The Hinesville Area Arts Council’s art exhibit this month is called “The Love of Painting,” featuring the oil work of Nancy Melchor.

The exhibit will open with a free reception from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday at the council’s gallery at 102 Commerce St. in downtown Hinesville.

Melchor was born in 1941 in Pennsylvania. She trained and raced harness horses in Maryland and New Jersey. She started her art in 1992 after moving to Pompano Beach, Florida, where she started a cleaning business. She also became Bob Ross-certified in landscape, wildlife and floral oil paintings.

“I was 63 years old when I started painting,” Melchor said. “I was sitting around my house bored, and a friend took me to a Bob Ross painting workshop. After that class, I decided, that’s it, I want to do this.”

She taught in Pompano Beach until moving to Hinesville in 2012. Melchor now teaches oil painting techniques at monthly classes at the gallery.

For more information, go to www.hinesvillearts.com or www.facebook.com/HinesvilleArts.