AGP Member Spotlight: Charles McDevitt

The Art Guild of Pacifica is a dynamic collection of people that are rich in capabilities, artistic experience, teamwork, and most of all talent.  There is so much talent I wish I could blog about every single AGP member all at once.  I’ll have to settle for one member at a time, this time focusing on studio artist Charles McDevitt.

Charles at Oceana Gallery 

Charles McDevitt is a San Francisco native, born and raised.   He felt his talent was always acknowledged and encouraged growing up.   Charles was a city kid who attended City College and used it as a spring board to the California College of Artist & Crafts.  He did all kinds of art in his under-grad years and then graduated with a degree.  Two days later, on Christmas Eve, he was drafted into the Vietnam War.

Charles was fortunate enough to go to Officer Candidate School and become an instructor. As the draft was expanded, instructors were badly needed.  So, Charles remained safely stateside.

The next life adventure brought Charles into 1973 where he was part of the very first paramedic class in San Francisco. He subsequently spent almost 25 years in San Francisco’s Health Department.   Then, in the early 90’s, the paramedics became part of the Fire Department.  At that time, Charles was a Paramedic Captain, and he continued instructing, which he really loved.  He appreciated that students in his classes wanted to be there.

People dig his work!

Upon retirement, Charles expanded his artistic efforts to focus on relearning various mediums such as acrylic and oil. At that time, a large studio in San Francisco gave him the space he needed to paint full time.

Charles is a self-described motor head who loves cars. He began painting them to challenge himself. Then, as time went on, his painting got proficient and the depiction of certain materials got better. His favorite paintings take about three months to complete, and the casual observer will see that he paints what he loves, including fire trucks, cars, and other scenes that have personal meaning.

Charles has enjoyed a studio at the Sanchez Art Center for the last five years.  He enjoys being there because he appreciates the feedback of other artists.  His artistic goals currently revolve around the painting of man made objects and how they interact with their surroundings, including light and heat or coolness.  He loves to see how heat plays on things.

Most recently, Charles exhibited in the 2012 Left Coat Annual, a juried exhibition, and the 2011 Statewide Painting Competition and Exhibition for the Triton Museum, also juried.  His full list of artistic accomplishments is found on his website here.  Be encouraged to view his site, as well, right here.  

Or, if you’re in the area, stop by Charles’ studio in the East Wing at Sanchez Art Center.  I had the opportunity during recent “open studios” to spend a moment on his comfortable couch enjoying the artistic atmosphere.  It was simply wonderful.

Visit http://www.mcdevittarts.com/ to see Charles' wonderful work!

By Donna L. Faber
Board Secretary
Art Guild of Pacifica
donnalouisefaber.com