By Carol Ann Gregg

Allied News Staff Writer

Kids begin drawing at a very early age but for some it is more than a quiet distraction with paper and crayons.

For Jill Mercer, Grove City, drawing led to trying other art forms and finding that she really had talent.

About four years ago, Jill began doing watercolor paintings and about a year ago took her first formal lessons using oil paints.

She took a class in the method of late, popular painter Bob Ross, taught by Sandy Huey at Michael’s Arts and Crafts in Butler. Jill described the method as painting the whole canvas with a base coat and then adding layers.

The class had about five people, so everyone got individual attention. Her first picture turned out very well.

“You make one picture during each class,” Jill said. “The first one turned out good. I had a knack for it and kept going back.”

Jill had seen Bob Ross on public television, so she had an idea of what the class would be like.

“If I can do that good. I wanted to do more,” she said.

One of her pictures was of flowers in a white basket. When asked about how she was able to bring out the weaving of the basket she responded, “Oh, that was a happy mistake, as Bob Ross would say.” Ross encouraged his students to always put their own personality into their paintings.

She also painted a regal picture of a bald eagle.

She has taken art in school when it is offered. She has just completed middle school where art is offered in eighth grade; however, it is not offered in ninth grade, so she is anxious to be able to choose art as an elective in high school.

“There’s a whole lot to learn out there,” she said. “I think that next year I can take 3-D art.”