"Mysticism or Universal Flow"

Mysticism or Universial Flow...

"I have always been interested in art. Going wayyyy back to kindergarten to my 1st classroom art course through elementary school and then in high school having the opportunity to drop "Study Hall" I was "drawn" to join art classes Painting and Ceramics. It was then that it fully captured me.

Watching countless hours of Bill Alexander with his "almighty brush" had a big influence on me, both of them. Lots of trial and error with some paintings coming out 2 inches thick with paint, but I kept at it until it was perfected.

Some of my work that was done in high school and in the early 1980's had been put into storage along with some of my property. Unfortunately, didn't keep up on the storage bill...and to make a long story short, most of my work was sold at a garage sale by the landlord. But you know, there is no reason to be sad, I wasn't, I was in awe....WOW someone bought some of what I did...cool.'

I try to find time to paint but usually end up painting in those awkward hours of the day or night. It's as if the timing of when I paint is important for when I want this to happen, it seems "this and that" take over...so I have no choice but to go with it. Because of this happening, every painting I try is an experiment for me in light, color, texture as well as the surface I paint on."

--Charles Bell, 2011--

Charlie's own experience best explains his work. Without realizing it he, by capturing that one moment in time, "...those awkward hours of the day or night...," harnesses the universal flow of energies that direct his hand and paint strokes. The same energies are filling his mind with what colors to use, how the light should play in each painting, how much paint to apply to get the textures and how when in the end you see faces, figures, that seem to pop out at you. By him saying "this and that take over...so I have no choice but to go with it..." is what the Taoist teachings tell us and Benjamin Hoff writes in the "Tao of Pooh" and the "Te of Piglet." So, scientifically, it becomes an experiment to him, but is it really? Yes, you can watch him work, but is it he who is painting? That is why one doesn't know if it is truly mysticism or universal flow that he is connected with that allows him to create the exquisite work.

When seeing his spacial work entitled "Past Days," one can actually see the "universal flow", the spaciousness of where all our energies can connect with if one so chooses to even if one believes in it or not. When looking at it you can see and feel the "myst" softly touching your face, you can feel your feet softly touching the earth, almost as if there is no gravity. It is like he is putting the unknown space odyssey we one day will take into visualization and we might ask "is this what it is like when we die? Or "is this where we came from?"

But as our feet return to Terra-Firma, Mother Earth, we see Spring budding as we decent through the "mysts" planting our feet firmly on the ground as if we are landing in Charlie's "April's Birth". The physical side, the matter of fact side, something we can touch, feel, see that we are real.

We might think we need reality as seen in "Helen's Day" or find the need to seek the archeology of the people who have been here before us as seen in "Native Gallery" because afterall, we are tangible beings...for now that is...

Charles Bell will be exhibiting his mystical creations at SoBoBo Gallery from April 1st to April 30th. One truly must come and see the connection between here and there created through "this and that" by Charles Bell. He truly brings the ethereal mysticism to reality.

SoBoBo Gallery is opened Thursdays and Fridays from 11:00 to 4:00 pm and Saturdays and Sundays Noon to 5:00 pm.

April's Artist Reception will be held on Thursday, April 14th from 7:00pm to 9:00pm - the same evening as we "Walk the Talk of the Town" and celebrate Firehouse Gallery's new exhibit "Blues."
JOIN US!!!