At Highline Coffee Co. in Worthington, the smells and sounds of a neighborhood java spot provide an inviting backdrop for inventive works of art.

A wall in the establishment features creations by area artists, with the exhibits changing monthly.

During May, Highline is showcasing the abstract work of Kathy Anderson of Granville.

Two series of six works apiece are on view: “Manna” presents small but intense mixed-media works on paper; “Creation” offers large but gentle mixed-media works on canvas.

In the “Manna” series, inspirational words compete with vivid colors for viewers’ attention. One piece features the word twirl in large, black-and-white-striped letters; surrounding the word are splashes of yellow, green and purple.

Another includes the words give thanks scrawled, graffiti-like, on a torn-out piece of newspaper; dark blues and blacks punctuate a predominantly yellow background.

Others pieces center on the words hope, laugh, paint and respect yourself — each chosen during the creation process.

“I wanted something that was really positive,” Anderson said. “As I was working on the piece, it’s almost like the words came to me.”

Though difficult not to be distracted by the colorful frenzy of paint, the simple strength of the words shines through.

The “Creation” series evokes the natural world by using soft shades of paint along with buttons, beads and shoelaces — items Anderson had previously put to use in crafting art projects when her two grown daughters were children.

“I wanted to honor that memory,” said Anderson, who also aimed to inspire contemplation. “It’s meant to make one think bigger than themselves.”

In “Forest,” dabs of green (suggesting a God’s-eye view of a forest) are dotted with buttons; in “Fern,” the swirling leaves of a plant are accented with buttons and shoelaces. Both have an appealing, tactile quality.

For those who prefer culture with their coffee, Anderson’s works are worth seeing. tonguetteauthor2@ aol.com