About Us
At Great Climbing Tree Art, our mission is to share our passion for creativity and artistic expression. Our shop is named for an iconic tree in Moorhead, Minnesota that our children aptly named, "the Great Climbing Tree". Although we work in different media, we share inspiration in the beauty found in the natural world, the joy found in creating art, and creating pieces that resonate with others.
Sue Humphers-Ginther first studied art in junior high school in Sacramento and was subsequently invited to create the cover art for her school’s publication of students’ visual art, poetry, and short stories. Sue’s watercolor painting was later awarded 3rd place in a district art fair. In high school, she received her first paid commission, a pen and ink drawing of an historic Victorian house located in Woodland, CA. An artistic hiatus of forty plus years followed while Sue attended college, graduate school (where she met Shawn), raised a family, and enjoyed a career as a university professor. During the pandemic, though, her passion for drawing and painting were reignited while participating in watercolor workshops by David Rogers of Morro Bay, CA. Having spent her early childhood in San Luis Obispo, CA and a long professorial career, Sue was drawn to not only David’s teaching style, but also his focus on iconic Central CA coastal scenes—beaches, harbors, Morro Rock, and the like. Sue retired from teaching in 2022 with a yearning to spend more time drawing and painting, and she continues to learn techniques and approaches from David’s year-long watercolor courses (including his master class). In 2023, two of her paintings were selected for publication in the Red Weather (a publication of Minnesota State University Moorhead) 40th print edition. Sue is currently building her studio as part of Great Climbing Tree Art.
Shawn Ginther’s earliest memories of wood working reflect farmstead experiences with his grandfather and uncle using tools for structural woodwork (repairing fences, livestock stanchions, functioning barns, and outbuildings, and other farm-related work) during summers on his grandparents’ Kansas farm. He took his first formal woodshop class in junior high school in Fresno, CA and later focused on metal working while in high school. Like Sue, Shawn’s focus turned to college, graduate school (where he met Sue), raising a family, and building a career as a university professor for about 45 years until his retirement, also in 2022. In anticipation of retirement and driven by his growing interest in more refined woodworking, he began building and tooling his evolving woodshop and developing relationships with local suppliers of rare woods. Self-taught, he rapidly expanded his wood arts repertoire to include exotics to create large and distinctive charcuterie and brisket boards, the creative application of epoxy resins, and subsequently distinctive built-in bookcases and other fine cabinetry.
We’re excited to make you something you will love!
The "Great Climbing Tree" in Moorhead, Minnesota