By Bree Rae
Award-winning artist and children’s book illustrator Irving James Toddy died Nov. 25, 2020. He was 69 years old.
Obituary: Irving James Toddy from The Navajo Times. Peek: “Irving was born Feb. 4, 1951, in Ganado, Arizona, into the Bit’ahnii (Folded Arms People Clan), born for Red Streak Across Forehead (Zuni). He passed away Nov. 25, 2020, in Farmington. Irving received a master’s degree from Utah State University and was a self-employed artist.”
Irving James Toddy was the oldest son of renowned Navajo Artist Beatien Yazz and mother Elizabeth Roan Bennet.
He grew up surrounded and inspired by art. In 1983, his passion for art led him to Utah State University where he studied painting and illustration, eventually earning a Master of Fine Arts degree in the field. Toddy became known as a “Gallup Realist” due to the realistic nature of his work. He often painted scenic images and realistic portrayals of Native people.
Over time, Toddy would receive multiple awards and acknowledgements for his work, including the Patrick Hinds Swazo Award for Most Promising Young Artist as well as first, second, and third place awards at the Santa Fe Indian Market, and numerous honors at the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial.
Toddy’s illustration credits include: Cheyenne Again, written by Eve Bunting (HMH, 2002); Canyon Boy, written by Avrum B. Organick (Red Lake Press, 2002); and D is for Drum: A Native American Alphabet, written by Michael Shoulders and Debbie Shoulders (Sleeping Bear Press, 2006).
Toddy lived a life dedicated to art and family. He is survived by his wife Stella, six children, 12 grandchildren, and their extended family.
Cynsational Notes
Bree Rae is a life-long Oregonian who holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts and is a recipient of the Oregon Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators 2020 scholarship prize for the Middle Grade and Young Adult novel category.
When she’s not writing, you can find her on Instagram @BreeRaeWrites or on Twitter @BreeRaewrites.