About The Artist
I remember being eight years old and painting with my oil pastel
set that I received for a Christmas present. I was in school
copying a Christmas card image of a dog with a ribbon in his
mouth and a package dangling down from the ribbon.
The teacher came over to me and asked me if I did that
"free-hand".
I said "what" as I did not know what free-hand meant. I said I just
copied it, but did not trace it. She thought it was very good and
told my father.
In high school, my favorite class was Art taught by Mrs. Alessi,
whose daughter Joan sat in front of me in home room class.I
had to submit a portfolio in my freshman year, and was juried by
Mrs. Alessi, so I studied Art in 10th, 11th and 12th grades. Joan
later told me that her mother thought I would go far with my
artwork someday.
I remember we had a school art show, and my painting was
stolen, and I actually felt honored that someone would want it so
badly that they would risk stealing it.
I also recall doing a pastel painting of an "Olde Philadelphia"
street scene and entering it into the bin, to see if it was
accepted for the school's literary magazine. I called the painting
"November Streets" as it was all browns, oranges, and purples
with row houses, street lamps, steps, with a feeling of motion to
it. I was delighted that it was placed in the center of the
magazine and poetry was written by the students with the title
"November Streets".
This was my first Olde Philadlephia painting.
I remember also, visiting my grandparents as a young child, and
on the car ride, looking up to see the various architectural
moldings, windows, doors, how they all looked so heavy and
built up.
Then after high school, I took the "EL" to center city every week
day to work at 13th and Arch Streets and thinking what a very
"artsy" view it was from the train window, so much to see.
At lunch, I used to leave the office and wonder around center
city, particularly around Samson Street, which in the early 70's
was the hubbub of hippie activity, with very colorful shops,
odd-looking characters walking around, again the architecture,
the whole atmosphere. I thought of times past, the history and
people who once walked these same streets.
In high school, I liked American history, but I wasn't really much
of a student and couldn't wait to graduate which is quite
amusing considering I come from a high academia family. My
father was a writer, poet, and painter as well as a mechanical
engineer.
I thought school was very boring. I tried college for a short time,
but did not care for more studying. I just wanted to get married,
have kids and always paint.
So I did, and started to enter juried professional art competitions.
Much to my delight, I won some awards! which was very
encouraging.
So today, here I am.
Though I have studied with a few fine teachers over the years at
various art leagues, I find some of the techniques to be
restrictive.
So this is why I love to research old photographs, use my
memories, my imagination and try to re-create a time period of
how people lived and worked in Olde Philadelphia.
I like to have something to say in my painting, a story, also to
depict the many classes of people, multi-cultures, how people
once lived and to have a feeling of realism in my work, by doing
the research, while enjoying creating a painting to see how it all
comes out at the end.
When finished a more detailed painting as in the Olde
Philadelphia's I will then create perhaps a Pennsylvania Farm
scene where the landscape is looser trying to achieve a very
peaceful atmosphere maybe with a quilt on the porch to indicate
the presence of a woman in the house.
I consider myself a folk-artist and have been told many times
that my work resembles that of painter Michel Delacroix, only he
paints Paris!, but what a compliment!
Lois Allen Charles
tyl
I remember being eight years old and painting with my oil pastel
set that I received for a Christmas present. I was in school
copying a Christmas card image of a dog with a ribbon in his
mouth and a package dangling down from the ribbon.
The teacher came over to me and asked me if I did that
"free-hand".
I said "what" as I did not know what free-hand meant. I said I just
copied it, but did not trace it. She thought it was very good and
told my father.
In high school, my favorite class was Art taught by Mrs. Alessi,
whose daughter Joan sat in front of me in home room class.I
had to submit a portfolio in my freshman year, and was juried by
Mrs. Alessi, so I studied Art in 10th, 11th and 12th grades. Joan
later told me that her mother thought I would go far with my
artwork someday.
I remember we had a school art show, and my painting was
stolen, and I actually felt honored that someone would want it so
badly that they would risk stealing it.
I also recall doing a pastel painting of an "Olde Philadelphia"
street scene and entering it into the bin, to see if it was
accepted for the school's literary magazine. I called the painting
"November Streets" as it was all browns, oranges, and purples
with row houses, street lamps, steps, with a feeling of motion to
it. I was delighted that it was placed in the center of the
magazine and poetry was written by the students with the title
"November Streets".
This was my first Olde Philadlephia painting.
I remember also, visiting my grandparents as a young child, and
on the car ride, looking up to see the various architectural
moldings, windows, doors, how they all looked so heavy and
built up.
Then after high school, I took the "EL" to center city every week
day to work at 13th and Arch Streets and thinking what a very
"artsy" view it was from the train window, so much to see.
