Tipp City resident Pam Fischer isn’t new to the art world—after all, she’s been painting since 1987 and started selling her work in the early 90s. It’s her hobby, her passion … but she had to swallow her nervousness when the opportunity to be involved in the Not So Bad Art by Good People fundraiser came up.
“I can do a craft show and sell it, but to have people look at it and vote on it is way out of my comfort zone,” Fischer said. “I’m not an artist by trade. I’m a sales assistant. This is my first time submitting to an art show.”
But step out of her comfort zone she did, and now Fischer’s submission—four hand-painted ornaments called Christmas Friends—is on display at Citizens Federal Savings & Loan, 100 N. Main St., Bellefontaine, through Friday, Jan. 27. She did a penguin, a snowman, a gingerbread man and Santa. And yes, you can vote on them, if they’re your favorite.
Though she lives and works in the Dayton area, Fischer’s family has had a place at Indian Lake since 1972, and she considers it her second home. She’s also had a booth for her work at the Indian Lake fall festival for the last 12 years and is a vendor at The Depot in Lakeview, if something looks familiar. In fact, that’s how she connected with Depot owner Brenda Holder, who participated as a bad artist last year.
“I liked what the fundraiser stands for,” Fischer explained. “Brenda said I should try to do something this year and hooked me up with Karen Feltham at the art league.”
For her submission, Fischer hand-painted her ornaments using a very decorative technique called Tole, which she described as a dying art. Sadly, the main reason that’s the case comes down to the fact these types of work are now mostly mass-produced overseas. And that’s a double problem—not only are they easy to find in stores, but when people see Fischer’s work, even at a local craft show, they assume the pieces are also mass-produced.
Fischer estimates it takes her about eight hours to do one ornament, but it’s truly a labor of love.
“Finding that unique piece—taking something plain and ordinary and making it something someone can enjoy is always fun.”
Voting for the Not So Bad Art by Good People is happening now through Jan. 27 and costs a dollar a vote. The winner will be announced at a dinner at the Bellefontaine VFW that night, followed by an auction of the nine entries.
For more information, visit logancountyartleague.org or find them on Facebook.