[The Setting] Late summer afternoon, sun going down over central Tennessee’s Cumberland River. A deer-frequented hillside and an airy deck built for views and socializing. Wine, pizza and good conversation continues as a cool evening closes in.

The hosts, Isabel and Larry Cohen, are friends of friends and I was honored to celebrate Isabel’s birthday that night. Isabel, or Isa to the locals, is a lovely, statuesque entrepreneur and she shared some of her narrative with the guests. As the party ended, I was shown her studio and many pieces of art on the walls – or stashed away in closets – knowing immediately that her story was meant for ArtBeat. Not only is her artistic journey a great adventure, but Isa isn’t done yet. Besides her business and creative endeavors, she is active in volunteerism, taking her skills to Peru as an art outreach coordinator, working to promote tourism in her community and also volunteering with the Democratic Party during the last election. We look forward to keeping in touch with this inspiring individual.

I asked Isa to tell us everything in writing because I have too poor a memory to recount the details I found so compelling while we were celebrating. All I have is an overall recollection of this lady’s free-spirit, sense of humor and how much happiness she gets out of her art, as well as her statement that it is more difficult than it seems to create a good representational painting.

We decided to cut and paste the majority of Isa’s interview because no words are better than her own. All images courtesy of the artist, paintings acrylic multi-media.

My first introduction to the arts was in Germany through my arts teacher. I was in love with French Impressionism specifically with paintings from Henry de Toulouse-Lautrec and Paul Gauguin for their bold colors and simplified subject matters. I may have been even more in love with all bohemian flair that
surrounded the French painters. My awakening happened when I first saw expressionist works because I was fascinated by the freedom of form and color. To have the permission to paint any way you like just blew my mind and it was clear to me that I would become an artist at age 14. I never wanted to get married and wanted rather to be an independent woman who paints. After passing through gymnasium and trade school to please my parents, I traveled internationally a lot, lived in Switzerland and Ibiza, Spain just partying my life away. When I got tired of that, I remembered my love for art and went to the Werkkunstschule Luebeck art school for 3 1/2 years.

I already had a job offer at one of Hamburg’s prestigious advertising and marketing company Gruner + Jahr as a graphic designer when I wanted to make one last trip before the fun was all over. After staying for a couple of months at the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, I ended up in Key West, Florida where I met my husband Larry Cohen, a fishing guide, who lived on a houseboat. Within 5 weeks we were married, and I moved in. I worked for a short while for Solares Hill, an advertising company, then I became a tour guide at the Hemingway Home and Museum. At the same time, I was part of a group of painters that met weekly at the community college around renowned artist Roberta Marks. We were all abstract painters, and I learned a lot about the American artists Robert Motherwell, Robert Rauschenberg, Franz Kline, Jasper Johns and many more.

Money was tight and I struggled to pay for the huge amounts of paints and mediums that I slapped on my canvases. So, I started making commercial art to be able to afford my abstract painting. The Hemingway Home had a gift shop with thousands of people coming through every week. One of my painting friends, Claudia Richards, was hand painting t-shirts and showed me where to buy the shirts and which paints were best for it. I started painting cats (a big thing at the Hemingway Home) on shirts to
be sold in the gift shop. Living on a houseboat is challenging and there was no room to do the shirts. We put a sheet of plywood over 2 trash cans on the dock and that was my workspace. I had to wear a huge sombrero so I would not get sun burned on my shoulders.

Then I found a small printing press and a mat cutter at a yard sale in Key West. I took one class of printmaking with Malcolm Ross at the college and that was the beginning of countless etchings that were being sold at the Hemingway Home and Sloppy Joe’s Bar. I gave up my tour guide job and was a full-
time artist for a number of years and never worked for anybody else since then.

In 2008, we moved to Tennessee full time and built our house. I made sure I had a nice 1000 square foot studio space so I could keep producing my commercial as well as abstract art. But then life took a turn. My husband and I started a leather business making items for Harley-Davidson and Indian motorcycle. Machinery was bought and my painting studio disappeared over time. I created the designs of our items, and it came handy that I had my knowledge from art school to do the graphic design for our company. Check it out at www.Captain-Itch.com.

Now, many years later, I am close to retirement and have already withdrawn quite a bit from work to make time for PAINTING. But a 15-year break is a long time. My studio space is smaller now, maybe 100 sqft, and I have had to switch to smaller formats after our house burned to the ground in 2020 and we sized down with the new house. I enrolled with Acrylic University just to get the muscle memory back and also to learn more about representational subject matters. I don’t know why I think that I have to do this now, but I know for sure that I will venture out again into the abstract world when I am ready. I lost my voice 15 years ago and I am working hard to get it back.

My exercise paintings from Acrylic University are on display and for sale at a local gift shop that is our attraction in town (ArtBeat featured the creative charms of Granville in November 2022) and many people come through. It’s a small and humble start, but I am happy. I totally trust the process, and with some discipline, I know that I will find my voice again. I don’t have to HOPE for it to happen because I know that it is in me waiting to emerge. I just keep practicing every day. My goal is to paint 300 paintings in a year to push myself. I am not even halfway through.

