Years of working as an illustrator/art director have given the artist a deep appreciation for unusual visuals with narrative clarity. The goal of any artist is to arrest the viewer’s gaze and provoke thought. The obscure themes explored in Charlie Churchill’s work come from a humorous mash-up of art-history and pop-culture. The “Brides” and “Historical Charlies” play with ideas of memory and identity, never taking themselves too seriously. “Shark! 1916” scenes deal with man’s primal relationship to the unknown/nature at the same time they send up the heroic, historical genre. In all the works the serious attention to details co-exists with a playful urge to distort. Perfection will have to wait.
Charlie’s work with art directors, designers, and architects has taught him how to best translate the concepts and visions of others into coherent, fully realized images. The ability to draw upon a myriad of source material allows the artist to help his clients bring their projects to life.
No other genre gets to the essence of our humanity like portraiture. In these works we explore not just what it means to be human, but what it means to be a human named Charles.
Earth reds with white hi-lights on warm neutral papers bring subjects to life. They are calculated to evoke a Renaissance vibe.
Light and shadow combine with incisive detail and rich color invigorating each individual. Special focus is placed on the subtleties of flesh and fabric.
6-8 minutes of squints and frowns produce a pen & ink tour de force. 10 - 12 portraits per hour. Any event becomes an occasion as guests are immortalized in black and white!
A specific sense of place is captured through tight observation and subtle atmospheric color. Studio pieces benefit from the luxury of time and get more attention to detail. The plein-air paintings are produced rapidly, capturing fleeting effects of light and color.
