“My goal is to be a pure painter. I want to put pigment on canvas in a way that captures the emotions of my visual experience while satisfying the demands of my intellect.”

Charles Muench is an artist living in between the Sierra range and the high plains desert of Nevada. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts-with great distinction degree from San Jose State University. He studied primarily under Maynard D. Stewart, a student of Frank Vincent DuMonds and the son of renowned Utah landscape painter, LeConte Stewart. After receiving his degree, Charles attended classes at the Art Students League with David Leffel, Michael Burban, Jack Faragasso, and others. In 1992, Charles moved to Madrid, Spain, where he painted the city and countryside, studied Velasquez, copied master works in the Prado, and attended classes at the Circulo Bellas Artes.

Charles is featured in the June 2010  issue of American Art Collector. He has been featured in the June 2007 and the June 2003 issue of Southwest Art  as well as the May 2005 issue of Plein Air magazine.

In 2011, Charles received the Southwest Art Award of Excellence at the California Art Club's 100th Annual Juried Exhibition. In 2010, Charles won the Edgar Payne Award for Best Landscape at the California Art Club's 99th Annual Juried Exhibition. He was unanimously elected a Signature Member of the California Art Club. Charles received the First Place Award at the 2008 Heritage Art Exhibition presented by Joan Irving Smith as well as the Collector’s Choice Award at the 2008 and 2005 Maynard Dixon Country Invitational. Charles was awarded the First Place Award and “Best Painting of the Cove” Award at the 2007 and 2005 Crystal Cove Alliance Invitational in Laguna Beach, CA. He also was honored with the Best of Show/Artist’s Choice Award at the 2006 Telluride Plein Air Show. Charles received the Gold Medal Award at the San Luis Obispo Plein Air Event in October 2002. Charles has had his work included in the Arts for the Parks Top 100 Exhibit. His work is accepted annually in the California Art Club’s Annual Gold Medal Exhibit and the Gilcrease Museum’s American Art in Miniature Exhibition.

“Painting is eminently fascinating. I derive inspiration from Velasquez, Sargent, Sorolla, Zorn, Payne, and many others. The basic concepts of painting are relatively simple to comprehend. The subtle variations, which have enticed and challenged great minds throughout history, are what fuel my fire. Brushstrokes are the footprints of the artist’s emotions.  In putting pigment on canvas, I strive for the same honesty and trueness of a Johnny Cash song.”

 

Resume

BORN 1966

EDUCATION

Circulo Bellas Artes, Madrid, Spain

Art Students League of New York, New York City.
Instructors: David Leffel, Jack Faragasso, Michael Burban

National Academy of Design, New York City.
Instructors: James Childs, Leo Neufeld.

Private Instruction with Michael Aviano, New York City.

Sheffield Polytechnical University, Sheffield England.
Instructor: Martin Pritchard R.A.

San Jose State University, San Jose, CA.
Bachelor of Fine Arts- with great distinction, Painting.
Instructor: Maynard D. Stewart.

AFFILIATIONS

California Art Club, Signature Member.
Oil Painter of America, Signature Member.

ARTICLES

American Art Collector, Feature Article, June 2010.

Southwest Art Magazine, My World, June 2007

Plein Air Magazine, Endlessley Inspired by His Environment, May 2005

Art of the West, "Painting the Canyon" November/December 2003

Art Talk, "Artists Painting Canyon De Chelly" November 2003

Southwest Art, "A Man for All Seasons," June 2003

International Artist, “Master Painters of the World- United States Showcase." Issue Number 32

Southwest Art, “The Feminine Form,” November 2001.

Southwest Art, “Artists to Watch,” November, 2000.

EXHIBITIONS AND AWARDS

2011-2007 One Man Show, Galerie Gabrie, Pasadena, CA.


2011-1998 Maynard Dixon Country Annual Exhibit.
Collector's Choice Award 2008 and 2005, Maynard Dixon Estate, Mt. Carmel, UT.

2011-2002 Annual Gold Medal Exhibition.
Pasadena Museum of Art, Pasadena, CA.
2010 Gold Medal Award- Edgar Payne Award for Best Landscape.2011 Southwest Art Award of Excellence.
2011 Southwest Art Award of Excellence.

2008 First Place Award, Heritage Exhibition, San Juan Capistrano, CA.

2009-2002 American Art in Miniature,
Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa OK.

2007 Best of Show/Best Painting of the Cove Award Crystal Cove Invitational.

2006-2001 Laguna Artists Plein Air Invitational.
Laguna Museum of Art, Laguna Beach, CA.

2007-2004 Telluride Plein Air, Telluride, CO.
2006 Best of Show/Artists Choice. 2003 Canyon De Chelly Show,

Trailside Galleries, Scottsdale, AZ.

2003 C.M. Russell Auction of Western Art
Great Falls, MT.

2003 Settlers West American Miniatures Show
Settlers West, Tucson, AZ.

2002 San Luis Obispo Plein Air Event,
San Luis Obispo, CA. Gold Medal Award.

2002 CAC San Juan Capistrano Plein Air Event, CA.

2002 A California Year- One Man Exhibit.
The Vault Gallery, Sonora, CA.

2002 Desert Plein Air Exhibit.
La Quinta, CA. Poster Artist Award for 2003 Event.

2001-1999 Oil Painter of America National Exhibit
Various Locations. 1999 Award of Excellence.

2001 Best and the Brightest Exhibit
Scottsdale Artists School, Scottsdale, AZ.

2000 10th Annual Northwest Invitational Miniature Exhibit.
Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA.

2000-1998 The Artist’s Magazine Annual Art Competition.
Finalist, Portrait Category and Still Life Category.

2002-2000 Arts for the Parks Top 200 Exhibit.
Jackson, WY.

1999 Arts for the Parks Top 100 Exhibit.
Jackson, WY.

1999 American Artist’s Professional League 71st National Exhibition.
Salmagundi Club, New York City. Award.

1999 Salmagundi Club 22nd Annual Non-Members Exhibition.
Salmagundi Club, New York City. Ridgewood Art Institute Award.

1998 Art in the Embassies Program.
Work Exhibited in the American Embassy, Kuwait.

1998 Salmagundi Club 21st Annual Non-Members Exhibition.
Salmagundi Club, New York City. American Artists Professional League Award.

1996 American Contemporaries.
Wally Findlay Galleries, Chicago, IL.

1994 One Man Show- Recent Paintings.
Bingham Gallery, San Jose, CA.

1992 One Man Show- Paintings of Madrid.
Galleria Concha Sedeno, Madrid, Spain.

1989 Art Students League Concourse Exhibition.
New York City, Merit Award.