Statement

My landscape paintings are about my love for, and connection to the wilderness areas of California and the west. I’m inspired by the life that dwells within these spaces, by the dramatic beauty, order, and chaos that are integral parts of the land, water, sky, and mountains. I’m drawn to their ever-changing forms, color, and light, and filled with awe. 

Most  of the landscapes in my paintings are a bit imaginary yet solidly grounded in the places I hike and spend time. Back in my studio, these daily walks and hikes weave memories that intermingle in my mind while I’m painting. As they scatter and settle on my canvas, they overlap and unify to become the essence of a place. This constant conversation with nature is a generous one, making space for my ever-changing perceptions and perspectives.

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I’m honored and thrilled to be recognized this year as the Pence Gallery’s Emerging Artist of 2026, which will culminate in my first solo show in January/February of 2026, in Davis, California.

A woman with shoulder-length blond hair, glasses on her head, and wearing a black jacket over a white shirt, sitting in an art studio with paintings in the background, resting her chin on her hand and smiling gently.
A woman sitting on a beach, painting, with a small dog sitting nearby.

About

Growing up in the farm and woodlands of rural northwestern Ohio, Charlene discovered her love for drawing and painting, and being outdoors. A lifelong painter and artist, she first picked up her first paintbrush when she was twelve, and has been drawn to the canvas ever since. She also began weekly oil painting lessons, a practice she continued for nearly a decade. Those early years cemented her foundation and her appreciation for oil paint and painting. She studied graphic design and fine at the Ringling School of Art & Design in Sarasota, Florida, and received her BFA. In 1982, she moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where she pursued a successful career in design and publishing for several decades. Upon leaving her career in 2022, she returned to being a full-time painter. She lives in Oakland, California with her husband, and works in her backyard studio, surrounded by trees and birds.

I love having visitors to my studio! If you’re in the Bay Area, and would like to arrange a studio visit to talk about art, or see more of my work, please contact me via the button link above.