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 Originally from Carlsbad, California, Charles Andrew Bengs is currently studying at CalArts. Working predominantly with oil, paint, pencil, photography, and sharpie markers, Charles creates work of representational and figurative landscapes. These scenes are found on the outskirts of urban development. He also enjoys surfing, playing guitar, reading, writing, and traveling.
1) Theres a great sense of history everywhere you turn in France that can
leave you awestruck whether in the monuments left behind, architecture
that you stumble upon wandering down some quaint street or in getting lost
in the beautiful lanscapes that were once inspirations to artists like
Cezanne and Van Gogh. Taking the ferry out of Vieux Port in Marseille to
the Island of Chateau d'If was a great experience. Being on the
Mediterranean Sea soaking up the Seascape with towns perched on cliffs and
smelling the salty air is very memorable to me. We walked around the
island prison which inspired the Count of Monte Cristo and watching the
sea sprinkled with deserted islands and thinking of the Phoenician Greeks
coming into that same harbor in 600BC was a transendent experience for me
and wasn't a bad way of starting a morning of sightseeing.
2) I love the food in France from drinking good wine, relaxing and eating
bouillabaisse in a nice restaraunt along the harbor, to grabbing
Pannini's, crepes and shwarma at a little stands. Theres such a wide
variety to choose from. Getting fresh breads, cheese(my favorite), meats,
and fruits from the open markets and finding a spot to picnic is a great
experience and very satisfying for a low cost.
3) Lots of warm greens and blues in late summer. Fields of sunflowers
returning to the earth before the harvest and vineyard hillsides, Provence
has great light for seeing and so many colors
which can feel sift like pastels.
4)Modivated by walking in the footsteps of so many artist that I've
learned about and have been inspired by France gave me a boost to paint
and create.
5) Though awkard at first going on a trip with strangers it turned out to
be a great experience and we shared a lot together learning about the
country as well as each other. Sarah and Maryanne were perfect travel
buddies and I hope we all stay in touch. The people in France are
beautiful and very friendly contrary to warnings I was given that they are
rude. I didn't have that impression.
6)When I got back home LA seemed extra crowded and the traffic seemed
worse than ever. But my time away seeing Provence had a great impact and
was a muse to go and paint.
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Untitled
Oil on canvas
30 x 40 in.
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