The Butler community made friends with thousands of Jeepers last year, and now the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival organizers are looking for a few new “friends.”

Friends of the Festival will receive a limited edition print made from an original painting created exclusively for this year’s event. Proceeds from the prints support the festival as well as the Associated Artists of Butler County and the Butler County Historical Society.

George Gaadt, an artist and military historian from Sewickley, created the vibrant artwork for the second print in the Friends of the Festival series.

Gaadt’s design features the 1940 Bantam Reconnaissance Car, with the Butler skyline in the background.

Only 300 16-by-20 inch signed and numbered prints were produced. They are sold unframed so buyers can select their own.

The prints are for sale at the festival for $100, or visit the online store at www.bantamjeepfestival.com.

“This was a very exciting project to work on because military art has been my passion since I was very young,” Gaadt said. “Wanting this art to have a very special look that would ‘talk’ to the viewer, I steered away from the old traditional vehicle look and chose a rich chromatic palette, giving it more character and becoming alive with color.”

The print was made in four-color process by Broudy Printing in Pittsburgh. It features foil embossing of a high definition brass die to showcase the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival logo.

“This print is one that every Jeep enthusiast should want to hang on his or her wall to remember their time at the festival,” said Terry Hagen, project coordinator and a 2012 festival committee member.

“As the festival continues to grow through the years, these collectible prints will be in high demand and those who purchased them will have something very special.

“Plus, the proceeds support three groups in Butler who are working hard to preserve and celebrate Jeep heritage,” he said.