LaJuan Schlegel was a self-taught local artist who credited The Heavenly Father for her talent. Born in East Texas, she moved to Ennis in 1963 with her husband, Jim Schlegel. Her paintings brought life to the splendor and majesty of nature and were deliberately created to evoke a sense of connection between heaven and earth. Known for her endearing smile, she spent countless hours creating masterpieces in her gallery in downtown Ennis, tutored many aspiring artists, and helped bring their God given talents to life on each canvas. She completed The Old Homeplace in 2010, and the painting, expressing her love for old barns, branching oak trees, and bluebonnets, inspired a three dimensional cast stone sculpture. Janice Hart Melito, a master sculptor, used the painting to create a hand crafted negative out of clay that was then used to create the sculpture. LaJuan Schlegel hoped that when people experienced the art wall and sculpture, they would feel peace, tranquility, and memories of home.