Artist's Statement of Purpose
By Charles Williams
As a child, I toted around a plastic camera wherever I went, popping flash cubes to illuminate subjects — and my young mind. Technology has evolved, but I still seek out indelible moments to photograph while on the road. Travel inspires me, and that inspiration inevitably leads to art.
For six decades, I've explored new places, first with family and then on my own. My curiosity has led to arts and travel jobs that have allowed me to celebrate our natural and cultural diversity through words and pictures.
Art and inspiration are inseparable. This connection inspired me to write about the Artist-in-Residence program when I visited Zion National Park. And like artists such as Frederick Dellenbaugh, Howard Russell Butler and Frederic Edwin Church, I want to capture natural beauty for those who may not be able to experience it themselves. I believe highlighting fragile landscapes in photographs is the best way to protect our world against indifference.
I'm not easily defined as an artist because I enjoy many forms of storytelling. Travel writing and photography are my lifelong passions. But as technology has progressed, I've also delved into digital storytelling. Ken Burns taught me that sound and pictures can work together to create powerful storytelling, and my digital genealogy project has shown me that we are all interconnected, even if we don't always know it.
My holiday greeting cards seek to challenge perceptions of art, which I believe can touch the soul regardless of income or background. I refer to the cards as "modern-day folk art" because their creation and interpretation are readily accessible to all. Recycled props gathered at local Goodwill stores and other thrift shops — as well as produced digital images, found objects and imagined situations — allow me to create personal messages of joy, hope and reflection.
I use whimsy as an emotional portal into work that often has deeper meaning. Recent cards, while entertaining, makes subtle statements about serious topics such as the threat of global warming and the devastation of Covid-19. The use of greeting cards ensures an inexpensive, organic way to distribute my art. And unlike digital remembrances, a physical greeting card not only elicits emotion, but it also serves as a cultural artifact, often cherished for decades for both its visual impact and its heartfelt sentiment.
As a child, I toted around a plastic camera wherever I went, popping flash cubes to illuminate subjects — and my young mind. Technology has evolved, but I still seek out indelible moments to photograph while on the road. Travel inspires me, and that inspiration inevitably leads to art.
For six decades, I've explored new places, first with family and then on my own. My curiosity has led to arts and travel jobs that have allowed me to celebrate our natural and cultural diversity through words and pictures.
Art and inspiration are inseparable. This connection inspired me to write about the Artist-in-Residence program when I visited Zion National Park. And like artists such as Frederick Dellenbaugh, Howard Russell Butler and Frederic Edwin Church, I want to capture natural beauty for those who may not be able to experience it themselves. I believe highlighting fragile landscapes in photographs is the best way to protect our world against indifference.
I'm not easily defined as an artist because I enjoy many forms of storytelling. Travel writing and photography are my lifelong passions. But as technology has progressed, I've also delved into digital storytelling. Ken Burns taught me that sound and pictures can work together to create powerful storytelling, and my digital genealogy project has shown me that we are all interconnected, even if we don't always know it.
My holiday greeting cards seek to challenge perceptions of art, which I believe can touch the soul regardless of income or background. I refer to the cards as "modern-day folk art" because their creation and interpretation are readily accessible to all. Recycled props gathered at local Goodwill stores and other thrift shops — as well as produced digital images, found objects and imagined situations — allow me to create personal messages of joy, hope and reflection.
I use whimsy as an emotional portal into work that often has deeper meaning. Recent cards, while entertaining, makes subtle statements about serious topics such as the threat of global warming and the devastation of Covid-19. The use of greeting cards ensures an inexpensive, organic way to distribute my art. And unlike digital remembrances, a physical greeting card not only elicits emotion, but it also serves as a cultural artifact, often cherished for decades for both its visual impact and its heartfelt sentiment.
