About Me
Artist Statement
I have been a plein air landscape painter for the past 40 years. In the earliest stages of my career, I painted on the streets of Philadelphia. It was there that I fell in love with the act of perceptual painting in response to the environment surrounding my home.
In 1986 I moved to Portland, Maine to teach and paint. I continued to paint outside in my surrounding natural environment. As my painting evolved and matured, I made the commitment to work exclusively on location. Despite countless obstacles every plein air painter must face, I have continued joyfully in this rigorous discipline of creating art from life.
Response to Nature, Light and Atmosphere
My paintings reflect the landscape in which I live. I paint entirely from life, beginning and completing each painting on location. It is through this direct response to nature that I have found a spiritual connection with form, light and atmosphere. I make little effort to copy nature, rather, I respond to it.
Color and Form
Through my color palette I create form, and the form, in turn, reflects light as an ever present source in my work. The places I paint tend to go unnoticed by most people. By capturing these seemingly ordinary places with passion and vigor, I hope to transform these scenes into extraordinary and sensitive images for others to share in my celebration.
Saco musuem: maine plein air painters: of land and sea august 2023
CURRICULUM VITAE
Charles M. Thompson (American Born)
Charles Matthew Thompson
EDUCATION
1982 Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA ,Master of Fine Art Painting, included one year of study in Rome, Italy.
1979 University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
1976 Ball State University, Muncie, IN,
Bachelor of Science
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2020 Local Architectural Stories", University of New England
2019 "Wood and Water Plein Air", University of New England
2019 “Coastal Visions”, Ocean House Gallery, Cape
Elizabeth, ME.
2018 “Landscapes”, Saco Museum, Saco, ME.
2017 “Lost Landscapes”, University of New
England, Biddeford, ME.
2013 Saccarappa Gallery, Westbrook, Maine
2011-12 University of New England, Biddeford, ME
2009-10 The Living Room Gallery, Saint Peter’s Church, New York, NY
2005 The Living Room Gallery, Saint Peter’s, Church, New York, NY
2005 The Clown Gallery, Portland ME.
2003 Thomas Moser, Freeport, ME.
2002 Hay Gallery, Portland, ME.
2001 Thomas Moser, Freeport, ME.
2000 University of New England, Biddeford, ME.
2000 O’Farrell Gallery, Brunswick, ME.
1999 Davidson & Daughters Gallery, Portland, ME
1998 Between the Muse Gallery, Rockland, ME.
1997 Elements Gallery, Rockland, ME.
1996 O’Farrell Gallery, Brunswick, ME.
1988, 1990 St. Joseph’s College, Standish, ME.
1991, 1992
1989 Portland Stage Company, Portland, ME.
1988 West End Gallery, Portland, ME.
1984, 1986 Noel Butcher Gallery, Philadelphia, PA.
1982 “M.F.A. Thesis Show” Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA.
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 The Maine Plein Air Painters: Of Land and Sea, Saco Museum, Saco, Maine
2023 University of New England: River to Sea, Biddeford, Maine
2023 "Celebrating 50 Years of Fine Art and Craft", Thomas Moser, Freeport, Maine
2022 George Marshall Store Gallery: The Maine Plein Air Experience, York, Maine
2020 "The Pine Tree State at 200:The Art of the Maine Woods", Thomas Moser, Freeport, ME
2018 “Faculty Show”, University of New England,
Portland ME.
2016 “National Juried Show”, Bowery Gallery, New York, NY.
2016 “Wonder”, University Gallery, Portland, ME.
2014 “Faculty Show”, University Gallery, Portland, ME.
2014 Saccarappa Gallery, Westbrook, Maine.
2013 Two Person Show, University Gallery,
Biddeford, ME.
2013 “Holliday Show”, Portland Pottery, Portland, ME
2013 “Viewpoint Show”, Thomas Moser, Freeport, ME
2012 “Faculty Show”, University Gallery, Portland, ME.
2011 “National Juried Show”, Prince Street Gallery, New York, NY
2011 “Teapot Show”, Portland Pottery, Portland, Maine.
2011 “Blue”, Elizabeth Moss Gallery, Falmouth, Maine.
2011 “Summer Show” Thomas Moser, Freeport, ME
2010 “Holiday Show” Thomas Moser, Freeport, Maine
2010 “New Artist”, George Marshal Gallery, York ,ME
2010 “Summer Show” Thomas Moser, Freeport, Maine.
2009, 2010 “UNE Faculty Show” University Gallery, Portland, Maine.
2006, 2007 “UNE Faculty Show” University Gallery, Portland, Maine
2009 “Studio Show and Sale” Art Mart, Biddeford, ME
2009 “Teapot Show” Portland Pottery, Portland, ME
2005 “Landscape Invitational” The Clown Gallery, Portland, ME.
2005 “Gallery Artist Show”, The Clown Gallery, Portland, ME.
2005 “Ceramic Invitational Show”, The Clown Gallery, Portland, ME.
2005 “Gallery Artist Holliday Show”, The Clown Gallery, Portland, ME.
2004 “Summer Group”, The Clown Gallery, Portland, ME
2004 “Landscape Show”, The Clown Gallery, Portland, ME
2003 “New Year New Work”, Hay Gallery, Portland, ME
2003 “Plein Air Paintings”, C.W. White Gallery, Portland, ME.