At lunch, I used to leave the office and wonder around center
city, particularly around Samson Street, which in the early 70's
was the hubbub of hippie activity, with very colorful shops,
odd-looking characters walking around, again the architecture,
the whole atmosphere. I thought of times past, the history and
people who once walked these same streets.
In high school, I liked American history, but I wasn't really much
of a student and couldn't wait to graduate which is quite
amusing considering I come from a high academia family. My
father was a writer, poet, and painter as well as a mechanical
engineer.
I thought school was very boring. I tried college for a short time,
but did not care for more studying. I just wanted to get married,
have kids and always paint.
So I did, and started to enter juried professional art competitions.
Much to my delight, I won some awards! which was very
encouraging.
So today, here I am.
Though I have studied with a few fine teachers over the years at
various art leagues, I find some of the techniques to be
restrictive.
So this is why I love to research old photographs, use my
memories, my imagination and try to re-create a time period of
how people lived and worked in Olde Philadelphia.
I like to have something to say in my painting, a story, also to
depict the many classes of people, multi-cultures, how people
once lived and to have a feeling of realism in my work, by doing
the research, while enjoying creating a painting to see how it all
comes out at the end.
When finished a more detailed painting as in the Olde
Philadelphia's I will then create perhaps a Pennsylvania Farm
scene where the landscape is looser trying to achieve a very
peaceful atmosphere maybe with a quilt on the porch to indicate
the presence of a woman in the house.
I consider myself a folk-artist and have been told many times
that my work resembles that of painter Michel Delacroix, only he
paints Paris!, but what a compliment!
Lois Allen Charles
tyl
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Folk Artist, Lois Allen Charles is a descendent of the County Mayo Murphys,
and Sextons of Ireland, and the Allen family of Vermont fame (passed down
orally through the generations and documented back to 1803 thus far to Baby
Allen ( born in the US in 1803)
and Sextons of Ireland, and the Allen family of Vermont fame (passed down
orally through the generations and documented back to 1803 thus far to Baby
Allen ( born in the US in 1803)
Graphic By Ladyartbasket
(above).
You Must include the credit,
with an active link to this site
(http://www.loisallencharles.com)
on the same page the graphic is
used
Exactly like this:
Graphic by
Ladyartbasket, Folk
Artist
(above).
You Must include the credit,
with an active link to this site
(http://www.loisallencharles.com)
on the same page the graphic is
used
Exactly like this:
Graphic by
Ladyartbasket, Folk
Artist
| © All Images are Copyrighted All Rights Reserved |
| | | | | | | | | | | | |
Hi All,
Thanks for visiting my website.
Currently I am working on a
completely hand-made Quilt of
Valley Forge set in 1777-1778.
This project has been on-going for
4 years now. I will be uploading
pics onto this website soon of this
work in progress.
I am also honored to have a piece
called "The Village" showing at
City Hall, Philadelpha in the
Likeable Art of the City show until
September 2008.
I will be showing my work in
September 2008 in the Cape May
Mall Outdoor Art Show, Cape May,
NJ.
Also, in October, I hope to be
included again in the wonderful
Fall for the Arts Festival in
Chestnut Hill, PA
I will also have my Victorian cards
and prints at the upcoming Mother
of Divine Providence (MDP) Show
in November 2008. (more info to
come).
If you have any inquiries, please
contact me.
Thanks,
Lois
charlesfamily200@verizon.net
Phone: 610-265-9197
Thanks for visiting my website.
Currently I am working on a
completely hand-made Quilt of
Valley Forge set in 1777-1778.
This project has been on-going for
4 years now. I will be uploading
pics onto this website soon of this
work in progress.
I am also honored to have a piece
called "The Village" showing at
City Hall, Philadelpha in the
Likeable Art of the City show until
September 2008.
I will be showing my work in
September 2008 in the Cape May
Mall Outdoor Art Show, Cape May,
NJ.
Also, in October, I hope to be
included again in the wonderful
Fall for the Arts Festival in
Chestnut Hill, PA
I will also have my Victorian cards
and prints at the upcoming Mother
of Divine Providence (MDP) Show
in November 2008. (more info to
come).
If you have any inquiries, please
contact me.
Thanks,
Lois
charlesfamily200@verizon.net
Phone: 610-265-9197
Lois' Artwork has been in
many exhibitions and has
won many awards.
Also, she is honored that
her artwork is in many
private and public
collections, including State
Senator Connie Williams
(D-PA), as well as local,
national, and international
collections.
Her painting "Olde City
circa 1910 was recently on
the cover of "Philadelphia
Stories" magazine Winter
2007-2008 issue.
many exhibitions and has
won many awards.
Also, she is honored that
her artwork is in many
private and public
collections, including State
Senator Connie Williams
(D-PA), as well as local,
national, and international
collections.
Her painting "Olde City
circa 1910 was recently on
the cover of "Philadelphia
Stories" magazine Winter
2007-2008 issue.