The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Charlotte Nitcher finds inspiration for her art in nature and symbols. photo by Conrad Wieler Many Sisters area residents have met Charlotte Nitcher working behind the desk at the Sisters Library and many have enjoyed her holiday window paintings at the library.

Most don't know the extent of her art works.

Currently, Nitcher has several of her paintings displayed at the Sisters Library following their showing during the recent art stroll in town.

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Charlotte later lived in Arkansas and Florida before migrating to Albany, Oregon.

"I remember doing sand drawings in Perry, Florida, at a very early age," she remarked when asked when she became interested in art.

A graduate of Linfield College, Charlotte's formal art training started about 15 years ago. She started working at the Sisters Library in 1996 and continues today as Library Assistant.

"I have the best of both worlds. A wonderful job that I love and my art work," she said.

Working out of her large second floor home studio overlooking Squaw Creek Canyon is inspirational.

"My works fall into five basic categories," she said. "Visual metaphors for ideas I want to express, dream images, figure, nature and seasonal."

Her husband, John Nitcher, helps by building frames for her works including shadow box frames.

Frequently recurring symbols found in Nitcher's art include elephants, salmon, goldfish, bones, and cosmic images.

"As a lover of nature, plants, animals and minerals that appeal to my intuitive self, inspire some of my works," she said.

She works with watercolors, pastels, hand-made papers, and various oils and other drawing media. Some of Nitcher's works remind one of Georgia O'Keefe, whom she admires.

Her present library display features one of her watercolors and four oil pastels done on Mexican bark cloth. These are for sale with part of the proceeds going to the new library building fund.

Her holiday window paintings at the library use gallery glass acrylics that mimic stained glass paintings. She also uses tempera paints for some of her window art.

Charlotte also likes to work with papermaking and prints in her busy life. She and John have three grown children, who are quite successful having left the nest and out on their own.

"Each person brings a different personal background perspective when looking at art," said Nitcher.

"Personal experiences have reinforced my belief that life is transient and precious gift. As I continue to grow and evolve as a person, so do my artistic expressions," she said.

For more information visit www.charlottenitcher.com.