Pam Ginder

For as long as I can remember I loved the arts. As a young child, as with many children, crayons were a prized possession. I remember someone had bought me a paint by number kit as a gift. From that point forward I loved painting. I would save to buy the paints and then would paint what I wanted not what was on the paint board. But, as it was, life got in the way and art became a luxury shelved away for many years. My life was filled with children, jobs in the foundry, automotive and engineering schooling. Straight lines, numbers, probabilities and statistics became my life.

In 1983 I picked up a paint brush and painted with a high school art teacher for several months. She taught me the basics of oil painting and inspired me to enter a juried tristate art show. The submissions had to be an original (not copied from anyone’s works) and it had to have a documented legend. There were two judges, one from the Chicago Art Institute and one from Disney. It was a wonderful experience and my painting was awarded second place, far beyond my expectations. I was offered an opportunity to study at Chicago, but being a single mother living in a small rural town seemed like an unobtainable dream.

It was not until moving to Florida and retiring I realized I now had the time to explore and try painting again. I joined our church’s ABBA Art Group. I was introduced to colored oil pencil painting medium by our art mentor (and now dear friend) and was encouraged to look at what the Color Pencil Painters Guild had to offer. I went to one of their art shows and was so amazed at what could be accomplished with colored oil pencil. I was hooked all over again. It was a wonderful experience. The leaders, the artist and the classes were wonderful. I am a detail freak and this medium lends itself to realism.  

As I began to look at art, I wanted to expand my abilities and creativity so I began exploring watercolor, acrylic oils and still have a desire to paint in oil. I have to say I am challenged every day. I feel I am still learning and loving every moment of it…even the frustrating ones.

After the 2020 isolation and moving to On Top Of the World, I found the Ocala Art Group. I am excited to be a part of such a welcoming and talented group of people. I am blessed beyond what I deserve. I love nature, love to learn, like to take my own photographs and plan on finishing my life with the love of my life and a paint brush in my hand.