‘Lines of Wisdom’

Leonardo da Vinci said a good portrait captures more than likeness; it also reveals “the motions of the mind.” Coeur d’Alene artist, Marilyn G. Fisher, seems to accomplish that with her “larger than life” portraits of the elderly, namely nursing home residents.

On May 16, her one-woman art show, “Lines of Wisdom,” was held at Coeur d’Alene’s Ivy Court nursing home. The showing of the lifelike portraits demonstrated Fisher’s talent. She attributes patience as a key ingredient. But her husband, Jay D. Fisher, a writer and artist, attributes more than patience to his wife’s artistic abilities.

“Marilyn’s accuracy blows people away. Her talents are a gift.”

One resident in particular eagerly awaited the showing: Marilyn Fisher’s 91-year-old mother, Hazel Golden, an Ivy Court resident and artist in her own right.

“My mother painted portraits until she was in her 80s,” she said.

Including Golden, Fisher has painted 14 residents’ portraits thus far. One of those residents is Golden’s roommate, Mary Kringas.

“Mary was ecstatic when she viewed the finished portrait,” Fisher said. “These wonderful people have so much to say and have lived such lives.”

Fisher’s compassion and respect for the elderly led to her decision to paint the seniors’ portraits. Her husband supported the idea.

“She came up with the idea herself. I said, ‘What a great idea! I don’t think anyone else is doing this.’ “

So she plunged in. First, she obtained model releases from residents’ families. Then she spent time with her subjects before snapping digital photos until satisfied she’d obtained just the right picture.

Later, she composed the portraits in her home studio. Her mediums of choice included pastels, chalk, watercolor, pencil and ink. She used acid-free paper, so the finished treasures will last hundreds of years, she explains.

“The finished portrait can be handed down for generations within families.”

Fisher tries to capture the “twinkle in an eye,” “the turn of a mouth,” and even hand gestures. She noticed one woman seemed proud of her hands and well-manicured nails, so she captured her hands in the portrait. These types of details are lacking in photos, she notes.

“Their faces are so wonderful to paint, and they themselves are wonderful to get to know. They were excited about having their portraits done, and enjoyed the attention and respect. It makes them feel important; the elderly deserve that.”

At the showing, families had the option of purchasing the portraits. Pricing for the finished portraits ranged from $245 to $375.

“It’s much less than you’d find elsewhere,” Jay Fisher said. “Marilyn has to enlarge what she captures on camera, and that takes a lot of skill.”

Besides portrait work, Marilyn Fisher has painted other pieces, including murals, on special commission for corporations. She’s also sold paintings across the Western U.S. and Hawaii to private collectors. Presently, some of her work is on display at Coeur d’Alene’s CasaSavie in the Wigget Building at 107 N. Fourth St.

Fisher is also enthusiastic about painting abstracts.

“I paint humongous abstracts – some 6 feet wide, and many 4-by-5 feet.”

“Her abstracts can be described in one word – exciting,” her husband said.

She especially enjoys working with color.

“I’m a colorist,” she says. “And I can paint with the specific colors a client desires for their home décor.”

Fisher’s love of art began as an 8-year-old, when she rode in the back of her parents’ car on long trips. She entertained herself by drawing and painting, discovering a lifelong passion that also led to her becoming an interior designer in California in her young adult years. That’s when she met Jay, who also worked as a designer and artist at the time.

Besides Jay, Fisher soon discovered another love – employing her art in the kitchen, as a chef.

“My mother taught me how to cook. It all originated with her,” Fisher said.

Leaving the design business temporarily, she and her husband opened restaurants in Nevada, California and in Coeur d’Alene (now closed), where they moved nine years ago.

“Food and art are closely related,” Jay Fisher said.

His wife agrees.

“One thing just led to another. We’ve been in and out of galleries and restaurants for the duration of our 35-year marriage.”

The self-described soul mates critique each other’s work. They each have their own studios, on opposite ends of their home.

“We’re both very intense when working,” Jay Fisher said, smiling at his wife. “I’m happy to be married to Marilyn; I’ve thought about how lucky I am every day of our 35-year marriage.”

Marilyn Fisher made the decision to paint full time six months ago while reading an art magazine. The words of art teacher Harley Brown struck her at once: “Seeking greatness won’t give you a good night’s sleep – finding yourself will!”

Fisher took Brown’s word to heart. Soon, she was painting portraits of Ivy Court’s residents.

“I’m doing what I love. And guess what? I do sleep well,” she happily reports.