“Each day I get up and paint. Art is work, but I love it and so it seems more like play. I feel very blessed to have been able to spend my life doing what I love.” ~Charles Pabst

A native of Santa Clara, California, Charles H. Pabst was the first of two children born to Edwin & Leota Pabst. His family had an appreciation for all things cultural—art, music and theater—and at an early age Charles picked up his grandmother’s watercolor paints and began painting what he saw.

When Charles was a young boy, his family traveled extensively, and their interest in travel helped develop young Charles’ fascination with the beauty of the outdoors.

During a trip to the Grand Canyon when he was twelve, Charles became captivated with the Southwest and knew that he would return someday. He came back to Arizona to study art at Arizona State University, where he received his degree in Fine Arts. He still lives in Arizona.

While pursuing his Fine Arts degree, Charles experienced a transformation in his faith. This new awareness matured him, as his faith became the focal point of his life. He believed that God not only wanted him to be an artist, but a very good artist, able to paint magnificent examples of His creation for people to enjoy.

Another transformative event occurred during the artist’s school years: Charles met and fell in love with Christine Gose, a nursing student from Las Cruces, New Mexico. After both had completed their studies at ASU, they married in 1973. Today, the couple has five children and 17 grandchildren. Charles and Christine have always kept their family the center of their life.

Charles paints with a combination of palette knife and brushes. He begins with the background, laying in the entire background and sky first. Then, after the surface dries, he lays in the foreground. He finishes it off with highlights of light and shadow to bring out the drama in the picture.

Are you interested in purchasing Charles H. Pabst’s work? Please contact Rogoway Turquoise Tortoise Gallery for more information.