by Nora Kovacs for OLY ARTS
The environment is part and parcel of artist Charles M. Willyard’s practice. Using nature as his palette, Willyard drifts between photography, oil and acrylic painting, charcoal, digital media and decorative interiors. From Canada to Michigan and Ohio to Washington, Willyard’s work has encapsulated a wide range of physical landscapes. He’s created installations, backdrops, masks, props and costumes for a number of theater groups and dance companies in Olympia and was involved in the restoration of the Washington State Supreme Court building after the 2001 earthquake. Willyard’s surroundings are deeply ingrained in his projects, and his latest work for Arts Walk will be no exception to that.
“I’ve been painting and taking photos in Olympia for around 17 years, and I’ve participated in Arts Walk four times before,” Willyard explains. “I like to find and celebrate hidden beauty in the world around me. I did a series of paintings called Tree Portraits based on photos I’d taken of trees and groups of trees in the area. The portrait idea was to capture the individuality and eccentricity of a tree, in the same way traditional portraiture celebrates individual people.”
What: C. M. Willyard
Where: Flourish in Olympia,
112 Fourth Ave. E, Olympia
When: 5-10 p.m. Friday, April 28;
noon – 8 p.m. Saturday, April 29
How much: free
Learn more: email | C. M. Willyard