What themes run throughout your work? Conflict, in some form or another, shows its face often in my work. So does decay, as in the ruins of old buildings or in the ravages of time or hardship on the human face. The serpent and the human skull are common images in my work, and tend to recur.
How do you hope your work will affect its audience? A work of art that does not make the viewer react, either viscerally or intellectually, is a failure. Art must make the viewer think and feel, to look at himself in a new light, or to look at the world with new eyes.
What sounds influence your work? I have a great love of music; I particularly admire the drama and power of classical music, such as Beethoven, Handel and Bach; and this has probably had an impact on my work.
What makes you decide to create your work? I usually have to see a scene, a person's face or another artist's work. Sometimes a movie or a piece of music can stimulate my imagination.
Where do your talents lie? Although I have dabbled in music and poetry (and spent a couple of enlistments in the army), I long ago decided that drawing and painting were my strong points. I do write, however, and I intend to continue to explore that medium, see where it takes me.
What was the first creative thing that you ever did? It was probably in public school, where I was exposed to art, creative writing and music.
What makes you creative? I think everyone is creative. It's a matter of learning to keep working at it, believing that what you have to offer is worthwhile.
How did you get started? I grew up in a family where learning and the arts were very much a part of our lives. My mother had studied art in her youth, and she taught me a few basic drawing techniques when I was a child. My brother Alan has always had a great love of the arts, and even today my conversations with him are a great source of insight about art. In fact, I learned to draw the human figure as a child by copying from a book of his, a collection of Michelangelo's drawings, paintings and sculptures. Later, my high school art teacher was a major source of encouragement, and I learned the basics in her class.
What inspires you? The entire range of the arts, whether music, art, film or literature. I find much inspiration in nature as well; also, I am fascinated by people's faces.
Who inspires you? My work has been influenced by artists as diverse as Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Dali and Edward Hopper. Many popular artists such as Frank Frazetta have also been influences.
What do you do when you are suffering from creative block? I have rarely suffered any lack of ideas as an artist. I merely have to look around me, read a good story, watch the news or a movie for ideas to arise.
What are you trying to achieve? I want my work to move the viewer. I never wanted to do pretty floral arrangements or any trite subject matter. I want to do work that makes an impression on the viewer, provokes an emotional reaction, or perhaps question his or her established values or attitudes.
Do you collaborate? I have never collaborated with another artist on a project, but I would be open to such an undertaking if I found the offer interesting.
Ignoring money and all of life’s woes, what would you want to be? I'm not sure that it's a question of what you want to be; I think it may be more important to accept yourself for what you are and make the most of that.
What do you consider to be the most important thing in life? Every serious artist is a philosopher, whether he knows it or not. He's trying to find answers, trying to make sense of the world around him and the world inside of him. Having said that, I'm still looking for answers just like everyone else.
Artist Statement: Charles Griffith's interest in art began in childhood, and was encouraged by his family. Later, while serving in the U.S. military in Europe, he was inspired by seeing firsthand some of the treasures of European art. Today his art focuses on a contemporary interpretation of Traditional Realism, often with elements of Expressionism and Surrealism.
The artist is largely self-taught, and his work has received exposure in newspapers, books, calendars and other publications. He has sold works locally in North Carolina and has done commissioned projects. He is currently offering prints of his work for sale online.
"It doesn't matter whether a work of art is large or small, long or short. It doesn't matter what the subject is, or what style it was done in. And it doesn't even matter whether it's liked or not. All that matters is that it's good."
Charles Griffith
Name://
Charles Griffith
Age://
48
Profession://
Artist Location://
North Carolina, United States of America Web Link://
charlesgriffith.tripod.com
Work:// - Voodoo
- The Weird Sisters
- The Rendevous
- The House In The Trees
- A Winter's Day
- On Becoming An Artist
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