Welcome, I am Charlie Rees, an artist with a studio in Saugatuck, Michigan. For many years, I had a studio in the Flat Iron Arts Building in Chicago, drawing, painting and working with stained glass.
In Chicago, my work was done inside the studio, blessed with tall windows, where I was comfortable. My move to Saugatuck and my work with stained glass has forced me to ask questions. Can I see? Do I understand light and color? Do I need to learn new skills? And can an old dog learn new tricks?
These questions led me outdoors, to draw and paint, to study light and color. Saugatuck, on Lake Michigan, is a perfect place for such studies. The town is surrounded by rivers, lakes, woods, dunes, marshes and open fields. It is blessed with an abundance of natural light. I would be a fool not to take advantage of this natural setting.
I am in a new environment, outdoors, learning and working. This is a journey, short or long, to learn how to see and understand light and color. Mistakes will be made and hopefully, a few successes will occur.
While on this journey, I am guided by a quote from Pablo Picasso: “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life”