Columbia, Frederick, Mount Airy, Timonium residents create striking images for Lottery ticket
BALTIMORE, Md. — The Maryland Lottery is excited to launch the Maryland Treasures scratch-off ticket on Friday, featuring the work of four local artists.
Last summer, for the first time in its history, the Lottery invited Maryland residents to submit original artwork to be featured on a Lottery scratch-off ticket. The Maryland Treasures Art Contest sought images that incorporated elements of the state’s history, culture, traditions or landmarks.
Each artist was able to submit up to five pieces for consideration. More than 700 people combined to send us nearly 2,200 pieces of art, and a panel of Lottery staff selected the four illustrations that best connected with the Maryland Treasures theme.
“We’re thrilled with these four pieces of art, and we can’t wait for Lottery players across the state to see them,” said Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director John Martin. “So many of us feel a connection to the wildlife and familiar places in these images, and that sense of connection with the community is something that will always be important to the Lottery.”
The Lottery first revealed the winning images on March 7 at a special event with the four artists at the Maryland Home + Garden Show. The artists, who each received $4,000 for having their work selected, are:
- Courtney Bindl of Timonium: Courtney’s painting features the horses of Assateague Island, inspired by her childhood trips to that part of the state.
- Julia Chiplis of Frederick: Julia recognizes that Ocean City is a favorite destination for Marylanders, and her artwork features the popular boardwalk.
- Gia Coakley of Mount Airy: Gia was inspired by her grandparents who lived on the Eastern Shore throughout her childhood, which led her artwork to feature a crab and a heron.
- Kevin Richardson of Columbia: Kevin’s painting features a boat and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. He hopes the piece brings happy memories from people’s trips across the bridge.
The Maryland Treasures ticket goes on sale at more than 4,200 Lottery retailers across the state on March 20. The $2 scratch-off features five top prizes of $10,000 and thousands of additional prizes ranging from $2 to $1,000.
About the Maryland Lottery
Since its inception in 1973, the Maryland Lottery has awarded more than $35.5 billion in prizes to Lottery players and contributed more than $20.7 billion to the State of Maryland. One of Maryland’s largest revenue sources, the Lottery supports important state programs and services including education, public safety and health, and the environment. For more information, go to mdlottery.com. Please remember to play responsibly and within your budget. For confidential help or information about gambling problems, visit mdgamblinghelp.org or call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Maryland Treasures Artist Bios
Courtney Bindl, Timonium — Courtney Bindl is a contemporary impressionist painter known for vibrant color palettes and bold, expressive brushwork. A lifelong artist, Courtney paused her practice to raise two children (alongside three equally needy cats) and has since returned to the canvas with renewed perspective and passion. Her work captures the energy of everyday moments through dynamic strokes and optical blending, inviting viewers into a world that is both familiar and vividly reimagined.
Julia Chiplis, Frederick — Julia graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design and has a background in textile print design and branding and packaging design. Her print designs for womenswear have appeared in stores such as Anthropologie, Bebe and Chico’s, and her in-house brands and graphics have been featured on packaging at TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods stores. Julia’s illustrations have appeared in JazzTimes magazine, on the music streaming platform TIDAL, and in a boxed set from the jazz record label Blue Note. Recently, she began a new career as a children’s librarian, leading storytimes and art-focused initiatives. Julia likes pizza, patterns and plants.
Gia Coakley, Mount Airy — Gia is a self-taught artist, born and raised in Mount Airy in a musical home where creativity was encouraged. Art and music have always been her passion, and she loves to express herself through song and paintbrush. Her artwork is deeply inspired by the people and experiences in her life. When she’s not working as a geriatric occupational therapy assistant, she is painting at her sunny kitchen table, where she dreams of one day creating full-time and sharing more of her art with others. Gia’s signature style involves pairing watercolor with ink. She hopes to illustrate children’s stories and aspires to create joy in others with her painting. You can see more of her work on Instagram at JustGiaDesigns.
Kevin Richardson, Columbia — Kevin is a contemporary realism portrait artist recognized for capturing the emotion, character and humanity of his subjects. Working primarily in oil, he creates detailed portraits that emphasize natural light, accurate skin tones and expressive storytelling. Inspired by modern realists such as Chuck Close, Kevin blends traditional techniques with contemporary perspective, often focusing on historical figures who have influenced his life and artistic vision. Kevin studied visual communication at the Maryland College of Art and Design and Cornell University and has exhibited in galleries throughout the Mid-Atlantic. His commissioned portraits are held in museums and private collections in the U.S. and Europe. Locally, his work is on display at the Harriet Tubman Museum and the Justice Thurgood Marshall Amenity Center.
Why not design a scratch off featuring all the abandoned, abused, homeless pets that need a home and medical care. Maybe donate a portion of all winning scratch off tickets to a shelter for them to share with area shelters here in Maryland.