The Art of Seeing Clearly

Inspired by Mount Gretna, artists Dae Hong Kim and Ellen Thilo Kim connect life, love, and vision.

by Karen Hendricks

[Originally published in the Fall 2025 issue of Mount Gretna Magazine. View the full issue to see this story in its designed layout, complete with additional images.] 

Photo by Shannon Fretz Photography. Artists Dae Hong Kim and Ellen Thilo Kim pose with their children in front of their home on the outskirts of Mount Gretna.

What does it mean to see clearly?

Husband and wife artists Dae Hong Kim and Ellen Thilo Kim are pondering this question in 2025, inspired by the devotional Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, written by Annie Dillard.

“The secret of seeing is the pearl of great price,” Annie writes. And “although the pearl may be found, it may not be sought. The literature of illumination reveals this above all: Although it comes to those who wait for it, it is always, even to the most practiced and adept, a gift and a total surprise.”

These words guide not only the Kims, but also a Christian artist collective they lead called Art for Story. “To see clearly” is the group’s 2025 theme, culminating in an October exhibit.

In a greater sense, the Kims — “seeing clearly” — put major life changes into motion over the past five years, as they envisioned Mount Gretna as their new home.

“You know how everyone had a pandemic moment,” Ellen says, describing their reprioritizing process. “We kept coming to Mount Gretna, down through the ravine — the glen — and it was so magical. We loved the area so much; we decided to build a house. It felt like the perfect opportunity and timing.”

You could say the Kims discovered — and saw clearly — their pearl.

Creating a home

“We built a home here mainly because of the way the trees draw us in, toward this peacefulness and magical quality that I just can’t quite describe,” says Dae, as his gaze wanders to the greenery outdoors, through the windows of his two-year-old, A-frame home, nestled into The Preserve at Mount Gretna.

“But this area also has a lot of elements that we liked about the city, where we used to live in Lancaster,” Ellen adds. “You can walk to get ice cream or to the theater. We love the kids’ program here, plus the lake and library.”

Gretna feels familiar and comfortable — just like a home should. Today, in their 40s, the Kims have three children — two sons and a daughter — ages 7, 5, and 1. Aside from the home, the family is nurturing a flower-filled meadow. As the wildflowers take hold, the family, too, is establishing their roots.

Inside, walls, bookshelves, and surfaces showcase a wide variety of art — about half of it created by Ellen and Dae. Art imitates life, as the collection reflects a nine-year-long marriage of their styles, thoughts, and personalities.

Art, intertwined

Dae’s artistic path began as a digital designer who enjoyed part-time creative pursuits for many years. Now, in Gretna, he’s “fulfilling a vision” by pursuing art full time, creating with watercolors, oil pastels, and clay.

“People have described my work as landscape — not in a literal sense,” explains Dae, “but it has landscape elements, a lot of contrasting light and dark, with a water quality. My work is fluid, with a texture that gives it a sense of atmospheric and tonal quality.”

That’s on the surface. Dae’s underlying themes go much deeper, into “loss, renewal, and restoration.”

“My driving force is definitely my faith,” he says. “The primary reason is because I’m interested in a third perspective as a third-culture person, grappling with the disconnection between meaning and place. My art wants to speak to this place — being not where you need to be, but finding a path, a sense of being.”

He’s speaking of his Korean heritage. Just steps inside the home are two portraits he created of his parents. There’s a reverence, an honor, in the way they are framed and displayed in symmetry with accompanying chairs and pillows.

In Lancaster, the Kims’ studios were perched atop their previous home in a hot attic — much like an afterthought. In Gretna, they’ve intentionally located their studio space in the home’s foundational first floor, with natural light spilling in from the walk-out basement.

Ellen’s artistic path included stints as a portrait artist at Hersheypark; a youth minister, a position in which she created murals and set designs; and, lately, as a collage-style artist. She combines historic family photos — sometimes her own, as well as commission work — with treasures.

“For me, truth, beauty, and goodness frame what I try to create,” Ellen says. “But not traditional beauty; a lot of what I do is quirky, playing with darker themes — and that’s part of truth.”

Together, the Kims founded Art for Story in 2019. The concept has remained unchanged throughout the years: inviting about a dozen artists to come together monthly and create art based upon an annual theme, culminating in an exhibit.

Creating a like-minded community

“Creativity plus community is one of the values that’s very important to me,” Dae says, “so that I’m not creating in isolation, but inviting others along in the process.”

He likens the group’s Christian focus to “being a light in the darkness. The Christian belief that Christ died on the cross and rose again — creating is a reflection of that,” Dae explains.

From the start, Ellen says one thing was apparent: “The level of professionalism was very high — our artists do excellent work,” she adds.

Garrett Moore of Elizabethtown is one of those artists. He’s been involved in Art for Story since the beginning.  Primarily a painter who creates in oil, but who also dabbles in hand-drawn animations and painted paper collage, Garrett says he’s inspired by the group’s “creative accountability.”

“The fellowship we have as believers. The way we share — it’s edifying and encourages us in our faith,” Garrett explains.

One of his standout Art for Story memories happened at the very first exhibit, during an interaction with a visitor.

“He said it was the most sincere, authentic experience he’d ever had at an exhibit, due to our deep connections as artists — very different from what he experiences at exhibits in New York,” Garrett recalls.

Garrett believes this authenticity flows from Ellen and Dae.

“As people, I would say they have a lot of joy, and that draws me to them,” Garrett says. “They’ve expressed a creative vision for their family, and it overflows into others.”

Karen Hendricks is a lifelong journalist based in Central Pennsylvania whose work has garnered more than 20 journalism awards. She enjoys helping Central Pennsylvania wake up and prepare for the day as host of WITF’s Morning Edition. Karen is also writing her first book, a memoir about running. Learn more about her work at WriterKarenHendricks.com.