CHARLES HARTLEY

American, b. 1944

Charles Hartley was raised in Oregon, received a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Colorado, and taught physics and astronomy for thirty years at Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY. After retiring, he took up painting with fervor. Charles came to us in 2008 with his first group of serious paintings. His handling and awareness of light & atmosphere were most intriguing. Hartley's work has grown tremendously in a very short time. He is self-taught, prolific, and his technique continues to inspire and marvel our visitors and collectors.

"In 2008 I started painting seriously. I paint in a classical realism style from photographs I have taken mostly during my travels with my wife around the world. I paint only because I love to paint. I pick my subject matter primarily so that it challenges my painting skill, making the painting process more fun. This means my paintings do not follow an obvious theme, troublesome to some, but a real advantage for me. One discernible pattern is that I pick subjects that offer somewhat unusual lighting; there may be other patterns, but I will leave them for others to discover." -Charles Hartley

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