A Beautiful Journey

Words by Ginny Roberts | Image by Ryan McGill

Art has always been a part of my soul.

I remember sitting on my grandmother's lap as a toddler, watching her sketch profiles and sew clothes from old grocery sack patterns. She would crochet slippers, craft grape magnets from pipe cleaners and sequins, and always encourage me to create.

Every summer, I went to Vacation Bible School—for the Bible stories and, of course, the arts and crafts. I have always felt a deep connection to art, knowing from a young age that it was my passion.

When I was preparing to enter college, however, I faced a hard truth: people said there was no money in art. As a first-generation high school graduate and college student, I felt pressured to make a “sensible" decision. I wanted to be an art teacher, but with limited job prospects, I shifted my focus to Spanish, knowing there was demand.

My first job required teaching both English and Spanish. Although I initially didn't want to teach English, I went back to school, earned my master's in education, and eventually taught theater, too. It turned out I had a knack for guiding students through plays and productions despite my limited experience. After a decade in theater and language education, I eventually found my way back to art. While teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) at T.R. Simmons Elementary, I found joy in connecting with students through creativity.

Meanwhile, I began hosting traveling paint parties to help pay off student loans. These parties expanded into an art studio, a few years of chairing the Walker County Arts Alliance's Art in the Park, painting mules for the Alliance, and supporting outreach programs for those who needed art in their lives. Art remained at the heart of my work, and I became passionate about supporting creative spaces for children and teens.

Then, while home during the pandemic, I received a phone call from the assistant superintendent of Jasper City Schools, offering me a high school art position. I was shocked but thrilled! Although I had commitments to my ESL students, I knew this was my calling. We worked out a plan, and by February, I was officially an art teacher.

Reflecting on my journey, I feel incredibly grateful for every twist and turn that led me here. Teaching art to students who discover their own abilities is the most fulfilling work I could imagine. The power of art lies in its ability to touch lives, connect souls, and transform communities. I love that I get to bring this passion into my classroom every day.

This journey has been unexpected and beautiful, and I wouldn't change a thing. Art is my soul's work, and sharing it with others is my way of giving back to a community that has given me so much. 78

Ginny Roberts is an artist and the owner of Ginn's Art and Soul Studio.