House Rock
C
harlie Dingman, a self-taught artist, paints brilliant scenes in oil and watercolor. Inspired by a grandmother's art which adorned his home, he felt peace and
contentment when he viewed her work. He wishes to have that effect on his viewers.
See more at www.Charliedingmanfineart.com.
Let's start off by
asking about your
grandmother's influence on your art.
I understand that
you never actually
knew her?
My grandmother
passed away when
my mother was
14. We were
fortunate to have
her artwork in
our home. So as a
child I would just
look at those watercolor paintings. The way
she used light was truly amazing. I have some
of her work now and I'm still amazed at her
work — the composition, use of light, color,
and shadows. So I know that I was and am
still influenced by her art. I wish I could have
met her and have her teach me. She could
capture a real emotion, a mood, with the way
she developed the painting.
You describe
yourself as a "selftaught" artist,
which sounds like
a musician who cannot "read" music.
In what ways does
being "self-taught"
influence your
approach to your
work?
Each time I do a
painting is a
learning experience for me.
I try to improve each piece so that I feel like
I am developing as an artist and growing and
learning. It isn't so much about technique as
it is creating feeling and an image that creates
interest for the person viewing my artwork.
I was greatly influenced by Bob Barlow. Bob is
a friend and a great help to me. He invited me
into his studio many times to study him painting. I was a dentist and had just had a career-
photos by
Ashley Stevick
www.distinctlymontana.com
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