Rita Fish
Masters in Arts Education from Indiana University
Indiana State Organization – Epsilon Chapter
Describe yourself as an artist.
Calling myself an artist is problematic for me. I would rather say that I make paintings. To explain why would require several pages. Being an art educator has been extremely satisfying.
Who influenced you the most?
My own art education took place at Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis- Herron Art School. Cindy Bixler Borgman was an amazing art educator at Herron in the late ‘80s. It was in her classes that the first State of Indiana’s Visual Art Standards were created. Those standards included Aesthetics, History, Criticism, as well as art making. I believed that it was important to include them all. I tried to emphasize critical thinking.
Tell us what inspired you and how you developed the art you entered in the gallery. Share about your most recent art.
My grandchildren and family in general are what I paint. It is not just who they are but the structure of their faces, the way light and shadows describe that structure. For example, Dylan is a musician and plays bass, guitar etc. His hands have so much meaning and I love their structure. I long to paint them Ala Egon Schiele.
How has your art changed or evolved in recent years?
Most recently I have tried to include the figure in my choices as subject matter. To me nothing is more interesting or beautiful.
What is the best advice you have received in regards to your art?
The advice came from my first drawing and painting instructor, who said, “You learn to paint by painting. Your first hundred paintings or so are going to be awful, so paint them and get it over with.” I think that freed me to explore free of self-criticism.
What is your belief about art education? How does the value of arts impact education?
It is my belief that every student would be enriched by an art education . You can learn much about a civilization by exploring the objects that they created. Learning how to interpret visual imagery to see if it matches your perception of reality seems a necessary skill in today’s world.
What advice would you offer someone interested in learning about painting and artwork?
The best place to learn about painting and artwork is a liberal arts university. In a university setting, students learn from teachers who love art. They are experts in art history and know about paintings.
Who is the painter you most admire? Describe why a particular quote by a famous artist resonates with you because of how in sync you are with it.
The painter that I most admire for the realistic yet expressive qualities in his work is Lucian Freud.
“A painter makes real to others his inner most feelings about all that he cares for. A secret becomes known to everyone who views the picture through the intensity with which it is felt.” – Lucian Freud
Making paintings of my family, I think in a way, makes clear to the viewer the intense feelings that I feel for them.
Interviewed by Deb Carrell, Beta Tau, Indiana, Arts and Humanities Jury 2024-2028