Emmett Fritz was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1917. He attended the Phoenix Art Institute in New York and graduated from the Pratt Institute of Art. Fritz began his career as a commercial artist. After serving in the Army during WWII, he became a cartoonist and caricaturist.

Fritz had the opportunity to study under the iconic American illustrator Norman Rockwell through the correspondence course “Famous Artists.” Fritz was required to submit sketches, which were reviewed and critiqued by the instructor, Rockwell.

Around 1950, Fritz moved to Saint Augustine, Florida, joined the Saint Augustine Art Association and quickly became integrated into the artist community. Fritz painted in the Impressionist style. Using acrylics and oils, his subject matter was often the historic streets and landscapes of Saint Augustine. The artist operated a studio in the Riberia House on St. George Street where he personally greeted visitors who snatched up his affordable, colorful paintings. Over his forty-five year career in Saint Augustine, Fritz amazingly produced some 10,000 paintings.

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