brand. The first location was opened in Louisiana after the devastating Hurricane Katrina ruined area. It grew over time and became one of the most recognized names in its category. The idea behind Painting with a Twist is to have fun and learn something amazing at the same time. Painting with a Twist focuses only on the painting aspect of the art.
Activities for Children
Both locations offer activities for children; however, Tap Tap Art Studio offers several different types of activities. Tap Tap Art Studio offers camp and after-school activities; whereas Painting with a Twist only offers children painting classes. These children friendly events are limited on days and times, but the paintings are appropriate for the ages advertised.
Parties are available at both locations.
Adult Activities
Both locations offer adult painting services with the option to BYOB (Bring Your Own Beverage) and snacks. The benefit of Painting with a Twist over Tap Tap Art Studio is the variety and classes offered to adults. Painting with a Twist has more available classes to adults with a wider option of paintings. Tap Tap Art Studio’s paintings for adults are often rare, limited, and few choices of designs.
Painting with a Twist offers a specialized Paint Your Pet session. In this session, you send in a photo of your animal. They draw out the outline of the painting. Each guest has a different picture. From there, they guide them on how to mix colors and such to make the animal appear realistic. This customizable painting can be especially important to those who may have recently lost an animal and want to cherish the memory of their fur babies. In this session, they provide more one-on-one guidance to ensure the painting is as realistic as possible. These sessions cost more due to the amount of assistance they provide and customization that is provided. It’s well worth it for the animal lover!
Parties are available at both locations. However, Painting with a Twist allows fundraising activities for groups of any kind. A percentage of the cost goes back to the group. Usually the paintings are related to the topic/group at hand.
Available Paintings
The paintings at both locations are easy, but challenging for a non-artist of any age. Both locations offer a 16″ x 20″ canvas (sometimes it varies on the painting) with a pre-drawn piece of art. Both locations guide the user through the process of painting (completing the background first, allowing it to dry, continuing to the next layer, allowing that to dry, etc.). Both locations have a color palette for each painting, but they also allow customization.
Both locations offer assistance with paintings. If you are a struggling artist, such as myself, they come by often and guide you. Rarely do they step in and “fix” the painting, but it is possible. As someone with a heavy hand, sometimes I can overdue the amount of paint on a project. However, they will come by and show how to spread it out without messing up the look or concept of the painting.
One difference in companies regarding painting is Tap Tap Art Studio allows mixed media paintings. A recent painting with Tap Tap Art Studio included acrylic painting with pearls for their “Chucks and Pearls” painting. Painting with a Twist only completes acrylic paintings with no other forms of media. If they conducted the same session, no pearls would be added. Instead, it would have been just paint depicting the pearls on the shoes.
COVID Adjustments
Painting with a Twist has made the effort to adapt to the times with COVID. Painting with a Twist offers take home paintings. Included in this are instructions on how to complete the piece. They have also supplied online videos on how to complete these projects for the visual learner. They have constant access to customer service for questions. Tap Tap Art Studio had some take home projects when COVID initially hit in the United States, but has since discontinued such activities.
Classes have been reasonable in terms of a cap limit of people. Both locations have large rooms to space people out. Both locations have a maximum amount of participants to reduce the possible exposure of COVID to guests. Both locations are adamant about cleaning their supplies, rooms, door handles, etc. Both locations offer sanitizer, masks, and other COVID needs when entering the building.
Overall Feedback
Both locations offer amazing activities for children and adults. The biggest takeaway from this is a matter of preference.
If you’re someone who enjoys learning and completing several art pieces, then Painting with a Twist may be more up your alley with the options and times available. If you’re the person who is more focused on activities outside of painting, then Tap Tap Art Studio would be a better choice for your interests.
Give both places a try and see which one fits your needs and wants. Support a small local business or support a small local franchise. Either way, support the local arts and economy while learning something new and having some fun!
Personal Paintings from Each
Tap Tap Art Studio
Below is my mixed media “Chucks and Pearls” from Tap Tap Art Studio.
Painting with a Twist
Below are completed paintings from Painting with a Twist
Angel Boucher 