From award-winning athletic feet to artistic hands, Baker University alumnus Aaron Hannon has turned a childhood passion into a reality.

Hannon graduated in 2011 with all four years centered around track and field. Although he never took an art class in college, art was something that had always been in the family while he grew up. However, he never thought he would take it any further than that.

Hannon took a chance when he heard about a trend in Lawrence called “Final Friday.” On the last Friday of every month, many venues will house work of different artists for crowds to go around and view.

“I heard about Final Fridays about six months ago,” Hannon said. “I called an art venue to figure how I could be a part of this and she said to start calling venues to see if they want your pieces. I searched online for places and found an ad that was about a new venue opening up. I called her the next day and she told me to bring my work in. I brought my work in and she said she decided that I would have next month’s show.”

Hannon’s art show was featured Dec. 28 and was housed in Blue Flame Gallery for all of January. Girlfriend and junior Lauren Jaqua enjoyed the show and thought it “was everything (Hannon) could have hoped for.”

“It was so nice to see all his collection in one place and for everyone to see what he has been working so hard on,” Jaqua said. “His work is so strong and memorable, that I can only hope for the best with him in his future with his work.”

Venue owner Jessica Farmer was very happy to host Hannon’s show and said she was “blown away by his work for someone who just started painting a year ago.”

“It was such a good feeling to promote someone else’s art and that he had such a good turnout for his first art show ever.” Farmer said. “I will definitely do more work with him in future.”

Hannon began painting and drawing about two years ago. He wanted to explore his options because painting had always been something he liked, but never had the courage to start.

He first started painting still-life pictures with inanimate objects that were around his room. He would put an object on the floor and start painting it. From there, he spent an hour or so each day painting, being disciplined and growing as an artist to explore different styles.

“My favorite painting is the Summer of the Dragon,” Hannon said. “It was a different style; it was more of my imagination where I wasn’t directly looking at it and it had a lot of symbolism behind it.”

Hannon’s art will be featured again in a new venue, Alchemy Coffee Shop, in mid February.

“It was never expected for this to happen, it was just always a dream that I had,” Hannon said. “I knew if I wanted it to come true, I needed to be disciplined with it and explore myself further because I was so used to doing sports in high school and college that I never had the time to explore other options that I was talented in.”