Charles Laurent Biography

Born:	1950 Madison, New Jersey
Education:	The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Academics at University of Pennsylvania and Temple University

As a child living in New Jersey we went to New York City to museums and galleries. When I was about 8 or 9 my Aunt took me to a de Kooning show at a gallery. After that experience I knew that painting was what I wanted to do. By age 10 I was out painting landscapes with a group of older women and I have not stopped painting since.

After high school I went directly to The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. I was in the right place at the right time. The mix of the old guard and new made a wonderful balance. On one hand Walter Stuempfig, Hoboson Pittman and Morris Blackburn on the other Elizabeth Osbourne, Jim Lueders and Ben Kamihira. One of my favorites was Will Barnet.

As a youngster I admired painters such as Mattise, Bonnard, Picasso, Franz Kline, Clyfford Still, Milton Auery, Edward Hopper and Marcel Duchamp. In 1966 I took a train to New York City and went to Duchamp’s home. I was told at the door he was ill and not taking visitors. Later on at the Academy I became interested in colorfield painting. Each of these painters has had an effect on my own painting. Another painter was Joan Mitchell. Her understanding of color use is wonderful.

I have always shaped my painting compositions on my observations of environments around me. By the 1980’s I had gone to non-objective compositions. Over the last two decades I have returned to more representative forms within my canvas. The nature of the environment, light and color still are
motivators.

I have shown over the years, my first one-man show as in 1973. The last show in New York City was 1986 and my last salon show was in 2008.

I have always felt that painting is more about process than product.