Charles Blackwell (he/him/his)
San Francisco
“I make art to be an encouragement and inspiration to myself and others. I love when I can inspire others to live and to discover wonder in themselves.”
As a young man, Charles Blackwell’s visual art studies at Sacramento City College were cut short after he fell head-first down a steep slope, damaging his eyesight. An artist since a young age, Charles is now legally blind, only able to use some peripheral vision. He dropped out of school, struggling to reconcile his artistic dreams with his unexpected disability. “I thought, ‘Man, what did I do to deserve this? Why is this happening to me?’”
Charles redirected his studies toward sociology and social work, but after graduate school struggled to find employment. “There’s more than just being able to go through daily life after losing your eyesight,” he says. “It comes down to an emotional side. There’s a lot of rejection. Boy, I got hit hard.”
When he went blind, Charles’ doctor told him, “take your defect and make it an asset.” Charles has grown to embody this phrase, continuing his lifelong passion of making art by using an entirely new style, freedom, and way of working to compensate for his limited vision. He creates his artwork using primarily ink and canvas, leaning in closely to see through his peripherals, and using rich, vibrant colors.
Charles is now living in Oakland, California. He has won numerous service awards for his volunteer work and advocacy for the arts, and has authored three books: Redemption Beyond Blindness; Fiery Responses to Love’s Calling; and Is, the Color of Mississippi Mud. Charles joined ArtLifting in August, 2016, after being referred through the community arts studio in San Francisco's Tenderloin District. Now, his works are accessible across the United States, adorning walls, tote bags, notebooks, and phone cases. He hopes that by sharing his artwork he can increase his income, obtain stable housing, and continue to inspire as many people as possible.
read morePrints by Charles Blackwell (he/him/his)
55 Feet to the Stage with Bass Run on Paper
Charles Blackwell
Afro Cuban Dancer
Charles Blackwell
Afro Dancer Jazzed Up Dance for Whoo
Charles Blackwell
Bar Scene
Charles Blackwell
Bass Player
Charles Blackwell
Bass Player 2
Charles Blackwell
Blue Collar Workers at the Pub in Wales
Charles Blackwell
Blue Saxophone
Charles Blackwell
Ceremonial Stone Man
Charles Blackwell
City Limits
Charles Blackwell
Conversation Round Midnight
Charles Blackwell
Funky Upside Down Jazz Poster
Charles Blackwell
Hard Strumming for the Present
Charles Blackwell
I Once Caught Rahsaan Rolan Kirk Live
Charles Blackwell
In Light of The Drummer
Charles Blackwell
Jazz Band
Charles Blackwell
Kulu Se Mama's Nephew
Charles Blackwell
La Bamba
Charles Blackwell
Lite Up
Charles Blackwell
Marty and Riley
Charles Blackwell
Marty, Riley, and George Conference in the Basement
Charles Blackwell
Midnight Horn Overlooking the Streets
Charles Blackwell
One Standing, One Sitting
Charles Blackwell
One Standing, One Sitting 2
Charles Blackwell
Opposite Side of the Totem
Charles Blackwell
Pounding Tribal Melodies Exposed on a New York Stage
Charles Blackwell
Subway Ride
Charles Blackwell
Temporarily Holding the Note
Charles Blackwell
The Edge of the Concert
Charles Blackwell
The Jazz Festival
Charles Blackwell
The Village The Ceremony The Unpredictable
Charles Blackwell
Untitled
Charles Blackwell
We Don't Know for Sure
Charles Blackwell
Working Hard & Lonely
Charles Blackwell
Yellow Saxophone
Charles Blackwell
Yellow Trumpet
Charles BlackwellOriginals by Charles Blackwell (he/him/his)
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