Charles Gautier
RIBA,cert TP
As an architect: After obligatory army service in Berlin and elsewhere I worked as a draughtsman, bought a small ocean going sail boat and sailed from my Chichester base to London. I lived on board for 4 years and qualified as an architect, then sailed back to my urban design appointment in Chichester. Later I returned to London as an architect, with additional responsibility for a three-man urban design unit. I retired as a Deputy Borough Architect in the eighties and moved in part, initially, to Granada in Spain.
As an artist: my first etching was exhibited in the RA Summer Exhibition in 1976. Thereafter I made progress with night evening groups at Chelsea Art School, Shepherds’ Bush. I have worked in many media including etching, lino prints, collage, watercolour, acrylic, and on many subjects – urban sketches, (about 250 sketches in ten countries,) portraiture, etc. With an International Group we have explored rapid drawing techniques for the past year (2015/16) -linked to my current exhibition – see below.
Art for me is an ongoing thing…and a passport to places and friends I would otherwise not have known.
UPDATE may 2017. i have moved on in the past year investing more time in painting .
fast travel sketches have contiued in spanish locations..central spain and islands… and more deliberately a series of 17 large format paintings ..100 by 81 cm…. “paisajes luminosos”..based on our mountain experiences with the university of granada…my thoughts were of the evidence everywhere in this part of spain of the planet in torment 4 billion years ago.
also i am pursueing the idea of a retrospective titled ” ARCHITECT IN TRANSITION ” since i think we draw proffessionally to communicate precise information as architects, and to communicate in a different way as artists . myself and others explore the borders between figurative and abstract art, the compression of time and resources to release a different kind of energy and, with much more difficulty, explore the relationship between creativity within all the arts. i.e is there a relationship between that piece of music ,and this painting which i have contrived to create.
regards…charles gautier, 26 may 2017, granada, spain.
Exhibitions
1976 etching – RA Summer Exhibition – I exhibited annually for the next seven years as an artist/printmaker at the RA Summer Exhibition (and also from time to time including my architectural projects)
In 1981 I had a print (Florence triptych) exhibited in the World Biennial in Cracow Poland.
this facilitated other exhibitions internationally: a travelling exhibition in Japan. and solo exhibitions in art heritage New Delhi, and Govan’s Gallery, Adelaide, South Australia. I travelled extensively in India and Australia.
Exhibitions have occurred frequently in the UK and in Granada with TV and newspaper coverage.
I had been a happy member and keen supporter of the SAA up to 2000, exhibiting with them in London and on one occasion in Paris with the equivalent French architect artists’ society (Ligne et Couleur).
Most recently and currently being exhibited (June 2016), are “Dibujos Naturales” (drawing from the nude) in Granada.
Charles Gautier, architect/artist Granada, Spain, 06.2016…
All sizes quoted are image sizes
Portraits series..Thai student Groningen..
Pastel on canvas, unframed
75cm by 45 cm
Sold
Portraits series..Thai student Groningen.. / Charles Gautier
Pastel on canvas, unframed / 75cm by 45 cm /Granada Alhambra from “el silla del Moro..” the seat of the moor.
Acrylic paint on canvas, unframed
100 by 75 cm
Monte frío world heritage site..”paisajes luminosos “ series 35
Acrylic paint on canvas, unframed
100cm by 75 cm
Homage to Spain series.35. “ paisajes luminosos” Alama de granada
Francoise in the garden
Villa Rosa
70 x 50cm
Trinity College
Oxford
Charcoal
A3
Gloria de Sevilla (family)
Charcoal
96 x 70cm
Self Portrait
London
Charcoal
70 x 50cm
Diana, from Salisbury
Charcoal
70 x 50cm
The Soprano, Palacio Santa Paula
Granada
Charcoal
70 x 50cm
Erotic Temple Khajuraho
India
80 x 50cm
Museum of Fine Art
Antwerp
Pen and ink
A3
The Realejo old Jewish Quarter
Granada
Watercolour
120 x 70cm