Beloved artist's legacy goes on display

Most describe a yearning they ignored for years.

Careers, children, spouses -- life -- stood in the way.

Once they wandered into one of Virginia "Ginnie" Adams' watercolors classes and touched brush to paper, a new, vital identity was born.

They became artists.

Adams died in 2006 at age 77, but this small group of her five most dedicated students still gathers for class each Tuesday at Thompson County Park in West St. Paul. They opted not to find a new teacher. Instead, they rely on each other for advice, critiques and camaraderie. They encourage one another and paint.

"We depend on each other," said group member and artist Sandy Pletcher.

They're now preparing for their annual art show at the Dakota County Historical Society in South St. Paul. Dubbed "Making a Splash," it is their eighth annual.

Art Thell has an engineering background. He joined one of Adams' classes in 1991. "I was looking for a hobby. I'd always been interested in painting and drawing," he said.

Adams taught Thell the basics but gave him room to find his own style. She had a light touch when it came to instruction, and that fostered a fierce loyalty among her students.

Gene Saylor started taking classes with Adams in 1990, two weeks after she retired.

"I used to paint flowers," Saylor explained. Lately, her eye has been drawn to nature's drama -- plunging waterfalls and the saturated jewel tones found in autumn foliage.

Adams herself embraced the impressionist style, but she knew every artist saw the world differently. "She let us paint what came out of us instead of having us paint how she did," Saylor explained.

Pletcher said she was such a novice that she showed up for her first class with one of those watercolor paint boxes kids use. "I knew what end of the brush to use, and I learned from there," Pletcher said.

But beyond the basics of paints and brushes, Pletcher said, Adams taught her so much more: "She taught me how to see things."