Rhoda Fritsch was born in Thief River Falls, MN, into a Scandinavian family. The family of six lived near Viking, MN. She attended a one room country school until she was in high school; following graduation she moved to Chicago, IL, to attend Swedish Covenant Hospital School of Nursing. She met and married Al shortly after that graduation and they have lived and worked in Aurora, IL, since that time.
Soon, as a stay-at-home mom, she began taking decorative painting lessons and followed with lessons in rosemaling while their girls were in school. What began as a hobby thirty-five years ago quickly became a passion. It spilled over into the lives of her family, drawing them all into some aspect of rosemaling and our Family Tradition!
Al and Rhoda created their business, Rhoda Fritsch & Co., thirty years ago and it still continues today. She has earned regional, national, and international awards for her painting, including the prestigious VESTERHEIM GOLD MEDAL in Rosemaling.
She was honored to have the piano ornament she painted chosen to decorate the Christmas tree in the Blue Room of the White House in 2004. As a thank you, Mrs. Laura Bush invited each artist to a holiday reception.
Rhoda has studied with many master Rosemalers, and has traveled to Norway several times to learn from the best. She is well acquainted with the Rogaland and Telemark styles, and has knowledge and experience in many other styles as well.
Rhoda has taught classes in the US, including Alaska, and as far away as Japan. She has been published in American magazines, in several US newspapers, Japanese magazines and a catalog, and been interviewed by college students for their work. Rhoda sells her work at selected Folk Art Shows and Gift Shops, as well as from the SHOP on this web site.
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Rosemaling (pronounced rose-mahl-ing) is the folk art painting of Norway and has been a Family Tradition of Rhoda and her family.
Her husband, Al, patiently and with exacting craftsmanship, does all of the preparation of surfaces and finishing of the surfaces once Rhoda has turned the piece into a work of art. Since they were young, Rhoda and Al’s two daughters, Susan and Carol assisted with preparation, finishing, and sales. As the family grew with the addition of their daughter’s husbands, Kevin and Ric so did the work force. Today Rhoda’s granddaughters, Erin, Ellyn, and Shannon get involved from time to time. Occasionally, she may even enlist the help of her grandsons, Josiah, Daniel, and Kristian. Exclusively Rhoda handles the designs and stroke work that make each piece unique and a potentially treasured family heirloom.
Rhoda paints in a style that is easily recognized as her work. Her first classes were in the Rogaland style. This is still obvious in her art. She has also been greatly influenced by the Telemark artists under whom she has studied. She paints in the techniques that are used in Norway today.
Rhoda Fritsch has studied, painted, and taught Rosemaling for 30 years. She paints in techniques that are used in Norway today clearly based on the old traditional methods. She has developed a signature style that is easily recognizable as her own.
Rhoda’s distinct style has been described as flowing and organic, soft with subtle color changes, and with a contrast between the foreground and background. There is a definite depth and rhythm to her rosemaling. She often used script on her work.
Today Rhoda’s rosemaling style is largely in the Telemark tradition. Her original rosemaling classes were in the Rogaland style and that is still evident in her work. She has also been influenced by each style she has studied and every master rosemaler she has worked learned from.
She usually paints on traditional dark backgrounds. Her designs are simple, yet elegant. Her colors are rich and effective. Her technique is free, spontaneous, yet controlled showing her individuality. She paints quickly and with authority.
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Genealogy –My family roots are in Norway…
One might imagine that having two grandmothers of Norwegian heritage, Rhoda’s introduction to rosemaling may have come from them. However originally it did not, but she feels that the love for the art of rosemaling and the country of Norway may still be inherited. So you see, Norway and Rosemaling has been a family tradition.
Her maternal grandmothers’ family immigrated from Romsdal, near Isfjorden to ND, USA. She was Clara Brevik, daughter of Halvor Olsen Brevig (b. 1844, Grytten) and Kari Anne Pedersdtr. Holm (b. 1844 in Voey).
Her paternal grandmother, Hilda Samuelson, daughter Nicolai Andreas Samuelson (b. Dec. 1833, Mandal) and Anne Cecilia Kobeinsdatter Kobensen (b. Nov. 1847, Lingdal) lived in Vest Skjogsfjord before her family immigrated to MN, USA. In fact, in later years Rhoda learned that the first teacher from Norway she had studied with, Gunnar Bø, is from the same family line.
Rhoda would like to hear from anyone that may have information that may be helpful.
Thank you, Rhoda
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