Artist’s Statement

My journey in art has been a long and winding road. From fine art painting as a youth, to photography, to retouching and printing, lithography, and back again. Out of trauma has sprung a renewed love and passion for painting. I have been extremely productive of late. Producing some of my best work this past year; proving the energy and vision of my youth has not left me. When I work, I plan a new piece of art in my mind first. I consider colors that will play dominate or supporting roles in the final art. Then, I do a charcoal drawing on the canvas. This first envisioning is not rigid but is fluidity itself. It changes as the drawing takes form and shape, allowing me to capture the mood and character of the subject in that moment in time. I prefer to work in oils as they give my paintings the richness and textural complexity needed to capture my portraiture subjects fully. Ultimately, my work is designed to show my subjects’ strength, beauty, emotional intelligence, and grace. If interested in purchasing any of my original works or to discuss a commission, please email me: charlene@charleneaveryartist.com

Biography

Charlene Dunovant Avery was born in Virginia and grew up in Montclair, New Jersey, immersed in the arts.
In youth, Charlene was drawn to artistic pursuits early, focusing on developing skills in drawing and painting. She also experimented with different modalities and techniques. Studying under portrait artist Don Miller as a teen and showing artwork in local high schools and colleges in New Jersey.
Committing to a formal study of fine art, Charlene attended the Tyler School of Art at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Charlene studied under painters Stan Whitney and John Dowel while there.
Charlene went abroad to expand her knowledge and appreciation of art. She studied abroad at Tyler School of Art in Rome, Italy. There, she deepened her painting skills and broadened her art appreciation with lessons in classical art history. Charlene exhibited artwork while in Rome. Upon returning stateside, she had showings in Philadelphia, New York City, and New Jersey.
Charlene began her working career in photography. She was drawn to the technical side of commercial art and began a decades long career in retouching, pre-press and sheet-fed lithography primarily for the advertising industry where art and printed materials were produced for such prestigious advertisers as DeBeers, Ford Motor Company, and Essence Magazine.
Charlene never abandoned her first love of fine art and continually had showings of her artwork in galleries in and around metro New York City.