Celebrating the Queen of Color Ginger Cook!

Happy Birthday Ginger!
A Birthday Celebration: Honoring Ginger Cook's Artistic Legacy
As we celebrate Ginger Cook's birthday, we celebrate more than just a date on the calendar – we honor a visionary who has transformed the landscape of acrylic painting education and touched countless lives through her artistry and teaching.
A Journey of Passion
Ginger has dedicated her life to mastering and teaching acrylic painting for over five decades. Her artistic journey took an extraordinary turn when she and Jon embarked on an online teaching adventure, guided initially by Mark Kistler. This decision to share her knowledge digitally has blossomed into a revolutionary platform that reaches artists worldwide.

Creating Magic Through Teaching
Ginger's teaching magic lies in her unique ability to make professional-level painting accessible to everyone. Her infectious laughter and joy in teaching create an atmosphere where creativity flourishes. Her comprehensive approach includes detailed instruction on essential techniques – from proper paint-to-water ratios to masterful layering methods – all delivered with her signature warmth and clarity.
A Living Testament
The impact of Ginger's dedication shines through her students' achievements. From 76-year-old Cheryl winning blue ribbons at art shows to countless others finding their artistic voice, her students' successes tell the story of her mentoring effectiveness. During the challenging times of the pandemic, Ginger's commitment to her art family was evident through special gestures like live YouTube sessions, proving that art can unite us even in isolation.
The Gift That Keeps Giving
As we celebrate this special day, we celebrate not just Ginger's years of life, but the countless lives she has enriched. Her dream of sharing knowledge with as many students as possible before “leaving this plane of existence” has already created a lasting legacy in the art world. Her continued dedication to staying current with new techniques and materials ensures that her teachings remain fresh and relevant.
Today, we raise our paintbrushes to Ginger Cook, an extraordinary artist, beloved teacher, and beacon of inspiration in the acrylic painting community. Happy Birthday to a woman whose passion for art and teaching continues to paint the world with more color, one student at a time.
Happy Birthday, Ginger!
Jon


Dearest Ginger,
Here we are, celebrating another year of your extraordinary life.
Thank you for sharing your ability to teach others how to paint and become successful artists. What a gift to the world you are!
We love your passion for painting and infecting us with it. We enjoy your stories, humor, and Gingerisms.
I pray this next year is a most beautiful one for you. You have colored our hearts with the love of art. Thanks for that!
Happy birthday, dear friend.
Liz Clark
Dearest Ginger,
I am not going to believe that you are another year older, as you look as if you keep aging backward. One day, you will have to share your secrets with us. Each year, you get more beautiful to me, not only in your gorgeous looks but also in the gifts that you bring to each and every member of your art family.
Personally, I can tell you that you have enriched my life so much for the better. I think of birthdays, and I think of gifts. You are the one who has gifted me each and every day with a purpose, joy, enrichment and encouragement in my life. I so hope that this coming year can give back to you some of what you have given to me and to others.
May this year be one of comfort, blessings, and peace for you. I hope that you know how much you are loved not only by me but by your entire art family. Thank you for being YOU! Happiest of Birthdays.
Stephie Jane

First of all, Happy Birthday, Ginger!
I can’t believe that it’s been six years since your infamous Birthday Cruise. I’ll never forget the day I got to meet our Queen of Color as well as Jon The Jester. (Ok I just made that up) Ginger and Jon both are as positively genuine in person as they appear to be online. Ginger is a lady with such quick wit, and as most of us know, she’s a captivating storyteller.
The mental picture of a young Ginger traveling with all her stuff on her little Vespa up the highway from Arizona to Colorado will be forever burned in my mind. However, visions of her hiding from the Federalists, who were after her for stealing water by physically moving a stream, are also among my favorites. Wait, I take that back. There’s also the deal with the donkey, the hill, and the heat! I hope that she tells that one again.
I seriously appreciate watching and learning from her tutorials. I’m not only fascinated by Ginger’s pure talent as an artist but often awestruck by her ability as well as devotion to teach us to paint and to see the world around us with an artful eye. “Your trees must have space among the leaves for the birds to fly through” also, “Don’t clone your clouds”!
Nevertheless, there are times when my sock folder side gets all nervous and jerky because now there’s paint on her hands and consequently everything else she’s touching. “But we’re not going to talk about that”.
Gingerisms: are gifts in the form of all the tips, tricks and painting pointers that Ginger has given you and you now hear, in her voice, as you’re painting.
Ginger, my friend and mentor, I hope that you are aware of just how loved, respected and appreciated you are!
Thank you so very much!
LouAnn

