Born in 1958, artist Robert Charon grew up in the metro Phoenix area of Arizona. Robert began to cultivate his creative mind at a very early age. In fact, his first private show was held at a local private library when he was only twelve years old. In high school, Charon developed a love of watercolors, and continued to pursue his education through art scholarships to colleges in both Arizona and Utah. During a break in his undergraduate years, Robert spent two years in Taiwan where he acquired an impassioned fondness of oriental tradition and art.
Charon draws from his experiences in Taiwan and the influence of eastern culture for inspiration as an artist. For Robert, the splendor of nature and wonder of the world itself leaves an impression that long outlasts any one artistic movement. Charon is passionate about depicting the worth in brilliant subtleties of everyday life. He does not rely on specific movements or periods in art history to drive his own unique style, but does appreciate the fluidity of present day watercolorists. He also mentions a partiality to the works of Andrew Wyeth and the great detail that he revealed in his paintings.
Robert’s work can best be described as an all-embracing balance of converse yet connected imagery. It is an anecdote of light and dark; from translucent to opaque; from abstract to realism. His style is diverse and captures life’s nuances in both subtle and dramatic ways. Perhaps it is his understanding of the delicacies in oriental culture that allows such a command of translucence and shading. Whether it be a graceful watercolor landscape or a resonant color field abstract, Charon’s work evokes a feeling of peace and tranquility. The depth of his paintings calls viewers to reflection; an uninterrupted moment kept for inner thoughts and deeper meanings.
Robert is an ardent traveler. His is most drawn to any tropical surrounding and particularly loves to visit the Hawaiian Islands. Imagery that is reminiscent of his travels often finds its way onto the canvas in the form of lush plant life and blue water shorelines.
“I love to paint scenes of things that most people pass by without notice,” explains the artist. “ I like helping people find the beauty in everything around them.”
