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Wabash County artist is teacher, student …
And an award winner By Lori Overmyer Special to The Paper
Artist. Teacher. Motivator. Brenda Ramsier wears all three hats as she works from her studio, The Art Giraffe, in northwestern Wabash County. Earlier this year, Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch announced Ramsier’s pen and ink drawing as the winner for the Hoosier Woman Artist of 2020 award. The drawing of the Wabash County courthouse with representations of local rallies for Women’s Suffrage is hanging in Crouch’s office at the Statehouse. Usually, this honor comes with a ceremony, but Covid-19 restrictions eliminated that for 2020. Ramsier’s pen and ink drawings have been honored four out of five times through the Hoosier Salon. “It always amazes me that I can take a blank piece of paper and ink to represent something 3dimensional,” Ramsier said, “With ink, you can make something really rich, but pen and ink isn’t often the favorite of judges. It’s really rewarding when they recognize my work.” Ramsier began drawing as a child. Her main influence was her mother. “My mom was quite an artist. She played the piano and drew all the time. She even drew the blueprints for the buildings my dad built,” Ramsier said. “I always tried to draw what she was drawing.” Reminiscing, Ramsier remembers her mother encouraging her to draw the pictures in magazines where a company wanted people to draw and possibly receive scholarships if they were good. Ramsier was good. She was offered a scholarship when she was 12. “Of course, my parents and I declined that,” she laughed. When it was age appropriate, Ramsier attended Bob Jones University in South Carolina where she earned degrees in art and Bible studies. She followed that with teaching at a Christian school in Pennsylvania. Eventually, Ramsier returned to the area, married, owned an art store in North Manchester for
Brenda Ramsier demonstrates a technique during her Wednesday watercolor class. Photos by Lori Overmyer
six years, and worked on her master’s degree at tors in it, so did we until we undertook the remodel,” Manchester College (now Manchester University). Student Ramsier said, “Grandpa would be pleased to see it with teaching wasn’t a great experience, so she stepped away new life.” from it. Ramsier’s studio, The Art Giraffe, Although the Ramsier family ini“Art is a great ‘leveler’ in is a safe place for students of all ages tially lived in Wabash, they moved to to try something new. Besides her her grandma’s house north of Roann education,” Ramier said. “It Monday and Wednesday watercolor to give her children more room to gives students confidence to classes, Ramsier opens the studio on play and to be in the country. the first and third Thursday each try other things. Kids will month for the Art Safari. The Art Ramsier began volunteering at Laketon Elementary, and then-prinis an opportunity for artists or try it and be surprised at Safari cipal Denny Craft encouraged her to budding artists to work in a large, finish her art education degree. This what they discover about well-lit space and find encouragetime she found her niche teaching. ment from Ramsier and others. themselves.” Ramsier was at Laketon for five Besides the weekly classes, Ramsier years and Maconaquah for 10. or guest artists offer special classes “Art is a great ‘leveler’ in education,” Ramier said. “It at other times. Those workshops are advertised on the Art gives students confidence to try other things. Kids will try Giraffe’s Facebook page. it and be surprised at what they discover about themRamsier’s classes and the Art Safari are often full, but selves.” she likes the workspace at its current size. “Maybe we Another aspect to teaching that Ramsier enjoys is introshould have created a larger space, but the smaller size allows for small groups to form a family atmosphere.” ducing new media such As the current president of the Wabash Art Guild, as clay or painting. “It’s Ramsier has hosted working events at the studio, the most fun when they really try recent a plein air experience with Tony Pulley. things out of their Ramsier continues to enter her art in a variety of shows. bounds and feel good “I feel blessed to have my work accepted into juried shows about it.” to see if I’m continuing to grow as an artist. The shows After 15 years in classpush me, they’re a good challenge, and I have to get work rooms, Ramsier was done on time,” she said. ready for a shorter comAs far as teaching, Ramsier is magnanimous. “I’m a realmute. “I was ready to ly good beginner teacher, and I expect my students to grow walk to work,” she said. on their own. I always want my students to surpass me.” She wanted a space For herself, Ramsier is a life-long learner. She takes where she could create classes with Terry Armstrong in Warsaw. “He combines and teach, so she and her realism with abstract. He’s my mentor,” she said. family renovated her Ramsier works in all types of media. She enjoys watergrandpa’s pole barn, but color for the freedom it brings compared to the tightness of this pole barn is far from pen and ink. She also works in pastels, but oils were her ordinary. proficiency in college. “When I need or want to learn or “Grandpa bought the improve in a medium, I take a class,” she said. pole barn when Somerset Ramsier’s art is on display at Visit Wabash County in was going to be under downtown Wabash. On November 7 and 8, the Art Giraffe water. He numbered all Studio will be open for guests to see the wide array of the pieces and rebuilt it Ramsier’s work. There will be special prices and goodies on this (our) property. He Brenda Ramsier’s award-winning work which is haning in the office of Lt. Gov. for the event. stored rowboats and tracSuzanne Crouch.
November 4, 2020
Proudly Serving Wabash County Since 1977
Vol. 43, No. 33