I like the magical moments in life. The magic comes when the painting takes over its own life. The constant push pull during the process is exciting as every mark or brush stroke changes the whole and is a new beginning, with new possibilities. It is definitely the journey and inner dialogue during a session that gives me great satisfaction.

When asked about her opinions on gallery shows and the business end of being an artist, Isable had this to say:

They have their place and make the bridge to the collectors. It has been almost 20 years since I have participated in art shows and shown in galleries and much has changed since. The internet and social media have made it possible to connect directly but take a lot of time away from the easel. It is about the
artist’s financial situation, too. Galleries back 20+ years ago got 40-50% of the sale. I don’t know what the norm is today. For the beginner and intermediate artist, I recommend art guilds and co-ops. For the established artist a gallery is the better choice. They organize shows, shipping and financials which can be pretty annoying.

Once a reputable gallery takes you under its wings, you have more time to paint. Your paintings sell faster and for a higher price. The gallery owners know their clientele and tastes which make things easier. You can even get work through commissions. But the biggest reward is when you hear back from a buyer or collector who lets you know how much they appreciate your art. That is very uplifting, and you walk on clouds for a day or two.

Being on top of any social media outlet can be difficult, time consuming and frustrating. New artists are trying to get some name recognition under their belt and the best way is by winning group shows, prizes, getting grants and such. I recommend an artist study with different teachers and other artists, build up a nice resume and doors will open for you easier.

I remember taking images for slides which was the norm to submit artwork then. And every time you get rejected, you feel like failure. You really have to have a thick skin to keep going and not give up from all the beating. I advise that an artist be prepared to get rejected left and right. Everything is relative. You can submit a piece for a show and get rejected, and a month later you submit the same painting and win first prize. Curators are human and have their own subjective tastes. Don’t let them discourage you to keep going. I also recommend doing commercial art on the side. It enabled me to paint my abstracts without having to think about how others like it. I paint for myself and if it resonated with someone else, great! This is YOUR art where you strip naked and put it all out there.

I won a couple of rewards and a grant from some Arts Council in Key West. I do not remember the name of it and because of the house fire, I don’t have any records of it anymore. But I do remember a check for a couple of thousand dollars which came really handy when I was broke and had to buy art supplies.

I absolutely enjoy attending shows and exhibitions when possible. Artists are, in general, very supportive to each other and after a show is done and the business part handled, we usually end up getting together for a late dinner and some wine and the creative juices really start flowing then. Whenever I can, which sadly is not very often, I go to museums. I do make it point to visit museum exhibitions when I travel.

Please tell us one of your most memorable art stories:

The Woodenhead Gallery in Key West had a Valentine’s Day Erotic Show every year. We would tape the windows with paper and show artwork that matched the theme. We had potters forming penises, body painting and a lot of art. I volunteered at the wine bar and with all the eclectic people that night, we all had a grand time. I submitted an abstract painting that showed sand dunes without a horizon right before sunset. It was crimson red and dark. When my former landlord saw it, he turned red and said that he saw a clitoris in it. I remembered his remark and selected it to submit in the show. It was a 30×40 inch acrylic. I gave it the title “Sweet Vibrations or the Best Orgasm I Ever Had”. It sold for $800.

In general, I don’t think that the public knows what to do with artists. That amuses me to the core. They admire our talents or workmanship, but we seem to exist outside a social hierarchy. I love it that way.

What is your philosophy for:

Work – be disciplined.
Family – comes first, even though they often feel second.
Life – It’s all about community. The creating process is a lonely one for painters. In order to grow you need to stay inspired, take risks, and be aware of opportunities. Fellow artists understand that and often helped me out of a rut. Don’t take yourself too seriously. We all are just a drop in the bucket. Live like nobody is watching. The world is our playground. Go play!

Name three things that have been the keys to your success?

Good mentors (my mentor, Roberta Marks, gave me a “home” in her classes and pushed us to not settle for half-ass art and keep painting until nothing could be added or taken away), good fellow artist community and an understanding partner all contributed to my success.

Are there any living or deceased artists that have struck an “awe” chord with you and why?

Robert Motherwell for his boldness. Robert Rauschenberg for his array of materials in his art.
Richard Diebenkorn for his semi abstracts color choices. Jean-Michel Basquiat for his story telling.

What else inspires you?

I get a lot of inspiration from music. Celtic music makes me paint green. Listening to Bob Marley will definitely have primary colors and lots of movement. Classical music is secondary and tertiary colors with delicate marks in it.

Find out more about Isa and all her artistic touches below:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064583893458

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Captain-Itch/165404976830401

https://www.instagram.com/captain_itch/

ArtBeat Magazine thanks Isable for her time and warm hospitality. Updates on Isa will be posted as they come. ArtBeat also wishes blessings of love and creativity to all our artists, readers and business partners this holiday season. Thank you for more than 8 great years!