28 — Wednesday, May 4, 1994 — Norih Shore News Artist made me From page 24 Over the last 40 years Izzard has launched 51 one-man shows and painted everything from landscapes to still lifes to nudes. Guiding his guest through a tour of his work which domi- nates every wall of his home, - one is immediately struck by the warmth of his images and the vibrant hues of blue, orange, red and brown. Izzard’s work, how- ever, wasn’t always so colorful. In January 1986, at the age of 62, Izzard made headlines when he became the oldest Canadian in history to undergo a heart trans- plant. He. was diag- nosed five days before Christmas with idiopathic car- diomyopathy, a fatal condition that causes total deterioration of. the heart muscle. The disease left him weak and unable ‘to climb even a flight of stairs, let alone a towering sea- . side cliff. aoe It was during this-time, which. . he describes as ‘his blue period, that his palette took on a notice- ably sombre tone... - ““Vwas in that bed. | knew | was - dying, and people would come around and say, ‘Oh, you look wonderful. You'll.be home soon.’ said. to’ myself, “You lying bug.’ fat gers! | won't be going home. ‘Lalways thought it (dying) was like being on-a ship, and the “'ship’s going down, and you’re in a little wheelhouse trying to get out.. You -know.exactly what's : going. on but you can’t get out. It's-a:funny feeling. A strange | . feeling,” he says, sounding philo- sophical . Doctors gave him just two months to live, but because of his otherwise good health, Izzard fought the odds and made med- ical history. He was put ona waiting list and within four weeks he checked into University Hospital in London, Ontario, where he received the heart of a 22-year-old accident victim. Eight years later, Izzard says 66 If I’m not painting, I’m miserable. I get antsy and just want to get going. 99 ical sketch are the Italian coast, Jerusalem, Morocco and Canada. His most recent trip produced two dozen composite drawings that will serve as a launch point for a new series called The Route of Marco Polo. Izzard draws as he paints ~ quickly and vigorously, He likens his sketches to rough notes— “A shorthand of my own,” he says. “They're a bit heavy-handed, but that’s my style. | use a pencil almost like paint. When painting, | lay on the paint and draw with the brush.” His self-taught technique differs from -Daniel Izzard ™2"y artists who the experience not only gave him anew lease on life, but also gave ' his-arta sense of renewal. “Everyone says it is more col- orful, brighter now.” He says his health is good and that he triés to paint about four to five hours every day. “if I’m not painting, i'm miser- able. | get antsy and just want to get going.” Matters of the heart of a differ- ent sort have also reanimated his work.’ ; Last May, tzzard tied the knot a second time, with his Bolivian- born wife, Pilar, whom he calls his biggest fan and strongest sup- porter. “l’m much more tranquil, much happier these days.” The two just returned from a six-week cruise that started in Sri Lanka and ended in Athens. It's one of dozens of trips Izzard has taken in the last four decades. Some of his favorite places to paint over top of their pencil work. While some regard ‘him as Canada’s leading impres- sionist painter, Izzard is surpris- ingly pragmatic. “A lot of people say that, but I’m not going to.say that .... I wish it were so. | try to be the best | can; what more can you say? There are times when you're very happy with what you’re doing and times when you're not very happy. “It's like trying to run the four- minute mile. You're always in competition with yourself. You're only as good as the last painting that came off the easel. As far as I'm concerned, the fast painting sets my tone for the next, and if it’s a bad painting, i’m mad as hell and depressed. If it’s.a great painting, \ think I’m going to do etter than that next time.” Daniel Izzard’s work is on view as part of the Harrison Gallery's permanent collection, 1471 Marine ODr., West Vancouver. Apply Now For... 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