Mooresville Artist Charlie Anthony finds inspiration in architecture, travel and everyday beauty
Updated: 4 days ago
Charlie Anthony found his roots here in Mooresville, NC after spending his time traveling as a salesperson. For him, inspiration can be found almost anywhere—in the architecture of an old New England building, a boat resting in a coastable boatyard or the everyday details that others might overlook.
After retiring about six years ago and moving to Mooresville for family reasons, he has found the time and space to dedicate himself more fully to a lifelong passion for art.
His interest began in childhood, when he would copy characters from the Sunday comic strips. Although life and career responsibilities often pushed his creativity to the background, art remained a constant presence. Now, with a full-time studio of his own, he paints nearly every day.
“It is a nice little sanctuary,” he said.
Having never formally studied art, Anthony has developed his own approach through years of observation, travel and experimentation. His career took him places including Colorado, New Mexico and Europe, where landscapes, architecture and everyday scenes provided an endless source of inspiration.
“I think there are too many people out there who look but don’t see,” he said. “There is so much beauty out there.”
He describes himself as an eclectic painter, drawn to whatever catches his attention. Architecture frequently appears in his work, particularly the historic buildings of New England and the distinctive structures he has discovered in Mooresville.
After photographing several of his paintings and asking an artificial intelligence tool to identify their style, he received the same answer repeatedly: contemporary impressionist. He laughed at the discovery, saying he finally had a name for his style.
Still, he does not believe art needs to fit neatly into a category or be measured against someone else’s work. “When you try to compare yourself to everyone else, you are never going to understand what it is about anyways,” he said.
For him, the creative process is as much about discovery as it is about the finished painting. He often begins with a clear idea but allows the work to evolve naturally, frequently surprising himself with the result.
One painting, created after a drive through New England boatyards about 15 to 20 years ago, became his first sale. A friend displaying the work had a visitor recognize the boat as his own and asked to purchase the painting. The experience demonstrated how artwork can carry personal stories far beyond the studio.
Despite his enthusiasm, painting does not always come easily. He said the first 30 minutes to an hour can be frustrating as he works his way back into the creative process. Once he reaches that focused state, however, time seems to disappear.
Now settled in Mooresville, he appreciates the area's supportive arts community and hopes to explore sculpting in the future. A planned trip to Europe will give him opportunities to study sculpture, architecture and the tools used by artists throughout history.
His advice to other creatives is simple: If something catches your attention, pursue it.
For him, inspiration is everywhere. The challenge is learning to see it—and finding the time to make something of it.
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