The Art of Charles Muench Newsletter 

 Winter 2015 

 

32" x 48" Oil on Linen
California Art Club 104th Gold Medal Exhibition
USC Fisher Museum, Los Angeles, CA.
March 28th - April 19th
Gala Reception March 28th

In 2000, I backpacked over this grueling pass into Kearsarge Lakes. While camping, fishing, and painting in the presence of these gothic peaks, I had an artistic epiphany. I needed to be living in the Sierra, not traveling for occasional visits. I needed to be immersed in my inspiration.

This past summer, after thirteen years of living in and alongside Eastern Sierra, I returned to Kearsarge Pass. Not only was I overlooking the vast expanse of the Sierra backcountry, I was looking back to the past travels of my journey as an artist.


 

 

  

 

"If you are careful, if you use good ingredients, and you don't take any shortcuts, then you can usually cook something very good. Sometimes it is the only worthwhile product you can salvage from a day; what you make to eat. With writing, you can have all the right ingredients, give plenty of time and care, and still get nothing. Also true of love. Cooking, therefore, can keep a person who tries hard sane." 
 
-John IrvingThe World According to Garp 

 

 Also true with painting. I first read this book while a student at the Art Students League of New York. It still rings true and many a day's painting has been salvaged by cooking a good meal. I have been battling a large composition that I hope will result in my entry for this year's Coeur D'Alene Art Auction. Three days of massing in shapes and movement and design and tonal relationships. And then wiping it out and starting anew. I want this painting to make a statement. I can see it in my mind and need to get it onto canvas. I remind myself that this is what the preliminary stage of a painting is about, creating a strong compositional foundation for the paint to hang on. But, dang, it can be frustrating! I hear the ghost of Degas whispering in the wind roaring off of the Sierra crest-

"Painting is not very difficult when you don't know how; but when you know, oh! then, it's another matter."

 

I have cleaned my brushes, ending my painting day. The big painting is massed in. I think I finally have it figured out. I am going to cook a big pot of wild boar sausage and venison spaghetti, just in case I change my mind tomorrow...

 

Charles 

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Autumn Patterns
24" x 36" 
Oil on Linen
Studio


Painting Point Lobos
I had a great time teaching a workshop and painting along the mighty Pacific last month.
Beautiful painting weather at Point Lobos, CA.

Big Sur Spring
10" x 12" Oil on Linen
Studio

Sierra Cathedral
26" x 30" Oil on Linen
Studio

Sierra Waters
12" x 9" Oil on Linen
Studio

 
RECENT SALES 
"Pasadena Spring"
30" x 48" Oil on Linen
SOLD
Desert Gothic
"Desert Gothic"
24" x 30" Oil on Linen
SOLD
 

 

To see a complete selection of available paintings, please visit my website:

WWW.CHARLESMUENCH.COM

775 265 4454

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