We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Charles Autry. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Charles below.

Charles, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

It started way back in 1981. There was this artsy girl….even though I was sort of engaged I somehow knew we needed to become acquainted. It’s now 42 years later. That artsy girl became my wife. What a ride! I am not naturally artistic. I have an engineers brain. Logic, clarity and order are my super powers. As I’ve watched her develop a successful art business and teach art classes in our home, I have accidentally learned some stuff…For example, I’ve learned not to critique her work until she asks me to. I have an eye for accuracy and have been able to help her see what needs changed in her paintings. She also drags me along doing Plein Air competitions. We go do these amazing photo shoots and then I win money! Well, logic dictates that I keep doing Photography and winning money! So almost by accident I am now an Artist! Wow! Who knew???

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m actually a beginner in the business part of becoming a photographer. I’m excited to share some of my images. I particularly love the ‘Golden Hours’, capturing amazing sky art. Storms are my friend, they provide the inspiration for my passion. The cool thing about Photography is the ability to print my images as big or as small as necessary to fulfill my clients needs. I also enjoy viewing the photography, especially Sky Art of other photographers. Photography is my favorite Art form.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Besides the prize money I seem to gatherr in doing competitions…I’m amazed at my ability to see the shot…it’s a talent, a blessing from God. It’s been a fun and amazing experience to learn how to access my artistic talents after a lifetime of not exploring them. I now believe that an artist resides in every human God has created. We are all children of God, who is the greatest creator of all. If you don’t believe that, go watch the sun set over a valley with a shimmering lake. One cannot deny His artistic hand! I reverence all of Gods creations, especially the Skies!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

It’s the Creative people that may not understand my journey, but what I really want others to know, is that most people who think like I do become mathematicians, or engineers, or scientists. Art is the farthest thing from their list of possible avocations. I had a little bit of singing and acting, theatre was fun. But drawing, painting, photography, pottery, wasn’t even considered by me. I saw myself as a non-creative. My mom took pictures for historical purposes. She didn’t talk about the beauties of the earth very much. It was my wife, she made me almost painfully aware of the beauties around us. For years I ignored art, even hers. As our relationship solidified, and I learned to trust her, we started growing together as artists. When I won ‘Best of Show’ a few years ago, I began considering the possibility that I might be on to something. And in subsequent competitions I have continued winning prizes. Every year we participate in the Tooele City Arts Council Plein Air Competition. My wife wins first place most years, (she oil paints) and I have won both 1st and 2nd place ribbons year after year. It would be really awesome to start selling my photos…I haven’t gone that direction yet.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @chuckautry
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/charlieautry

Image Credits

Except the one of me I took all photos. My daughter took the one of me.