2002 “Winter Solstice”, O’Farrell Gallery, Brunswick, ME
2002 “UNE Faculty,” River Tree Arts, Kennebunk, ME.
2001 “Mountain Show,” O’Farrell Gallery, Brunswick, ME.
2000 “Small Works Show,” O’Farrell Gallery, Brunswick,
1999 “Three Person Show,” Edmonds Curin Gallery, Westbrook, ME.
1999 “Hunting in the Maine Woods,” O’Farrell Gallery, Brunswick, ME.
1999 “Holiday Show,” Davidson & Daughters, Portland, ME.
1999 “Spacious Skies,” Davidson & Daughters, Portland,
1999 Summer Group Show, Between the Muse Gallery, Rockland, ME
1997 Brand XXVII Twenty-Seventh Exhibition, National Juried Competition, Brand Library and Art Center, Glendale, CA.
1997 On/Off the Wall II, National Juried Competition, Potscape, Erie, PA
1995 A Coastal View - Maine Artists Look to the Sea, York Institute Museum, Saco, ME.
1993 Gallery Artist Group Show, Gleason Fine Art Gallery, Portland, Me
1992 “Group Show,” Art Works Gallery, Norfolk, VA.
1992 “Portland Show,” Greenhut Galleries, Portland, ME.
1992 Portland: Yesterday and Today, Bay View Gallery, Portland, ME.
1992 National Drawing Exhibition, Trenton State College, Trenton, New Jersey.
1992 American Drawing Biennial, Muscarelle Museum of Art, The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA.
1989 Prints by Gallery Artists, Barridoff Galleries, Portland, ME.
1982 “National Thirtieth Annual Drawing and Small Sculpture Show,” Ball State University Art Gallery, Muncie, IN. Purchase Prize, catalog reproduction.
1980 “Six Painters,” Tyler School of Art, Rome, Italy.
1979 Goshen College Art Gallery, Goshen College, Goshen, IN.
1978-79 Century Center Gallery, South Bend, IN.
1977 Swope Gallery, Terre Haute, IN.
1977 Kirkland Gallery, Millikin University, Decatur, IL.
1977 Illinois Center, Chicago, IL.
1977 Ball State University Art Gallery, Muncie, IN.
1976-77 “Bicentennial Traveling Painting Exhibition originating at the Center, Hammond, IN, traveled throughout Indiana and Illinois.
1976 Notre Dame Gallery, Notre Dame, IN.
1976 Gary Artists’ League, Gary, IN.
1976 Sloan Galleries, Valparaiso, IN.
1976 The Commons, Columbus, IN.
1976 Anderson Fine Arts Center, Anderson, IN.
1976 Calumet College, Whiting, IN.
1976 Indiana University at Richmond, Richmond, IN.
1976 I.M.A. Downtown Gallery, Indianapolis, IN
1976 Huntington College, Huntington, IN.
1975 Honeywell Center, Wabash, IN.
1975 “Sixty-fifth Indiana Artists Show,” Indianapolis Museum of Art Indianapolis, IN, chosen for traveling portion of exhibit throughout Indiana. Catalogue reproduction.
1974 “National Twentieth Annual Drawing and Small Sculpture Show,” Ball State University Art Gallery, Muncie, IN
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2017 “ Painting the present with the past in mind”, Sunday Journal Tribune, 30 April, Alan Bennett.
2017 “ Plein Air Artist Laments Disappearing Landscapes”, Maine Today Magazine,
8 June 8 2017, Bob Keyes.
2016 My Ford, “A Brilliant Mobile Art Studio”, Fred Stafford.
2012 Artscope, January/February, Tarayn Plumb.
2005 Art In New England, October/November, Carl Little.
2003 Phoenix, “Plein Air at C.W. White Gallery”, Portland, ME, Chris Thompson.
1997 American Artist, “Beginning and Ending, En Plein Air,” February.
1997 Maine Times, May, Edgar Allen Beem.
1989 Casco Bay Weekly, Leslie Morrison.
1988 Maine Times, The Visual Arts,
Edgar Allen Beem.
1983 Portland Press Herald, Hill Street Views, Chris
Church.
1976 The Republic, Gallery Promenade by Lea
Hartley.
TEACHING
2005-Present Full Professor, With Tenure, University of New England, Biddeford, Maine
2000-2005 Associate Professor, Interim Chair, University of New England, Biddeford, ME. Designed and implemented Art Major and minor 2002. Art Department Founder.
1990-2000 Assistant Professor, Saint Joseph’s College, Standish, ME. Designed and implemented Minor, Department Chair.
1990-2000 Adjunct Professor, Westbrook Campus of UNE, Portland, ME.
1993-1994 Guest Lecturer, Ball State University, Muncie, IN
1992-1993 Guest Lecturer, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME.
1992 Guest Lecturer, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME
1986-1990 Assistant Professor, Portland School of Art, Portland, ME
1982 Instructor, Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia, PA
1979-1980 Instructor, Goshen Community Schools, Goshen, IN
1977-1979 Instructor, Jimtown Schools, Elkhart, IN
