HOOT
Spotlights... Ginny Wise
Charter
Member
Decorative
Painting starts as
a hobby with most people and then with some, becomes a
business. It was the opposite with me. In
the fall of 1974, Carole Core and I were working as demonstrators for a
large craft distributing company, when we decided to open our own shop
“The Wise Owl Craft Shoppe”.
While at a craft/hobby convention in Chicago, we got our first taste of
tole painting with Priscilla Hauser. We could see immediately
that this was going to be popular as a way that everyone could learn to
paint. (At that time, oils were the only medium used and has been my
favorite).
Although Carole and I taught classes at our shop, we did not yet feel
qualified to teach tole painting. We stocked supplies and
hired Diane Capoccia to teach at our shop. We sought every
opportunity to learn this painting technique, taking classes and
seminars from Priscilla and other national teachers.
During this time we met others, including ceramic shop owners and
teachers, interested in decorative painting. We started a chapter
(HOOT) of “The National Society of Tole and
Decorative Painting” so we could bring in national teachers
for more people to have the experience we were enjoying.
Our small chapter worked tirelessly to put on our first conventions
having to use our own registration fees to get started. When
I see today’s conventions, I don’t know how we ever
pulled them off. With limited funds and so few workers, we
had to do it all!
After Carole and I closed our shop, I started teaching more and more at
other shops, the YMCA, adult evening classes, at schools, and even
opened a studio in my basement.
My husband Jack was planning to take an early retirement and help me
with my business; traveling to conventions, teaching, and selling
supplies. I was already selling my own patterns with
instructions and wood items under the name of
“Ginny’s Gems”. This plan came to an
abrupt halt when Jack met an early death in a horrible
four car accident.
As the saying goes “when one door closes another
opens”. I’ve always loved music, and now
I belong to the Central Ohio Hot Jazz Society. I used to do a song and
dance act with three other ladies
(including HOOT member Dottie Moorhead) performing with a local jazz
band. I have traveled to many states and three times to
Europe for performances. We no longer do our act, but are
usually with the band when they play.
I spend winters in Bradenton, Florida and my summers are back in Ohio.
Though I make very few HOOT meetings and no longer paint, I am so proud
to have had a part in the beginning of such a
wonderful chapter and all that the members do to promote this art form.
I will always have a place in my heart for Heart Of
Ohio Tole.
From
the heart,
Ginny
Wise