A little bit about Ginger:
I'm so grateful to have Ginger and Jon in my life—they bring so much value to it. Some mornings, Ginger and I chat on the phone over coffee, and it feels like catching up with an old high school friend. We talk about everything, and she has taught me so much about art and painting.
When I started painting at 23, I thought I knew a lot, but looking back, I realize I barely knew anything. Not only is she my mentor, but first and foremost, she is my friend—both she and Jon. They are dear friends to my husband and me, and we've had the pleasure of traveling together on a few occasions. I’m so grateful that our paths crossed.
Becky


A few words about Ginger:
I am so thankful to have Ginger as my art teacher. I have truly learned so much from her! I used to be a fan of her and her art long before I found her on YouTube.
Back then, I could never have imagined that I would ever meet her in person. Since she lives in the USA and I am in Sweden, travel has been difficult due to various reasons. However, in May 2019, I was so lucky to meet Ginger and Jon when they came to my country on a cruise! I will treasure that day forever!
Mona

Happy Birthday, Ginger!
What truly stands out about Ginger is how much she cares. She has been coaching me for years, and when I first started, I was just a beginner. Every time I submitted a painting, she never made me feel anything other than You can do this!
Looking back at my early work, I have no idea how she managed to find such positive and uplifting things to but she always did. Every Personal Art Coaching session with her has been filled with kindness, encouragement, and unwavering support.
As a new member of the Moderation Team, I see firsthand how this community is built on teamwork and shared passion. But it all starts with Ginger herself. She truly cares about every artist, no matter where they are in their journey. I see the behind-the-scenes work involved, and let me tell you, it’s a lot.
One of the most touching examples of her generosity is the Karen Little Scholarship Fund. Many may not know who Karen Little was she was Jon’s wife, and she was a giver. She could have called the Scholarship anything she wanted. But Ginger knew Karen and she wanted to honor her memory, a testament to Ginger’s deep thoughtfulness and compassion.
Jon and Ginger are an amazing couple and a great team, and this is just some of thousands of reasons why Ginger is The Queen of Color. I love that she shares her life, her art, and her heart with all of us. I know I am a better artist and a better person because of her.
Happy Birthday, Ginger! You are truly one of a kind.
Pamela
My mother was a professional artist in my town and, as some of you know when I shared her paintings she was very good and won all kinds of ribbons. She held classes in the upstairs of our home and not once did I ever take a lesson from her. I was a tomboy and was too busy fishing and looking for the next best tree to climb. Later in life when I had children I would take out the water colors with them and I found a bit of talent that I must have inherited from her but never did anything with it, too busy earning a living. Then….COVID hit, my busy life came to a stop and I didn’t know what to do with myself, I went and got myself some canvas, Acrylics a few cheap brushes and began painting pictures I liked. I started looking on Youtube and found the Art Sherpa and I was hooked! I then found Ginger and her style and her stories had me hooked. I thank you Ginger for taking me on this journey, although late in life I found you all the same and now my house isn’t clean, I work less, I no longer fold the socks and I have hundreds of brushes in my loft that is now a studio where you wouldn’t dare walk at night without a nightlight. I have watched just about every tutorial you have and always thirsty for more. I have made a lot of internet friends on Monday nights that never judge and we all have one thing in common. We all love you and Jon and are so thankful for you. So as you celebrate
your special day, just know we all hold our bushes high in your honor…everyday. Thank you Ginger Cook for all your wonderful stories along the way and bringing out the best of us in our art.
Art Hugs xo