Art for art’s sake

Throughout his life, Charles Ambrose created art: in the classroom alongside students, for commissions, as demonstrations in workshops, but also solely for his own pleasure – and ultimately for that of others. Many of the works in this gallery began life as early watercolors that he never considered good enough to show; when he finally retired in 1988, however, the artist began to pull out these early works and transform them by going over the watercolor surface with ink pens - including dime-store felt-tips as well as technical drawing instruments such as rapidographs - for hours, adding a myriad tiny abstract patterns. The result was a breathtaking series of intricate mixed-media abstracts which both he and his wife, Betty, felt were some of the best works he ever produced. They were not created 'in the studio', but instead on a drawing board in his lap while he sat in an easy chair – more often than not, late at night while listening to the television.
All images and content are copyright © 2009 by Jamie E. Ambrose

Canyon Shades (top: full work, bottom: detail). Watercolor and oil ink. Signed; 1991. Matted/framed. Unmatted dimensions: approx. 20 by 14 inches/51 x 35cm.


Badlands. Watercolor and ink. Signed; circa 1990. Matted/framed. Unmatted dimensions: approx. 21 by 14 inches/54 x 37cm.


Sycamore Sink. Watercolor and ink. Signed; 1991. Matted/framed. Unmatted dimensions: approx. 29 by 21 inches/72 x 54cm. This large work was one my father valued more highly than all others, due, one can only guess, to the untold hours he spent meticulously covering the original watercolor in millions of abstract line patterns. My mother found it too dark and brooding for her tastes, but it captures the essence of a natural Southern 'sink'.



Woodland Cathedral (top, plus detail). Watercolor and ink. Signed; 1991. Matted/framed. Unmatted dimensions: approx. 22 by 17 inches/56 x 43cm. Look closely at this painting and you will find 'bromeliads' and 'ferns' hidden within what reminds me of a Southern pine forest on a bright autumn day...


The Spawn. Watercolor and oil ink. Signed; circa 198(7)8-1990. Matted/framed. Unmatted dimensions: approx. 22 by 17 inches/56 x 43cm. This is slightly earlier than the rest of the 'retirement period' abstracts, so may have been created during the last years of Ambrose’s tenure at William Carey College on the Coast. However, it clearly uses the same technique as the others; hence I have placed it in this grouping for now. Dimensions are a guess; I thought I had it catalogued already, as I knew it well – and completely forgot to measure it during the last encounter...