Celebrating arts and culture in our community
Featured in The Springfield Beacon (January 2, 2008)
Izzy Fletcher: There’s always something to do
By Austin Berger
For the Beacon
From her front yard, Izzy Fletcher has a gorgeous view of the hills of neighboring Jasper. As a matter of fact, from her front yard, you can see up into the hills and view the houses of fellow Emerald Empire Art Association members Bonnie Sandland and DeVon Tanton. With all three of these exuberantly skilled ladies living so close to another, one could conclude there is something in the water out there keeping them invigorated. And Izzy may be possibly the best example. At 83, Izzy is a true veteran of the Emerald Empire Art Association, both serving as president and helping its transition from small humble beginnings to where it stands today.Inspiration to begin: She has vague memories of random charcoal and pen drawings from her childhood; none of them she can remember to any fine detail. “It wasn’t serious stuff anyway,” says Izzy. Although she had an interest in art as far back as she could remember, she spent most of her life, like most people of her generation, working hard and raising a family.
After her the kids had graduated in 1975, she started to take her long time infatuation a little more seriously. For Christmas, her husband bought her a full-size hair dryer; the type with the big dome and the seat. She returned it to the store and used the money to procure all the fixings for a budding oil artist.
Some time thereafter, Izzy met Ruth Simmons, an artist from Cottage Grove who was a member of the Emerald Empire Art Association (EEAC). Ruth was instructing a class at the art association's gallery at 421 A Street. “She told members of the class that the EEAC was a good place to get into the art world," says Izzy.
It wasn’t long before Izzy became an integral part of the organization's success. She served for six years as the center’s president, as well as being a chair on the committee for renovation. She was on the cutting room floor when the Emerald Empire Art Association outgrew its humble roots from an old chiropractor’s office that still had the lead sheets for x-rays. By selling off a few properties and various grants and donations from the Springfield community, the organization was able to make a successful bid for it’s current location on Fifth and Main when it came up for sale in 1997.
Mentors: Izzy loves animals and the local landscape. “Creatures and places we all see and love,” she calls them. It will come as no surprise that she reveres local world-renowned artist Terry Isaac, and his stunning acrylic depictions of landscapes and wildlife in the western United States. Being a Willamette Valley resident, his workshops are a favorite among local nature painters. Another one she credits is Kenji Kobayashi, a Japanese artist whose mixed media surrealist images proved to be a life-changing experience.
Art and Quality of life: “I’m 83 years old, and I don’t hide that,” says Izzy with pride. “I don’t feel it…I feel ten years younger” Being able to pick and choose whatever takes her fancy, she undoubtedly has found a fountain of youth in her art. “So many people my age, they tend to slow down,” says Izzy, but she plans on doing it as long as she is able to hold a brush.
Also, to have traveled through your artwork could only be classified as reassuring. Although it’s not the only trick in her art bag (far from it), she has a penchant for painting on saw blades, and these works have gone across the world and back. The mayor of Eugene's sister city in Japan was visiting Eugene at a time when members of EEAC were having an art show on the Downtown Mall. He commented to Izzy that he liked the crosscut saws she had on display. Some months later a representative of the exchange student program contacted Izzy. He purchased two crosscuts for a gift to the mayor as well as bought several other smaller blades for host families. The representative later told Izzy the crosscuts were official pieces of art at their City Hall.
Her legacy as an artist: She has a few pieces of advice for new artists. First, “do your own work.” With the amount of art shows she’s handled, she knows that the art community is the least likely to suffer a plagiarist gladly. Aside from the cautionary advice, just simply take pride in what you do, and everything else will follow.
Even through being one of many integral stones that helped build the Emerald Art Center into what it is today, she’s first and foremost thankful for her family. She was currently painting some watercolors of her grandkids for a Christmas present. And given that she shows no signs of stopping, even at 83, her legacy as an artist may be yet to come. Just goes to show that, in her words “there’s always something to do in life.”
"There He Is" by Izzy Fletcher
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About The Artist
Birthplace: Spokane
Media of Choice: Watercolor, Acrylic and Oil
Favorite subjects to Paint: Landscapes, seascapes and animals
Favorite place to do art: In her basement studio
Arts organizations: Emerald Empire Art Association (Former President)
Gallery Showings: Heritage Mall (Albany) - November - January Annually
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All art images and photos of the art are copyright of the artist.
"Splash" by Izzy Fletcher
"Petunias" by Izzy Fletcher
"Aspen at Eagle Crest" by Izzy Fletcher
"Petunias" by Izzy Fletcher
"Aspen at Eagle Crest" by Izzy Fletcher
