Meet Charles Humes Jr. | Visual Artist, Printmaker, Muralist, and CEO of Creative Visuals, INC.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Charles Humes Jr. and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Charles, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I have alway’s known that art and a art career was my preferred choice as a career for as a young man growing up in the south I became aware that there was not a resource of visual artist role models who looked like me. Wanting to address this shortage of Black Artists in the South Florida and my inherent artistic skills and love of art made my choice and determination to succeed as an artist an easy one.

Additionally, I have the desire or passion to express and story-tell visually through my paintings, etchings and drawings images that affect and impact my audience about conditions and current events that face and challenge Black people today.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Artist Statement

My concentration as a visual artist is creating memorable expressions that reflect and interpret flora, fauna and the human element of the
physical, cultural, spiritual and social environment that I live in.

My work explores the psyche and state of the Black experience in Miami and it’s inner-cities. Collage, drawing, mixed-media and painting are the principle methods that I use to depict a myriad of conditions such as homelessness, depression, poverty, prejudice, gun violence, old age, rites of passage and loss.

Figurative, environmental and natural forms are constant expressions in my portfolio that reflect my efforts to document and examine the many nuances of the African-American experience. My artistic palette is dominated by green “the color of life’ and black the “color of death”. Elements of structure, balance and perspectives are juxtaposed in exaggerated figurative forms and images employing elongated stylized angles, spaces and shapes. I am concerned with telling a visual story of the plight and condition of people of color. My intent as an artist is to open a visual window to view the dramatic genre of a people depicting intensive images that create an impactful dialogue to my audience.

Icons and symbols of past, present and contemporary issues are utilized in my work that includes historical personalities, culture, identity and local landmarks that characterize events, actions and perceptions. I draw and paint to create an aesthetic of thoughtful tableau about life and times within the African World Diaspora.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am not much of a party person but when I do go out it’s usually to exhibits, artist’s talks, lectures, art receptions, the beaches and dinner.

Beaches: South Beach and Virginia Key Beach
Restaurants; Coconut Grove, Grand Cafe in Broward, California Clubs,
Galleries: LNS (Coral Gables, The African Heritage Amodglozi Gallery (Liberty City)
Museums: The Phillip and Patricia Frost Museums (South Miami), AfricanAmerican Museum of Life and Culture (Broward)
Art Organizations: Oolite Arts Miami Beach/Lincoln Road, Bakehouse Arts Complex,

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Ok, My most endearing supporter/s of my art was maternal as in my Grandmother and Mother, who steadfastly encourage my efforts to learn all about my craft. Additionally my Dad of whom I acquired his since of detail and drawing skills, and of course my formal school/college teachers/professors and mentors/friends/peers too many to name all such as Steven Pressler, Richard Duncan, Jim Cooper, Clem Pennington, Jim Hunter, Marshall Davis, Angela Albright Moore, Gene Dinizulu Tinnie, Rubbie Laughlin and John Fayson.

The artist that influenced my development in arts are Archibald Motley Jr, Charles White, Elizabeth Catlett, Henry Tanner, Paul Youngblood, Romare Bearden, Picasso, Augusta Savage, Aaron Doulas, the Artist of the Renaissance, Baroque, Impressionist, and Regionalists periods as well as the contemporary artist of today.

However my biggest and most profound supporter is my wife and partner in life Tanza L. Humes, who stood by me for over 45 years as I weathered the ups and downs of maintaining my studio/s, career, artistic concentration, and role as a father, raising four amazing children who have gone on to excel in their perspective careers and professions.

Website: charleshumesjr.com