A passion for painting

For 40 years, Fred Fisher put his brush to anything with a flat surface -- canvas, sheetrock, glass and pieces of plywood. He worked constantly, painting for more than 20 hours a day, often through most of the night.

Fisher, a retired WWII veteran, lived in Camillus, N.Y., where most of his paintings were kept unseen by the public until his death in 2008. Though he dedicated countless hours to his craft Fisher rarely sold his art, accumulating about a thousand works that are now in the care of a local gallery.

Photo: Rachel Ousley

Customers browse the scores of artwork in Brian's Art Gallery in Syracuse.

Last year, Fisher's son, Brian, approached the owner of Brian’s Custom Framing and Art Gallery in Syracuse regarding his father's work. Brian Wood, who has owned the gallery for more than 20 years, was immediately fascinated by the quality of Fisher’s artwork.

“I think that he just had such a passion and it comes out in his art,” Wood said. “And I like the enthusiasm that it brings to all the people that come in here.”

Brian’s Art Gallery is the exclusive carrier of Fisher’s work, which includes landscapes, portraits, and abstracts.

Though Fisher closely studied artists like Picasso, Pollack, and Monet on his own and as an art major at Onondaga Community College, his work demonstrates a unique style.

“Mr. Fisher could put his mind in so many different places at so many different times,” Wood said. “I think it was just an innate talent.”

Prices for Fisher’s art generally start around $200 but certain pieces cost up to $1200. Wood called Fisher’s work “under priced.” As Fisher becomes better known and his works become rarer, Wood expects the prices to rise.

“I would never use the term unknown artist—he was an unfound artist,” Wood said. “It’s been by far the most successful art collection that I have ever carried."

Wood stressed the importance of art, calling his gallery and Fisher’s works a cultural benefit to the Syracuse community.

“Art is for the soul,” he said. “You don’t need to know a tremendous amount about art. You know what you like and you know what you can afford.”