"Four decades of painting, influenced by some wonderful artists and ever struggling to do better work, inspires me to paint every day".
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With an ageless sense of wonder, first experienced as a boy growing up with farm fields and woodlands, Charles Spratt perceives the natural world and creates its presence on canvas— images made possible by a mature artist’s eye for composition, four decades of painting and a personal sense of spirituality.
When Charlie was forty years old, a graduate engineer with a gift for drawing, he made the decision to try his hand at the serious work of becoming a painter while maintaining his dedication to family and business affairs. Serendipitously, renowned Ottawa artist, Grant Tigner. invited Charlie to a plein air session in the countryside. That single experience launched an artistic journey, guided by his mentor, by years of study and teaching, and by painting alongside other nationally recognized Canadian and American artists. Using a plein air sketch from a field trip as a reference, he works on a large canvass in his Ottawa studio. As he paints, he explores a personal sense of spirituality, while holding true to the freshness of the plein air experience. With forty years of painting and more than 30 solo exhibitions behind him, Charlie is quietly pleased that his work continues, reaching it's highest levels and with the knowledge that his paintings are found in private collections throughout Canada in USA and abroad. “I have learned to use paint and canvass to create, and to share, my absorption in the wonder and beauty of the world around us. I have also learned as an artist that I can never stop searching for better ways to express those feelings—and to more fully understand myself, a struggle that is integral to my painting.” Spratt is a signature member of the Ontario Society of Artists and the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour. He was co-founder of the long-running National Capital Fine Art Festival and the Manotick Dam Art juried show. Thirty years ago, he was instrumental in forming Plein Air Ensemble, a not-for-profit outdoor painting group that continues to offer twice-yearly trips for artists. He is a Life-Member of the Manotick Art Association and volunteer co-ordinator of the MAA summer plein air painting program. - edited by Barbara Robson, Ottawa author - photography by Paul Powers, Stittsville, ON |
Charles Spratt - Artist
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Professional artist, plein air painter, experienced in juring, critiquing and instruction. Signature member of Ontario Society of Artists (OSA), Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour (CSPWC), Society of Canadian Artists (SCA). Member Ottawa Watercolour Society, Manotick Art Association, West Carleton Art Association, East Central Ontario Art Association (ECOAA)
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Galleries
KOYMAN GALLERIES
1771 St. Laurent Boulevard Ottawa, ON 613.526.1562 |
EDITH CURRY GALLERY
94 Maple Avenue Haliburton, ON 705.457.9687 July and August 2020 open 6 days/week. |
CARDINAL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
30A Hazelton Ave., Suite 200 Toronto, ON M5R 2E2 624.426.0008 |
The Ten Collective On-line Gallery featuring the paintings of the members of T-T-C.
Photo credits: all photographs by Paul Powers photographer, artist, great friend