Charles Chapin's family didn't have money to send him to art classes when he was growing up, but when a Greenwood art teacher took an interest in his work, he was able to pursue a passion that would last a lifetime.
These days, Chapin's work is featured in private collections throughout the United States and Europe as well as restaurants What's Cooking? in Greenwood and The Crown in Indianola.
He met art teacher Leny Wacht while tagging along to a friend's private art class. But before Chapin could say much of anything, she had already handed him a sketch pad and pastels.
He drew. He worked knowing he would not be able to afford any more lessons, but he loved it.
"By the next time I saw her, she had gone out and found someone to pay for my art classes," he said. "She never told me who it was, but I will always appreciate them and her for what they did."
With the help of Wacht and a kind person in Greenwood, Chapin began taking private lessons.
Wacht would not be the last to recognize Chapin's talent.
During a two-year stint in Hawaii with the U.S. Marine Corps, Chapin was encouraged to submit a sample of his drawings to Col. R. Henri, the head of the combat art program at the Marine Corps headquarters.
The colonel was so impressed with Chapin's work that Chapin's mode of service was changed to Combat Illustrator. He held that position until the end of his service.
After completing his time in the military, Chapin returned to Greenwood. He was employed for 17 years by Jones Sign Co., where he worked as a sign painter and graphic designer. He had fallen out of painting for fun, but during the 1980s he got back into it.
"I missed it," he said. "It gives me such a feeling of well-being, and I knew I had to return."
In 1988 he ventured out on his own and opened a gallery and fitness center, the Almost Downtown Gallery and Kicks Studio Fitness on Virginia Street.
Sometimes painting from memories of his childhood and others from photographs he has taken and surroundings of Greenwood, Chapin has found inspiration in the Delta.
"The Delta is such a unique place," he said. "The culture, the scenery, the wildlife. I strive to bring that out in the paintings."
Chapin said his surroundings are constantly challenging his art in more ways then one. Since his work hangs in his multi-purpose studios, sometimes his workout or gymnastics students have something to say.
"Children are very constructive but brutally honest," he said.
Sometimes students tell him they don't like a painting and even suggest changes.
"I've actually improved my art because of my students," he said.
One of those suggestions became his signature blue bug.
"One day I was doing a painting of an eagle with its sight zeroed in on a bug," he said. "One of the little girls at my studio said ‘Mr. Charles, that is so you.'"
He agreed, and now he puts the little bug on every painting.
"People who buy my paintings know to look for it to know it is mine," he said. "Sometimes I get creative and hide it."
Chapin is exhibiting some of his work at Cottonlandia Museum until Aug. 11. The exhibit, "Wild Art: Ducks and the Outdoors," features some of his landscape artwork as well as his dog paintings.
The dog paintings started on whim after he was asked by some friends to do paintings of their dogs. Chapin has really enjoyed the creativity it has brought to his art.
"An artist can bring out the character and personality of each different animal in a way a photograph doesn't," he said.
He remembers when he sold a painting of a dog that was hanging at What's Cooking? that the buyer wanted some changes.
"He asked if I could add a collar with the name of his family's dog," he said.
This was a long-time family pet that had died, and the family wanted to keep him a part of the family. Chapin was happy to make the addition.
Cottonlandia Museum is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on the weekends from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 453-0925.
•Contact Andrea Hall at ahall@gwcommonwealth.com.
