Charles Cashwell is an American painter of the Southwest. His journey began with an invitation to a show in Santa Fe, New Mexico, featuring the work of an artist he deeply admired. After the show, he was invited to the artist’s home in Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico.
We Hear the Same Music, acrylic on board, 28 x 36 in.
“I thought I was coming for a few days, but I ended up staying much longer,” Cashwell recalls. “A few weeks later, my wife and I rented a historic adobe at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and what was meant to be a short visit turned into three unforgettable years. The rolling hills, the scent of piñon burning in the kivas, the sculptural adobe homes and the warmth of the pueblo people drew me in completely. I wanted to soak in the landscape and the color.”
During those years, Cashwell honed a distinctive style that blends impressionism with a modern style—work that has earned him recognition among collectors across the United States. His process is intuitive, raw and ever evolving.
Carried by the Spirit, acrylic, 32 x 32 in.
“I couldn’t tell you exactly how my paintings come to life—it’s a mystery even to me,” he says. “I might begin with an image or a loose idea for the composition, but after that, instinct takes over. I make hundreds of changes. At some point, I usually throw up my hands and say, ‘I don’t know what to do!’ I consider destroying the painting. I cover sections with gesso, scrape it back, sand it down—who knows what else. But somewhere in that chaos, something shifts. Color harmonies emerge, lines find their way, textures begin to develop. It’s not a process I can explain. It’s the only way I know. That mystery is what makes painting so compelling to me.”
Ready to Ride, acrylic, 24 x 18 in.
Now, back in his Georgia studio, he continues to draw inspiration from his time in the Southwest. He returns to Taos often—a place that remains close to his heart. —
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Represented by Mockingbird Gallery
869 NW Wall Street, Suite 100, Bend, OR 97703
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